Here is a casual "arrangement" from greenery and honeysuckle blooms from my back fence...
This message was edited Aug 22, 2007 9:12 PM
DG Electronic Floral Show "Getting to Know You"
Thank you for the welcomes! This online chatting sounds like fun!
I'll try the tape/wire and plop some in a vase and try to upload a picture tomorrow - too dark now:)
I had the same bends in stems of flowers from small and large zinnias; maybe I should treat them more delicately...
What am I seeing in the last pic Connie from TX?
Nice one Connie, I would like to get Honeysuckle for my garden one day!
Looks like you have a good selection of greenary in your garden. I do like all green arrangements too, they always look so fresh.
Hi Sookey, I'm looking forward to seeing your flowers!
Sookey: That is just some long stems from my Cape Coral Honeysuckle that I stuck in a vase this summer. Nothing fancy...just quickly done to get some color in the house! :-)
Connie, your honeysuckle foliage is so lush. What is your vase made of? It seems to go with the giant apple and pear. They sort of jump out at you in the picture...like some kind of digital enhancement.
Welcome sookey! Please stick around and share your zinnias with us. Cellophane tape sounds like a good idea, but a florist wire would definitely do the trick. I used a 22 gauge wire about 4" long, but the wire makes the zinnia a little unattractive.
Well, I'm back - and with a few pics.
I didn't use the wire or tape because I WAS more careful and all the other flowers held everything up.
Connie, I don't think I've ever seen Cape Honeysuckle before - is that a southern plant?
It looks great; I love greenery bouquets, troo!
This is what else is in my garden today, what's left of it after the Japanese beetles.
Sorry, but I don't know how to post all at once yet - is it even possible?
And one last thing...
Terryculture, did you consider 'Harry Lauder's Walking Stick' for a wood element - or is that cliche in the UK?
Sookey, your garden arrangements are gorgeous. It must be nice to have so many flowers to use from the garden. I especially love your green hydrangeas and are those pale pink flowers english roses or peonies in your 1st arrangement? I also like whatever that greenery is that is spilling out of the 3rd arrangement. You have a great eye for color and form. Thank you so much for sharing....they're beautiful.
You did it right, can't post more than one pic at a time. I was being nosy and looked up Harry Lauder's Walking Stick....wowie...those branches are so cool. Well, gotta go look at it s'more.
Well done Sookey! Thanyou for joining in. You have some fantastic flowers there! I hope you haven't left your
garden bare just for us!! I like the third one best, the nice shape of the vase and the way you arranged the flower's it follows the shape of the vase. Tha last one is lovely showing all 4. Please keep doing arrangements, the colours
and textures you used are really good. There are other threads you can use your flower's for now!
I must be totally thick, I don't know what the heck you are talking about with Harry Lauder's walking stick and I can't
be bothered to look it up!
Hi terriculture, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick is the name of a very twisty hazel tree. It is grown primarily because its branches are so twisty and they are cut for floral arrangements :-)
Thanks Seandor! We have missed you, what have you been up to? and when are we going to see some flower's
from you?!!!!! (sorry, I can't help myself)
Corylus avellana is the botanical name for Harry lauder's Walking Stick and it was named for a vaudevillian comic who used a branch of it as a cane in his act, (circa 20's I think and also UK I think). Tomorrow I will show take a pic and upload of the branch - I LOVE it! But there's a pic in DG plant files.
Thank you for the kind words about my flowers and I did cut all (both) of the roses I have left that the beetles didn't eat yet:( I figured I was supposed to be introducing my garden so I cut some of nearly everything...
The pink flower is a David Austin rose named 'Heritage' (shown here again) - it performs wonderfully. I forget the cascading greenery but I have the tag somewhere - first time I used it and it seemed to go with the Hydrangea.
Does anyone dry Hydrangeas? Every time I try they shrivel up, must be doing something wrong. I could also use some help balancing my arrangements (like many I've seen posted) so please feel free to critique, I can only learn more. The flowers make everything look good even me - but that's mother nature and I want to learn to make display's that could be exhibited - even though I won't.
What do you mean about other threads for the pics, Terri?
Hi Sookey,
Thanks for the info, I'm looking forward to seeing the sticks now!
There are other themes on this forum, like 'summer holiday' or 'tea time' you can use your flower's again to make
other arrangement's.
Are we talking about 'actual' balance or 'visual' balance?
