The Flower Book Read online

  COLORS pink, purple,

  water to avoid creating an airblock. Then strip off red, orange, yel ow, white

  most of the leaves and condition them overnight in water before arranging.

  FRAGRANCE none

  BEST COMPANIONS

  DISPLAY Definitely a focal flower, dahlias grab all bishop’s weed, hypericum,

  of the attention with their color and form. They are grasses

  quite stiff and dense, so I like to put them with flowers In the language of flowers, dahlias

  and foliage that have plenty of movement and texture, such as umbels, spires, berries, and grasses.

  are a symbol of dignity.

  CARE Change the water every 2 days.

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  168 Late Summer & Fall

  Dahlias in Pewter

  Dahlias come in such an overwhelming range of colors, shapes, and sizes that they need no additional flowers or foliage. I included several varieties in this arrangement by using a cluster of ten different-sized vessels.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  32 dahlias of different

  1 Fill the containers with water and arrange them cultivars and 9 dahlia buds

  in a triangle formation.

  (Dahlia ‘Alauna Clair

  Obscur,’

  2 Hold the dahlias up to the arrangement to judge D. ‘American Dawn,’

  D

  position and stem length before cutting and placing

  . ‘Apache Blue,’

  D. ‘Blue Bayou,’

  appropriately. Put some of the largest flowers lower D. ‘Burlesca,’

  down so that they ground the arrangement. Leave the D. ‘Carolina Wagemans,’

  stems of some of the small and medium-sized dahlias D. ‘Cartouche,’

  long so that their blooms appear to float above D. ‘Classic Poeme,’

  the rest of the flowers. You may want

  D. ‘Franz Kafka,’

  to move the containers around as

  D. ‘Geerlings Cupido,’

  you are arranging.

  D. ‘Hamari Rose,’

  D. ‘Karma Fuchsiana,’

  D. ‘Labyrinth,’

  CARE

  D. ‘Lilac Time,’

  Top off the containers with

  D. ‘Maldiva,’

  water every 2–3 days and

  D. ‘New Baby,’

  the arrangement should

  D. ‘Night Butterfly,’

  last 5 days.

  D. ‘Orfeo,’

  D. ‘Paradise City,’

  D. ‘Peaches,’

  D. ‘Preference,’

  D. ‘Purple Flame,’

  D. ‘Taratahi Ruby,’

  D. ‘Total y Tangerine,’

  D. ‘Uncle Hanky,’

  D. ‘Whitman’s Best,’

  D. ‘Who Dun It,’

  D. ‘Worton Blue Streak’ )

  a selection of pewter

  tankards in different sizes

  floral snips

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  Dahlia 169

  This arrangement is all about

  experimentation—try moving flowers to

  different positions until you are happy.

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  170 Late Summer & Fall

  Sea Hol y

  Eryngium

  Sea holly’s thistlelike

  flowers have a wonderfully

  architectural quality.

  Sea holly comes in a range of colors.

  The florets are borne plentifully on multi-

  branched stems, each sitting on a specialized leaf (or “bract”). The smaller varieties, such as E. planum, make excellent fillers, while E. giganteum can hold its own as a focal flower. The flowers can also be dried.

  STEM HEIGHT 2–5ft

  FROM THE FLORIST Look for good, rich

  (0.6–1.5m), depending on

  color and sheen. Check that the bracts are not looking variety; E. giganteum ‘Silver

  discolored—a sign that they have been stored too Ghost’, up to 2ft (60m)

  long. A strong, musty smell is also an indication that FLOWER HEAD SIZE

  the flowers are not fresh.

  1¼–43/4in (4–12cm),

  depending on variety;

  IN THE GARDEN Sea hol y needs full sun to

  E. giganteum ‘Silver Ghost,’

  reach its best color. It can tolerate poor soil, but 43/4in (12cm)

  dislikes waterlogging. Some varieties will self-seed.

  LONGEVITY 2 weeks

  in water; longer if dried

  CONDITIONING Cut stems at an angle and

  condition them overnight in deep water.

  FORM

  near-spherical flower

  DISPLAY Sea hol y’s spiky thistles contrast heads with spiky bracts

  well with softer blooms. The larger, bright silver COLORS green, blue,

  E. giganteum makes an excel ent focal flower with purple, silver

  its distinctive ruff. E. planum, the smal er, blue variety with wiry stems and small thistles, is a good finishing FRAGRANCE musty

  flourish, and looks at home in wildflower-style BEST COMPANIONS

  arrangements beside daisy shapes and grasses.

  milky bel flowers,

  roses, scabious

  CARE Refresh the water every 2 days.

  Eryngium giganteum ‘Silver Ghost’

  is a short-lived perennial with metal ic silver leaves and painful y spiky bracts.

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  Sea Holly 171

  In the language of flowers,

  sea hol y is a symbol of austerity

  and independence.

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  172 Late Summer & Fall

  Sea Holly Bouquet

  I included two sizes of sea holly in this hand-tie, the larger acting as a focal flower and the smaller as a final flourish.

