Florets - Floral Quote - # 120 - by Paula Pryke

"In late summer I am drawn to oranges, yellows, purples and mixed colours, and I like to use vegetables and fruits in my decorations. I experiment more with bright colour schemes, in an attempt to make the most of the colours of summer before the autumn sets in."

~ Paula Pryke ~ 

[Paula Pryke OBE: British, London based florist, founder of Paula Pryke Flower Shop and School; and author of sixteen books.]

[Quote from: Flowers Every Day by Paula Pryke, 2012.]

[Flowers: Sunflowers, carrots, runner beans and grapes.]

[Containers: Recycled jam jars.]

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a wonderful floral Sunday and a continued amazing weekend!

I'll see you tomorrow Monday with another Floral Media.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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Creative with Flowers - # 4 - Caramba Tulips

Today on 'Creative with Flowers' we are taking a look at how you can use the same simple bunch of tulips and use them in a few different ways.

The tulip I have used is called - if you call it by its proper botanical name, Tulipa 'Caramba' - which I think is a wonderful name.

I have picked up the pink colour in the tulips and added a few pink props such as a striped fabric, some bright pink raffia, a saucer with pink flowers and pink labels.

The first arrangement has a grandmother feel to it. The embroidery pair of scissors belonged to my grandmother and so did the mother-of-pearl buttons in the little vintage glass jar. The glasses belonged to my grandfather.

For this arrangement I have used a white jar from Gustafsberg in Sweden and its dated 1898 - so again around the time my grandmother was born. 

I have kept the stems as long as possible and I have only removed any broken or damaged leaves. It's quite nice when you can keep lots of fresh crisp tulip leaves. It adds a lot of visual variation and interest to the arrangement.  

The pink on the petals looks like someone has taken a paint brush - dipped it in paint and just made little brushstrokes on each petal.

The next arrangement is really a bouquet to give to a friend. I wanted to show that you just have to add little details - like the colour coordinated raffia and label makes the flowers look special. Quick, easy and simple! 

For the last arrangement I have used one of my favourite vases - a white mini Alvar Aalto Savoy vase. By now you probably say "Oh no, not again!"

I have cut the the stems very short - so that they sit just above the edge of the vase. Vary the height a little bit to give some variation.

In the background you can see a second very small pink vase with the same tulips - just to accompany the lager vase. 

It's the same bunch of tulips that I have used throughout - just showing how you can use them in different ways.

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a wonderful floral Wednesday!

I'll see you on Friday with another FLOWERS from Titti and I - with some floral inspiration for Easter.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

For more floral inspiration follow me on:

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A Bunch for the Weekend - # 71 - Scented Stock and Spray Carnations

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' I'm featuring some scented stock flowers and spray carnations.

The stock is a mix of three pink and purple colours and when you buy it it has the charming name of Rainbow Stock on the label.

The spray carnations also come as a mixed bunch of three different pink colours. I only used two in this instance - I thought the third pink clashed with the other pink as it had too much orange in it - so I left it out. 

I made the bunch to bring to a dinner party - so I wanted to make a hand-tied and wrapped bouquet.

I bought the flowers the day before  and after conditioning I left them outside during the day. I brought them inside at night as I didn't want to risk any frost damage.

A hand-tied bunch is a way of assembling the flowers into a bunch by holding the flowers in one hand and adding flowers with the other hand - one by one. When adding you add each flower at an angle crossing the other stems - so that the stem create a spiral and the stems at the bottom will splay out. You also need to turn the bunch every so often to make a varied and harmonious bouquet. 

Once you have added all the flowers you need to tie the bunch at the binding point - the point where you crossed the stems. I like to use raffia - it's a natural product and it always looks nice.

Did that sound difficult and complicated? Well, it takes a bit of practice and like riding a bike - once you know how to do it - that's it - you are off!

As I was giving the bouquet away I wanted to wrap the flowers. I used two different coloured tissue paper - close to the colours of the flowers - and some clear cellophane with little white dots. I folded the paper at an angle so that two corners of each piece of paper created two points at the top. Place all the different layers of paper - with the tissue paper inside the cellophane on a table and place the bouquet in the middle. From the binding-point start wrapping all the layers of paper around the bouquet - a bit of scrunching is necessary and secure with adhesive tape. 

As a finishing touch add a pretty ribbon and you are ready to go!

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral Friday and a great weekend!

I will be back on Sunday with another Florets - a floral quote by someone who has a passion for flowers.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Ribbon from Jane Means' Ribbon Collection.]