Actual being the mechanics, making sure it doesn't fall out! Floral foam, tape,frogs!
visual being if it looks balanced!
I guess I mean the visual balance; I know I can use foam, frogs etc but usually I'm in too much of a hurry.
I've heard things such as an arrangement should extend above the vase twice as much as the vase's height. Is the only way to achieve this through floral foam, tape etc? I suppose one could always cut the stems in graduated lengths too. When I get around to it I'll take some classes in floral design but only amateur level. Meanwhile you (an dothers in this forum) have much to teach - if you would be so kind
I also figure I should contain my enthusiasm and limit my display to fewer different blossoms. Maybe one spiky, one rounded and one cascading/ You certainly have it down pat; what do you think about as you compose your arrangements?
Thank you in advance for the help:)
And where are these other themes posted at? Did I just scroll past them here or are they in a different thread? Sorry but I'm new at this. Thanks again.
If you click on The Cut Flowers and Floral Design forum, just above where you write your message here, you will
see other topics !
Sookey, I should be ashamed of myself for not recognizing heritage. I've been on a David Austin kick lately, although I do not own any roses yet. Lurking too often in the rose forum has done it to me. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/roses/all/ I just ordered 8 da roses, 4 for me and 4 for my sister, and heritage is among them. I hope I do well with them. Thanks for the ID.
On drying hydrangeas.....keep them sitting in your arrangement until the water is used up. If you don't want to wait, you can dump out most of the water, leaving just a little amount of water left and just let it dry as is. However, I don't think a new bloom off the plant will work well. I have never been able to dry using the fresh cut ones they sell at the flower shops. They just shrivel up like you've mentioned. Best to use the faded, more mature blooms, unfortunately.
Sookey, I have also been told arrangements should be made twice the height of the vase, but in my opinion, it only goes for tall vases. The bouquets you made aren't twice the size of the vase, but I think it looks very proportional. But to achieve height, you don't have to use foam or frogs if you don't wish. You can add curly willow, tall greens, or some tall flowers like delphinium, larkspur, etc. I'm also eager to learn, so I know I can learn many things from you as well....like the walking stick.
Here's a link to the cut flower forum http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/bringemin/all/
tea time http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/753809/
summer holiday http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/753811/
Thanks for the thread help, Terriculture and Karmaplace. Now I'll be viewing for several more hours:-)
And now, here's Harry....
Sorry about the double image; it's a shadow on the wall - thought I had tremors!
Terri, I was looking at the other links and saw 'Clear vase with Roses and leaves' posted in the 'Summer Holiday' thread and you told Karma that the white flower was "from a plant called 'Russian Vine'... The stems are very useful for making collars and welcome rings."
Please be so kind as to explain what are "collars and welcome rings" And how do you do/use it?
Hi Sookey,
Thanks for showing Harry! I like him!! I don't have anything like that, I still don't know what to do .
I think I should start another thread to show you welcome and collar rings.This thread is for 'getting to know you'
really! ok?
A welcome ring is like a wreath that you would hang up at christmas on the front door.
A collar is quite a modern idea for holding up a hand tie arrangement, or for a bridal bouquet, instead of a lace collar.
I am so glad I ran across this link in beginner flowers, which is exactly what I am. I have enjoyed the last 2 hours I have spent going back and fourth between the different theme threads. I didn't even realize what time is was, 2:20 A.M.
This is so inspiring for me. My DH and I just moved into our first house and were blessed with an amazing yard. Everytime I walk through it, I find something new. I have never owned a plant in my life, but as soon as the first one hit the ground I was hooked.
You DGers are amazing. You creativity and symbolism in your designs are great. There are too many fantastic arrangements to comment on them all. As the drought in Alabama has restricted us on water usage, $1000.00 fine if caught watering on your off day, Everything I have planted has either died or is barely hanging on. I have been wondering if I should do a cut flower garden. I just don't know if I could cut them. After this, I am definitely going to start one.
The premise of this thread was 'getting to know you' and what I know is you are all generous. Most of the designs were made to give away or designed (trophy) for some someone on the thread. Thanks for the inspiration. I now have a forum to add to my favorites! I have never attempted a flower arrangement, but I am going to if we ever see any rain. This season's gone, but there is always next year.
TTFN! Just for your Terriculture.
Pupil,
Welcome to DG and this thread!! I'm a teacher and my summer off-time is now officially over, so I will be lurking more than posting now! :-)...
until next summer!!!
