The Flower Book Read online

  sweet and earthy

  BEST COMPANIONS

  DISPLAY The strong green foliage provides a peonies, ranunculus,

  wonderful foil for the flowers and this, along with their sweet peas

  small stature and exquisite scent, makes them a perfect In the language of flowers,

  flower for arranging on their own in a small vase.

  Lily-of-the-val ey are also a popular and traditional lily-of-the-valley symbolizes

  wedding flower, often appearing in bridal bouquets.

  Due to their small stature, they will need to be wired sweetness, humility, and

  to be used in this way.

  a return to happiness.

  CARE Lily-of-the-val ey has a short vase life because of its strong scent.

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  36 Winter & Early Spring

  Little White Bells

  Small and delicate, lily-of-the-valley led me to a simple, single-flower-type approach. I decided to use this glass, fan-shaped posy vase as it matches the flowers’ arching stems and vintage appeal.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  25 lily-of-the-val ey

  1 Fill the vase with water; then cut the lily-of-the-stems and 7 leaves

  val ey stems to different lengths between two and (Convallaria majalis)

  three times the height of the vase.

  floral snips

  2 Position the stems in the vase so that they fan out smal , fan-shaped vase

  into a soft crescent shape. The different lengthed stems should be irregularly spaced within the vase, some overhanging the edges, while others are more upright in the center. You may want to trim some of the stems further to create more variation in length.

  3 Slip the leaves between the flower stems and the vase. This will connect the flowers to the vase and give the arrangement a natural feel.

  CARE

  Display the arrangement in a cool position and refresh the water every day to prolong the vase life.

  After 3–5 days, the scent will fade and the flowers will turn brown.

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  38 Winter & Early Spring

  Freesias are a symbol of friendship. Christian Echlon named them after his friend and

  fellow botanist Friedrich Freese.

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  Freesia 39

  Freesia

  Freesia

  Freesias’ dainty blooms adorn

  the top of their elegant, narrow

  stems in arching clusters.

  Native to South Africa, freesias have

  a gorgeous, fruity fragrance. Their

  Freesia lactea is a strongly

  scented species. This variety

  upward-facing trumpets come in a range

  is cal ed ‘Double White.’

  of bright colors, each color producing

  a slightly different scent. Pair freesias

  with rounder spring flowers as their

  elegant, feathery outline works well

  with more blousy globe shapes.

  STEM HEIGHT

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose stems that are still 4–20in (10–50cm),

  in bud, but with the flower just beginning to open.

  depending on variety;

  F. lactea, 8–16in (20–40cm)

  IN THE GARDEN Use prepared bulbs that have

  FLOWER SIZE

  been heat-treated to break their dormancy, planting 1–21/2in (2.5–6cm)

  them in pots during fall and keeping them in a greenhouse over winter; they will then flower in spring.

  LONGEVITY 5–7 days

  They need full sun and wel -drained soil. Once they FORMS single, double

  begin to flower, feed them with high-potash fertilizer and use canes to support their long, thin stems.

  COLORS white, yellow,

  orange, red, blue, green

  PREPARATION Strip any of the bladelike leaves FRAGRANCE

  that would be under water and then cut across the sweet and fruity

  bottom of the stems at a sharp angle.

  BEST COMPANIONS

  DISPLAY These highly fragrant and delicate blooms anemones, tulips,

  are beautiful arranged on their own in a tal , fan-ranunculus

  shaped vase that complements their natural shape.

  CARE Use flower food to extend their vase life and enhance their gorgeous scent. Refresh the water every 3 days.

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  40 Winter & Early Spring

  Fritil aries are associated

  with sorrow because of their

  drooping heads.

  F. meleagris, or snake’s head fritil ary, thrives in areas of uncultivated land. Once found across Europe, it is now endangered in many of the areas it was once common.

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  Fritillary 41

  Fritillary

  Fritillaria

  Snake’s head fritil aries’ unique,

  checkerboard pattern will add a

  touch of class to any arrangement.

  There are many species of fritillary used

  for cutting. Some of my favorites are the

  statuesque and dramatic Persian lily ( F. persica) and crown imperial fritillary ( F. imperialis), as well as the delicate and wild snake’s head

  fritil ary ( F. meleagris). Because of this range in shape and color, fritillaries can be used both as a focal flower and finishing flourish.

  STEM HEIGHT

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose snake’s head

  1–5ft (30–150cm),

  fritil ary stems with flowers that are just starting to depending on variety;

  open, and that have a clear checkerboard pattern F. meleagris, 1ft (30cm)

  on their petals.