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

You can also find me on:

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

Tiny Blooms - # 13 - Double Daffodil - Narcissus 'Double Ducat'

This series of blog posts - called 'Tiny Blooms - are about small flower arrangements. Small - might be the size of the container or it could be the size of the flowers or the amount of stems in each container. It will also be that the arrangement is minimal both in presentation and that it's quick and easy to do. Apart from that there are no other strict rules - I'm allowing myself a lot of creative freedom!

This beautiful daffodil is called Narcissus 'Double Ducat' - it has massive double bright yellow flower heads and some of the petals has the smallest hint of green.

I used six stems and made a tight bouquet by holding the stems right under the flower head and creating a round domed shape with all the flowers facing outwards all the way around.

I tied some raffia around the stems and left the ends trailing down as a little textured feature.

As a colour contrast to the bright yellow flowers I choose a purple glass vase and left the stems on the daffodils long enough to just casually lean against the side of the vase.  I also added a piece of fabric with a purple zigzag pattern, two vintage purple buttons and a brightly coloured bead necklace.

A simple, quick and easy DIY spring flower arrangement.

Have a Lovely Floral Monday!

I'll see you later in the week with more flowers from 
'Of Spring and Summer'. 

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid 

[Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]

[Flowers from Forever Green Flower Company.]

Take 3 Flowers! - # 5 - Tulips and Hypericum

I'm back with another blog post in the series 'Take 3 Flowers!'

Where I will show you how to make easy but beautiful and stylish flower arrangements - just using three different flowers. Often one of the three will be some kind of foliage.

Using just three flowers will sometimes be a challenge - but it will also keep the cost down. Cut flowers can be expensive but foliage on the other hand tends to be cheep. You can use lots of it to help fill out the arrangement and to provide support and structure for the other flowers.

I'm using three different red tulips - all within the red colour spectrum - and to that I have added Hypericum - that will supply both foliage and berries.

I know - I'm breaking the rules a little bit - it's 4 rather than just 3 flowers.  

To tell you the truth it was a special deal on the tulips - three bunches for the price of two and who can resist a special deal? I just thought: "The more the merrier...."

You'll need: 

- 10 stems of dark red tulips

- 10 stems of red and orange tulips

- 10 stems of dark red parrot tulips

- 5 stems of Hypericum

- a vase or container in a contrasting or matching colour - in my case I have used a brown vintage pickling jar from the company Höganäs in Sweden

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- florists snippers or scissors

- a florist bucket

Condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. This is to reduce any growth of bacteria from deteriorating leaves.

Cut the stems at an angle - to increase water absorption.  

Put in a clean container with tepid water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least for a few hours before making the final arrangement.

You might also have to re-cut the stems while making the final arrangement to suit the size of the vase or container.

Start by arranging the Hypericum around the edge of the container - they will kind of embrace the tulips and make a nice edging. Then mix the three different tulips evenly in the middle - keep as many leaves as you possibly can on the tulips to make the arrangement look fuller.

The container I have used is a vintage pickling jar from my grandmother in Sweden. The dark shiny brown is a great contrast to all the red. I have surrounded the arrangement with some hessian fabric, some raffia, natural twine, pieces of wrinkly brown paper and a vintage wooden measuring stick. The red is picked up in some toy spades and a small garden fork. 

Most tulips don't have very long stems - so if you want some height don't cut too much off the bottom. Keep them pretty even in height and make a nice slightly domed shape. 

Tulips do continue to grow in the vase - some more than others - so if you want the arrangement to continue looking the same you will have to trim the stems at the same time as you change the water in the vase. Or you can leave the tulips to do their own thing - both ways works - tulips are always beautiful whatever you do.

Tulips are looking really fresh right now and they are also very cheep - if it's the same where you live - just grab the opportunity to get some fabulous looking tulips and start making your own arrangements.

Have a Lovely Floral Monday!

See you later in the week!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]

Take 3 Flowers! - # 2 - Pink Tulips and Ranunculus with Eucalyptus Foliage

This is the second blog post in the series 'Take 3 Flowers' - where I will show you how to make easy but beautiful and stylish flower arrangements - just using three different flowers. Often one of the three will be some kind of foliage.

Using just three flowers will sometimes be a challenge - but it will also keep the cost down. Cut flowers can be expensive but foliage on the other hand tends to be cheep. You can use lots of it to help fill out the arrangement and to provide support and structure for the other flowers. 

I loved the contrast between the strong pink of the tulips and the Ranunculus; and the silver grey of the Eucalyptus leaves.

You'll need: 

- 9 stems of dark pink tulips

- 7 stems of dark pink Ranunculus

- 12 short stems of Eucalyptus leaves or similar silver grey foliage

- a fairly large vase or container - in this case I have used a florist's zinc bucket

Tulips are starting to appear at flowers stalls on London street corners - and they come in all kinds of yummy and delicious colours.