  I used harmonious colors that complement the green sea holly, aiming to create variety through texture and form.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  7 roses (Rosa ‘Irish Hope’ )

  For further instructions on how to arrange a hand-3 milky bel flower stems

  tied bouquet, see pp.26–27.

  (Campanula lactiflora)

  1 Remove all of the leaves and any side shoots from 2 large sea hol y flowers

  the bottom two-thirds of each stem. Then lay all of (Eryngium giganteum

  the material out in piles so that it is easy to select.

  ‘Silver Ghost’)

  12 small sea hol y flowers

  2 Take one of the roses and hold it in your (Eryngium planum)

  nondominant hand between your thumb and

  1 eucalyptus stem

  forefinger. One by one, add the flower and foliage stems, (Eucalyptus gunnii)

  experimenting with which look good next to each other, and trying different types of material alternately.

  3 sweet peas

  (Lathyrus odoratus)

  Save the hornbeam branches until the end.

  3 pineapple mint stems

  3 Add the final few stems from the top, using (Mentha suaveolens

  the remaining colored flowers to break up large

  ‘Variegata’ )

  areas of green.

  4 nigel a stems (Nigel a

  hispanica ‘Delft Blue’ )

  4 Now add the hornbeam branches around the

  5 triteleia stems

  edges. These have woodier stems that will support (Triteleia ‘Queen Fabiola’ )

  and protect the softer stems within the bouquet.

  2 nigel a seed heads

  (Nigella damascena)

  5 Tie the bouquet o
ff with raffia or twine, before trimming the ends so that the height of the bouquet 4 hornbeam branches

  is about a hand and a half.

  (Carpinus betulus)

  floral snips

  CARE

  Hand-tied bouquets do not last more than a few raffia or twine

  hours out of water. If you want to revive it, trim the ends and place in a large jar or pitcher.

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  174 Late Summer & Fall

  Sunflower

  Helianthus annuus

  You cannot help but be

  cheered by the open, sunny

  face of a sunflower.

  The best sunflowers for cutting are the

  annual, pollen-free cultivars. There are many sizes and colors to choose from, including

  creams, lemons, golds, and reds, as well as bicolored varieties. Plants will often branch willingly if the buds are removed and, if they are picked regularly, will produce flowers

  for several weeks.

  STEM HEIGHT 1–16ft

  FROM THE FLORIST The center is the best

  (0.3–5m), depending on

  indication of freshness—there should be no pol en variety; H. annuus, up to

  and it should be dark and tight.

  16ft (5m)

  FLOWER HEAD SIZE

  IN THE GARDEN Sunflowers are hardy annuals

  2–12in (5–30cm),

  grown from seed. Either sow in pots in a greenhouse depending on variety;

  in early spring, or directly into the ground in mid- to H. annuus, up to 12in

  late spring once the weather is warmer. Give them (30cm)

  plenty of space—they should be about 18in (45cm) apart. Pinch out the tops when they are about 8in LONGEVITY 7–10 days

  (20cm) high to encourage branching and lots of FORMS single, double

  smaller, more useable flowers.

  COLORS yellow,

  cream, red

  CONDITIONING Remove all foliage from the

  stem—it is not as long lasting as the flowers and FRAGRANCE none

  will make the arrangement look tired.

  BEST COMPANIONS

  love-lies-bleeding, dil ,

  DISPLAY Arrange sunflowers in a large, spacious snapdragons

  container. Umbel and spire shapes complement their daisy-shaped heads wel . For foliage, I often include berried branches.

  CARE If the leaves are removed and the water is topped off every 2 days, sunflowers can last for 7–10 days.

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  Sunflower 175

  In the language of flowers,

  tall sunflowers are a symbol of

  haughtiness, while dwarf sunflowers

  are a symbol of adoration.

  Helianthus annuus is a giant,

  annual species. This cultivar

  is cal ed ‘Valentine.’

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  Sunflower 177

  A Bucketful of Sunshine

  I have fully embraced sunflowers’ attention-seeking character by using two different varieties and making them the focal point of the arrangement. Their sunny color is reflected by the other plants in the arrangement.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  2 berried American

  1 Using floral tack, stick two floral pin holders into the cranberry bush stems

  bottom of the bucket. Soak a block of floral foam in (Viburnum opulus

  water and firmly press it onto the pin holders. Then fill

  ‘ Roseum’ )

  the bucket with water.

  4 ‘Starburst Panache’

  sunflowers (Helianthus

  2 Place the American cranberry bush stems so that annuus ‘Starburst

  they rest on the rim of the container, softening its Panache’ )

  edge. Cut the larger sunflowers (‘Starburst Panache’) 15 ‘Valentine’ sunflowers

  so that they sit just above the foliage, and then anchor (Helianthus annuus

  them into the floral foam.

  ‘Valentine’ )

  7 dill stems

  3 Cut the remaining sunflowers at varying lengths so (Anethum graveolens)

  that they fill above and around the larger variety, before placing them into the arrangement.