Connie
I am so jealous. I just got my first garden and never have time to work in it. You had a summer. I bet it is beautiful. Hope your students behave for you. I don't know if I could handle teenagers now. It would be tough with little ones too. Teachers have been stripped of authority. Opps, to political. Here is a challenge for you fantastic flower flaunters. What could do with this? Drought has caused most plants to die and this is about as good as it gets, unless I could do a succulent arranagement. I picture a graveyard scene wih black and red.
Maybe this could be fashioned into the "hearse" or the old scary tree in the graveyard. Halloweeny?!? I will look around my garden for morners.
Wow, this is addicting. I think these could possibly be morners. However, between the giant hosta leaves, the small tree trunk, and the size of the droopy elephant ear morners, I don't think there is a vase big enough.
Hi pupil and welcome; I'm a newby too but this group is generous in their help and praise.
Just wanted to caution you to watch your new garden unfold for at least a year - you may find many treasures planted by those before you (unless brand new lot). I moved here 20 years ago and knew little about flowers and now am about to become a master gardener; all thanks to those that planted flowers,etc. before me.
I've often wanted to make an arrangement in October from all the dead flower heads etc.
So many black yet interesting shapes...
Enjoy your new botanical journey.
Welcome Pupil, have you got any flowers to make an arrangement so we can 'get to know you'?
Sookey, did you see the collar I made for you?
Sookey,
You are sooo right. We moved in at the end of May. Very established yard. I found something new everyday, until the drought. One day an ameryliss (sp) just popped up in the middle of what I call our "wilderness area". Only one and in the middle of the summer. Don't they only bloom in cooler weather? It is always a nice suprise.
Terri,
Alas the drought in Alabama has taken all the flowers that were here. It has been 2 months since I have seen one. Wait, I do have one single bloom on my mini roses. It is 1/2" in diameter. No much to be done with it, but thankful the plant has survived, by a newbie no less. I will keep my eyes out as we have had 4 DAYS of on and off rain. Everything seems fresher now. I would love some suggestions on flowers for a cut garden. I have the perfect spot for them. Love this link!!
Thanks,
Pupil
Most of my "arranging" just consists of buying some flowers, finding a vase, and placing them in a 5-7 or 9 flower arrangement. Sometimes I add things from my gardens, but don't have much of a cutting garden YET!
This is from a few days after a party, so things are a bit piled up, and the flowers have seen their "better days,."
This message was edited Sep 1, 2007 12:35 PM
Pupil, you can grow amaryllis in your garden? Here it only can be forced indoors, usually at Christmas time. Oh, the refreshment of rain is glorious in the garden - enjoy! And keep lookin' for things to pop up.
Terri, No I didn't get your "collar" where do I have to go to look? Back to cut flowers and floral design, I'll bet . I'll look for it now.
Connie, that arrangement is beautiful. Would love to know what the flowers are, as I am just learning names. Stabbing in the dark, is it Foxglove?
Sookey, shocked me too when I saw it in the garden. I didn't know what it was, but my Mother came by and told me. BTW, she is thrilled I have taken up this hobby, lifestyle, obsession. Her yard is beautiful and she has alway had a eye for flowers, plants and shrubs. She knows how to make a yard look unstructured and natural in a structured way, if that makes any sense. Rained again here. I am estatic and so are my babies. Would love some ideas for a cut flower garden. We have a raised bed just waiting to be dug up, refreshed and planted. I've added a pic. It was on another dreary day, but it gets ample sun and a little shade.
Sincerely,
Pupil Traci
Pupil,
They are just gladiolus that I bought at the grocery. In the summer they are about $4. or 5 for a bunch of 8....and they last for about a week.
Thanks. See how horrid I am at flowers. I think I will go to the store this week and pick up some to play with. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out or take pics if it is Spectacular. More likely the former.
Happy Labor Day,
Traci
Yes do that Pupil, get loads and put them in different containers and give us a TREAT!
Sookey, I created a special little workshop, where anyone can show us how they made things.
This was from an idea Lenjo said about 'tell us your secrets'! earlier in this thread.
Anyway here is the hand tie with homemade collar.
If anyone would like to join in with the 'arrangement with a piece of wood' Please show your arrangement on the
flower clubs thread. Thankyou!
Finally, my "getting to know you arrangement" is ready. I call it my wishmas wreath. Don't laugh too much it was all I had to work with. Ok, you can laugh. I was cracking up as I did it. Explanation to follow.