And also finding Ranunculus in similar colour to the tulips - I didn't have too hesitate.

Pink and grey is a lovely combination - so the grey-green Eucalyptus leaves were perfect.

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- florists snippers or scissors

- a florist bucket

As always - condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. Cut the stems at an angle - to increase water absorption. Put in a clean container with tepid water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least a few hours before making the final arrangement.

Sorry, about always repeating this last bit - but it's probably the most important thing you can do to make your flowers last longer! So I'm afraid you have to put up with me always going on about it.

Start by cutting down the the Eucalyptus into smaller stems. They should not be too long - you want the flowers to sit above the foliage.  You'll need between 10 and 15 little stems - depending on the size of container. First line them around the edges and then fill in the middle with the rest of the stems.

Put the vase at the edge of the work surface and measure the height of the flowers before making the final cut. The Ranunculus should sit just above the foliage - but you can cut the tulips a bit shorter as they will continue to grow in the vase.  

A bowl of pink raffia! I love raffia and use it all the time to tie flowers and I tie it around vases as containers as decoration; I also use it instead of string or ribbons when I wrap presents.

In among the flowers and the pink raffia I have placed two little mini zinc watering cans. 

The evenings are getting darker and longer and its the time of year when its nice to light some candles. Have used some vintage mini tart tins with fluted edges to hold some tea lights. 

So here you have some flowers in strong colours and some little candles to brighten up the dark autumn evenings.

Have a Lovely Floral Monday!

See you later in the week!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 22 - Pink and Yellow Dahlia

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring some stunning pink and yellow Dahlias. Here in the UK Dahlias are still going strong - so yet again some more of this extraordinary flower.  

You'll need:

- nine stems of Dahlia

- a vase or some kind or container that matches the colour of the Dahlias

- 10-12 strands of raffia to tie around the vase

- two decorative plates that matches or picks up the colour in the flowers and the vase. It's good if one is bigger than the other, so you can see the decoration on both plates

As always - condition the flowers by removing any leaves that would end up below the water line in the vase. In this case I removed all the leaves as I didn't want any green showing. Cut the stems at an angle - to increase water absorption. Put in a clean container with tepid water and leave in a cool place over night or at least a few hours before making the final arrangement.

Twist the lengths of raffia loosely and tie them around the top of the vase. In this case a vintage pink jug. I looped it through the handle and made two simple knots - leaving the ends quite long to casually trail down the sides and onto the plates and table. I just like the simple and casual look. 

Cut the stems long enough for the shortest to rest on the edge of the container - then cut the rest in the middle a bit longer to form a round dome-shaped arrangement. The flower heads should sit just next to each other - quite closely together - but you should be able to see each individual flower head.

Finally - put the vase on the two plates and you have a pretty and romantic arrangement - for your table. 

Just for fun I have thrown in some vintage wooden spools of cotton - I love the worn old labels and that some are empty and others still have some of the old cotton tread left on the spool. 

In the background I arranged some of my favourite wicker baskets - in three different sizes - adding to the romantic country look.

Have a Wonderful Floral Day!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer.]

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 15 - Helenium

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring Helenium.

Helenium is a perennial that you can grow yourself in the garden and it will come back year after year. You can also buy it at the flower markets or farmers markets.

What is brilliant about this flower is that if you keep picking - it will keep flowering - so it produces flowers over a long period of time.

They make very good cut flowers and bees love them - BUT wear gloves when you pick them as they can cause allergic skin reactions. 

It has mahogany-crimson flowers with a large chocolate-brown centre. Combine it with some of the smaller sunflowers or like here just on their own.

You will need:

- 10-12 stems of Heleniums

-  a wide-necked glass bottle (in my case it's a vintage milk bottle)

- 4-5 strands of raffia

- brown paper or wooden luggage tags  

Like always condition the flowers by removing any of the lower leafs that would end up below the water line in the container and cut the ends at an angle to maximum the water uptake. Put straight away in a clean container with fresh water in a dark, cool place preferable over night or at least for a few hours before doing the final arrangement.

I tied a few strands of raffia around the neck of the milk bottle and attached a wooden tag also with some raffia underneath.

Mix already fully open flowers with semi-open ones as well as others that are still in 'button' stage. It's a very informal and kind of 'just picked from the garden' arrangement. Colourful and charming in its simplicity.    

Have a Lovely Floral and Creative Day!

I'm still in a go-slow summer mode - but I'll see you again next week for another 'A Bunch for the Weekend'.

I hope you are having a wonderful summer

xoxo Ingrid

[The Helenium flowers are grown by Cel Robertson at the Forever Green Flower Company - on her flower farm in Norfolk.]