  3 sweet clover stems

  (Melilotus officinalis)

  4 Finish with the dill and sweet clover to soften and large enamel bucket

  lift the heavy appearance of the sunflowers.

  floral tack

  CARE

  2 plastic pinholders

  Top off the bucket with water every 2–3 days and block of floral foam

  keep it in a cool spot. The arrangement will happily last for 7 days.

  floral snips

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  178 Last Summer & Fall

  Mophead hydrangeas vary in color

  depending on the soil: acidic soil produces blue flowers, and alkaline soil produces pink.

  Hydrangea paniculata

  ‘Grandiflora’ is a woody shrub

  with conical, lace-cap flower heads.

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  Hydrangea 179

  Hydrangea

  Hydrangea

  Hydrangeas’ voluminous

  flowers change color, aging

  to beautiful antique shades.

  The large, lush heads of hydrangea are in

  fact treelike stem structures made up of

  hundreds of blossoms. While there are

  many types of hydrangea, two are most used

  for cutting: the mophead ( H. macrophylla), which has rounded flower heads, and the

  lace-cap (particularly H. paniculata), which has smaller central flowers.

  STEM HEIGHT

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose a flower head with

  H. macrophylla, 3–61/2ft

  most of the florets open. The flower should feel sturdy (1–2m); H. paniculata,

  and firm to the touch. Stems with older wood on 10–23ft (3–7m), cut

  which bark has formed are better for the conditioning branches to desired length

  stage as they are able to take up water more efficiently.

  FLOWER HEAD SIZE

  H. macrophylla, 6–8in

  IN THE GARDEN As woodland shrubs, hydrangeas (15–20cm); H. paniculata,

  prefer partial shade and shelter from wind and spring 23/4–8in (7–20cm)

  frosts. They like a moisture-retentive soil with plenty of organic matter, and will take 2–3 years to establish.

  LONGEVITY 5–7 days

  Control the size of the flowers through pruning, and FORMS mophead,

  the flowers’ color through the acidity of the soil.

  lace-cap

  COLORS pink,

  CONDITIONING Cut across and then up the stem purple, blue, yel ow,

  vertical y before searing (see pp.22–23). Place in deep orange, red, white

  water overnight to condition.

  FRAGRANCE none

  DISPLAY I prefer arranging the H. paniculata BEST COMPANIONS

  varieties with their lacy, cone-shaped flowers. The clematis, roses, zinnias

  woody stems and neutral colors make them useful as framework material in bouquets, while their flower heads are a fantastic fil er as they are both voluminous, and airy and light.

  CARE If the flowers start to wilt, recut the ends and re-sear. You can also try draping a cold, wet cloth over the flowers for around 4 hours.

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ngement.indd 180

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  Hydrangea 181

  Hydrangea Three Ways

  I was inspired by three varieties of Hydrangea paniculata in all of their creamy green glory. These large, lacy, conical-shaped flowers form the core of this design.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  2 hornbeam branches

  1 Tape a ball of chicken wire into the footed bowl.

  (Carpinus betulus)

  Fill the bowl with water.

  2 eucalyptus stems

  (Eucalyptus parvifolia)

  2 Position the hornbeam branches to create a triangular shape, with two branches horizontal 13 hydrangea stems

  and one vertical.

  (6 Hydrangea paniculata

  ‘Grandiflora’ , 6 H. paniculata

  ’Limelight’ , 1 H. paniculata

  3 Cut the eucalyptus short and lay it on the front and

  ‘Pink Diamond’ )

  sides of the vase’s rim, so that it drapes over the sides of the bowl.

  2 zinnias (Zinnia ‘Benary’s

  Giant White’ )

  4 Start to fill the bowl with the hydrangeas, forming 2 leaved geranium stems

  a low, mounded outline. Place the zinnias at the front, (Pelargonium ‘Chocolate

  nestling them in between the hydrangeas.

  Mint’ )

  2 clematis (Clematis viticel a 5 Add the geranium stems, one at the front and one

  ‘Alba Luxurians’ )

  at the side, to create a diagonal of bright green across 3 meadow rue stems

  the arrangement. Balance this with the ‘Lime Green’

  (Thalictrum delavayi

  tobacco stems, dotting them through the hydrangeas

  ‘Album’ )

  to give an even spread of green.

  4 tobacco plant stems

  (3 Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’ ,

  6 Add the clematis, meadow rue, and remaining 1 N. langsdorffii ‘Hot

  tobacco stems so they extend out of the hydrangeas.

  Chocolate’ )

  The clematis should trail down, and the meadow rue and tobacco stems reach upward.

  metal ic, footed bowl

  pruning shears

  CARE

  large, metal pinholder

  Hydrangeas have a much longer vase life in water than in floral foam, so this arrangement should last floral tack

  for 7 days if the water is topped off every 2–3 days.

  pot tape

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  182 Late Summer & Fall

  Meadow rue

  Zinnia

  ‘Grandiflora’ hydrangea

  Eucalyptus

  Hornbeam

  ‘Pink Diamond’