A Bunch for the Weekend - # 103 - Deep Blue Anemones and Green Hellebores

This week on 'A Bunch for the Weekend' - I'm featuring a bunch of gorgeous deep blue Anemones. In the background are also some very unusual Hellebores with pendant bell-shaped green flowers.

Here is a little "statement" that I add - to briefly explaining my thinking behind these particular posts:

"It's always a pleasure and lots of fun to buy a bunch of flowers for the weekend and this series of blog posts, called 'A Bunch for the Weekend, I will show you how you can make quick and easy flower arrangements for your home. 

Buy the flowers where it's convenient and easy for you whether that is from a flower stall, farmers' market, the supermarket or a florist. 

Always try to buy seasonal flowers - they will last longer and they will be a lot cheaper.

Make sure you condition the flowers as soon as you get home. Remove any foliage that will end up below the waterline in the vase. Trim the ends of the stems at an angle and put in fresh water as soon as possible."

Anemones last much longer than you think especially if you can keep them cool during the night. 

When you buy them make sure there is no pollen on the petals, also have a good look at the stems. As they are easily damaged make sure they are not broken or squashed. 

Hellebores are very popular at the moment - here is one that is a little bit more unusual. It's called Helleborus foetidus and has some rather curious looking bell-shaped all green flowers - except for a faint dark line along the outer edge. 

As props I have used some dark blue little bowls all from Sweden, a bead necklace and a fabric with a zigzag pattern i light purple and white.

Place in shallow water as the stems sometimes has a tendency to rot if put in deep water. Anemones will continue to grow in the vase and the flowers naturally curve towards the light. 

I have used a large clear glass cylindrical container and kept the stems as long as possible. I like the light green colour of the stems being visible through the glass - great colour contrast to the dark blue colour of the flower petals.

They will be available for a few more months to buy and they come in a wide variety of colours - from pure white through to pink and red to mauve and purple.

So make sure you enjoy them while you can!

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

Thank you for visiting 'Of Spring and Summer' - I will be back on Sunday morning with another 'Florets - a new floral quote by someone passionate about flowers. 

I'm looking forward to seeing you back here then.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling, photography and text © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]
[Flowers: Deep blue Anemones and Helleborus foetidus.]
[Vase/Container: Vintage clear glass jar and a small Kähler vase with blue stripes.]

*****

P. S. Did you know that you can subscribe to receive a notification via email whenever I have a new blog post. Just fill in your email address at the top of my blog on the right.

P. S. If you are looking for more floral inspiration you can go over and have a look at my Pinterest boards. I now have just over 12 000 followers and around 200 boards all relating to flowers, flower styling and flower arranging. There are boards on individual flowers and boards showing how to arrange flowers. Other boards show different ways of using vases and containers. Simply click on the link below and it will take you straight there.

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

A Bunch for the Weekend - # 60 - Colourful Dahlias

This weeks 'A Bunch for the Weekend' is very colourful! Well why not, we all need a bit of colour at this time of year.

HOW TO:

You'll need:

- 7-9 stems of brightly coloured Dahlias.

- colour coordinate with a few vases and containers in contrasting or matching colours. In this case I have used some vintage green bottles, vases and containers in different sizes in contrasting colours. 

- I have also picked a painting as background showing bottles in similar colours and a vintage rag rug - also picking up the same colours.

- a handful of painted clothes pegs

- a gingham green and white ribbon

For conditioning the flowers - you'll also need:

- a pair of florists scissors

- a florist bucket filled with fresh water

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. Also remove any broken or bruised leaves.

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

Put in a clean container with fresh water and leave in a cool, dark place over night or at least for a few hours, to let the flowers absorb the maximum of water, before making the final arrangement.

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

 Method:

Dahlias usually has very few leaves - leave them on if you like the look of them or take off some or all of the leaves. 

I have taken off all leaves as well as any buds - I feel it makes you focus on the big beautiful flowers - but I also sometimes leave them on - it all depends on what kind of look I want. It's only on the flower in the tall bottle where I have kept the two side buds - where the stems makes some interesting angles.

Fill the containers one third with fresh, clean water. Trim the stems so that the lower leaves rests on the edge of the vase. The flowers in the bottles need to be in proportion with the bottle.

Change the water every 2-3 days and if possible re-cut the stems. The flowers lasts for about 5-7 days. 

For a very temporary but fun little arrangement I have filled a vintage flower pot with loose Dahlia petals.

Also for a different effect I have scattered some petals around on the Swedish rag rug.

The pretty little gingham ribbon in sage and white is from Jane Means collection of ribbons. I have tied it on a painted clothes peg - something you can do to fix place cards in place for a dinner party.  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a great floral day!

I will be back on Sunday with another Florets - floral quotes by people passionate about flowers!

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

You can also find me on:

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

FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Vases, Bottles and Containers

The theme for this weeks FLOWERS is - 'Vases, Bottles and Containers'.

A few years ago I used to sell vintage on eBay - a big part of what I sold was exactly what our theme is about this week - vases, bottles and other containers. I had a lot of fun and my little business was very successful - but after a few years I ran out of steam - there are a lot of very early 5 am starts going on buying trips to antique-markets and car-boot sales in the UK and loppis in Sweden -  a fair amount of driving and it's also very competitive - everybody wants the best bits. 

My point of telling you this is to say that I still have a lot of vases, bottles and containers - that I just couldn't part with!

So here is are a few bits and pieces from my little collection....... 

I love how the colours in this Hydrangea matches the colours in the blanket. Perfect autumn colours and don't you just want to wrap yourself up in the blanket and sit in front of the fire?

I have a bit of a weakness for blue bottles and my little collection often sits in a window where they reflect light into the room.

The large vase with ridges is new and I bought it in Sweden last summer. I was with my friend and she bought the same vase. We both love it as it holds the flowers very well - the neck is wide enough to hold a handful of large stems perfectly.

The large clear glass container with straight sides in the background is one of my favourites. My daughter bought it for me when she went to an antique market earlier this year.

The smaller vases are a mix of ink bottles and apothecary bottles in beautiful blue and turquoise-blue colours. All great for holding just one small stem - cut very short.

I have always enjoyed visiting antique markets or charity stores and I still find interesting types of containers that I will use as vases - for very little money.

If you intend to start your own little collection of vases and containers - flea-markets, car-boot sales, loppis and charity stores are a good beginning. 

Many small vases or bottles with single stems - arranged on a tray looks beautiful.

With larger containers you can either fill them with lots of stems or have just one stem leaning to one side.

There are so many different ways to use vases, bottles and containers. Why not go to your nearest charity store and pick up a few in different sizes and start experimenting making your own arrangements.   

Please, go over to Titti's blog and have a look at how she has interpreted the theme this week. Here is a link to her blog HWIT BLOGG.

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a great floral day!

I will be back on Sunday with another Florets - floral quotes by a flower lovers.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

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

You can also find me on:

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

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

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