  FLOWER SIZE

  3⁄4–21⁄2in (2–6cm),

  IN THE GARDEN Plant the bulbs in pots during depending on variety;

  fal , then bring them into a greenhouse in early spring.

  F. meleagris, 1¾in (4.5cm)

  This will force the plants to flower earlier and with an increased stem length. Once you have harvested the LONGEVITY

  flowers, put them back outside and keep them up to 2 weeks

  watered through the summer months.

  FORMS multiple, such as

  snake’s head, Persian lily,

  CONDITIONING Before arranging, cut the stems crown imperial

  at a 45-degree angle and condition overnight in water.

  COLORS orange, yellow,

  If using Persian lilies, make sure that they are standing red, purple, brownish

  upright in the bucket so that the stems remain straight purple, depending on

  while they are conditioning.

  variety; F. meleagris, pink

  to white with purple-

  DISPLAY Use fritil aries’ nodding, bel -shaped pink patterning

  flowers as a beautiful, naturalistic accent in a small FRAGRANCE foxy

  to medium-sized mixed composition.

  (sulfuric)

  CARE Refresh the water every 2 days so that the BEST COMPANIONS

  flowers don’t develop an unpleasant odor. This ranunculus, tulips,

  hellebores

  propensity to produce odor may mean it is best to place the arrangement in a wel -ventilated spot.

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  Fritillary 43

  Gothic Centerpiece

  The slate-colored spires of the Persian lily fritillaries have a dramatic aesthetic that is intensified by the red shades of t
he ranunculus and tulips. The addition of the snake’s head fritillaries provides the arrangement’s final flourish.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  10 Persian lily fritil ary

  1 Roll up some chicken wire into a ball and push it stems (Fritil aria persica)

  into the container. Then fil the container with water.

  3 honeywort stems

  (Cerinthe major)

  2 Cut the Persian lily stems to around two-and-a-half to three times the height of the container; then 2 honeysuckle stems

  place them into the urn to create the outline of the (Lonicera periclymenum

  ‘Serotina’ )

  arrangement. They should be relatively spaced out so that the other flowers can be added between them.

  3 eucalyptus stems

  (Eucalyptus gunnii)

  3 Cut the honeywort, honeysuckle, and eucalyptus 5 parrot tulips (Tulipa x

  stems to around twice the height of the container. Use gesneriana Parrot Group )

  their matte, green foliage to fill the space between the 8 ranunculus (Ranunculus

  Persian lily stems.

  ‘Pauline Chocolate’ )

  4 Intersperse the strong colors of the tulips and 4 black-leaf cow parsley

  ranunculus around the Persian lily spires. Hold them stems (Anthriscus sylvestris

  ‘Ravenswing’ ) or Japanese

  up to the arrangement to judge position and stem painted fern stems

  length; then cut and slip them into place.

  (Athyrium niponicum

  ‘ Pictum ’)

  5 Push in the black-leaf cow parsley or Japanese painted fern stems and heuchera leaves beneath 3 heuchera leaves

  (Heuchera ‘Pewter Moon’ )

  the other foliage.

  10 snake’s head fritil ary

  6 Slip the snake’s head fritil ary stems into different stems (Fritil aria meleagris)

  areas of the arrangement as a final flourish. This will chicken wire

  lift the overall appearance by creating highlights.

  dark urn or urn-shaped vase

  CARE

  pruning shears

  Recut the stems and refresh the water every 2 days.

  floral snips

  Spring bulbs (including fritil aries, ranunculus, and tulips) have a long vase life of up to 2 weeks.

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  44 Winter & Early Spring

  Hellebore

  Helleborus

  Hellebores have an understated

  air that suits the soft light of late

  winter and early spring.

  The flowers of the Lenten rose ( Helleborus orientalis) are the first cut flowers of the season, and one of the longest lasting in the garden.

  Even after fertilization, the petals do not fall, but remain to protect the ripening seedhead.

  Selective breeding has produced a range of

  colors; some flowers have spotted centers,

  and others have petals with contrasting edges.

  STEM HEIGHT

  FROM THE FLORIST Pick or choose stems that

  up to 18in (45cm)

  have some flowers showing seed pods—these are ripe and will last much longer in the vase.

  FLOWER SIZE

  up to 3in (8cm)

  IN THE GARDEN Hel ebores enjoy moist, fertile LONGEVITY 3 days if

  soil and semi-shade. In these conditions they are easy cut before seed capsules

  to grow and will slowly bulk up and produce more form; 2 weeks if after

  flowering stems each year. New hybrids are produced FORMS single, double

  every year by plant breeders, and can even occur in your own garden when varieties are cross-pol inated COLORS green, pink,

  by insects.

  purple, cream, white

  FRAGRANCE none

  PREPARATION Sear the cut stems (see pp.22–23) in hot water and score up to the neck with a sharp BEST COMPANIONS

  Helleborus x hybridus cultivars are knife. Once seared and scored, leave them up to their amelanchier, anemones,

  bred by pairing H. orientalis with

  necks in cool water overnight before arranging.

  snake’s head fritil aries,

  another species. This cultivar is

  tulips

  ‘Harvington’s White Speckled.’

  DISPLAY Hel ebores are great minglers; their muted colors and nodding habit provide a wild, garden-grown feel to more formal spring flowers like tulips. They work well in low arrangements, which make the most of their arching stems and elegant, bowing heads.

  CARE Replace the water every 3 days. If the stems are looking floppy, cut and sear them again. If they do not recover, cut off the heads and float them in a bowl to enjoy their exquisite centers.

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  Hellebore 45

  Display hel ebore arrangements

  on a mantlepiece or high shelf

  so you can see the flowers’

  hidden centers.

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  Hellebore 47

  Tumbling Hellebores

  Here, bruise-colored, plum, and slate

  shades of hellebore create a richly colored, yet somber composition, mirrored by the black fan vase and coppery amelanchier.

  YOU WILL NEED

  ARRANGE

  5 amelanchier branches

  1 Make a ball of chicken wire a little tal er than the (Amelanchier canadensis)

  vase and push it in so that it sits slightly above the rim.

  3 pieris stems

  Tape the chicken wire in place with floral tape, and (Pieris japonica)

  then fill the vase with water.

  5 pear blossom branches

  2 Create the outline of the low, wide arrangement (Pyrus communis)

  with the woody, branching amelanchier and pieris, 8 single hel ebore stems

  and three of the pear blossom stems.

  (Hel eborus orientalis

  ‘Harvington Hybrids’ )

  3 Keeping the stems long, work in the single and 4 double hel ebore stems

  double hel ebore stems between the lines of your (Helleborus ‘Harvington

  woody framework. Ensure that some of these are Double Pink’ )

  horizontal to show off their nodding habit.

  3 anemones

  (Anemone coronaria)

  4 Highlight any darker areas with white anemones and the remaining pear blossom. Hold them up to 7 snake’s head fritil ary

  stems (Fritil aria meleagris)

  the arrangement to judge position and stem length, before cutting and placing them appropriately.

  5 tulips (Tulipa ‘La

  Belle Epoque’ )

  5 Add the snake’s head fritil ary stems and tulips medium-sized fan vase

  as a final flourish. Keep the meandering stems long so they extend out of the arrangement.

  chicken wire

  pruning shears

  CARE

  floral snips

  Keep the arrangement in a cool position and replace the water every 3 days. If the hel ebores start to look floppy, trim the ends and re-sear them (see pp.22–23).

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  48 Winter & Early Spring

  Amelanchier

  Single hellebore

  Tulip

  Double hellebore

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  Hellebore 49

  The twisting stems of the

  tulips and fritil aries provide

  Anemone

  a sense of movement.

  Snake’s head

  fritil ary

  Pear blossom

 
; Pieris

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  50 Winter & Early Spring

  Magnolia

  Magnolia

  Magnolia is one of the grandest

  ornamental trees, renowned for

  its striking form and flowers.

  Magnolia’s large, goblet-shaped flowers

  are various shades of pink, purple, and

  white, emerging on bare branches in early

  spring to create a dramatic effect. Their

  beautiful velvety buds, waxen flowers, and

  sometimes lichen-encrusted branches are

  best enjoyed on their own in a simple,

  single-flower-type arrangement.

  BRANCH LENGTH

  FROM THE FLORIST Choose magnolia branches

  cut branches to 12–16in

  that are in bud and showing good size and color.

  (30–40cm)

  IN THE GARDEN Magnolias are slow-growing

  FLOWER SIZE

  3–12in (8–30cm)

  shrubs that prefer a neutral to acid soil. They need sun or part shade, and shelter from strong winds.

  LONGEVITY 5–7 days

  CONDITIONING Before arranging, cut branches FORMS saucer, cup,

  cup and saucer, goblet,

  down to 12–16in (30–40cm) so they are manageable star-shaped

  to work with. Cut 1in (2.5cm) up the length of each stem with shears—this will increase the surface area COLORS white, yellow,

  so the branches can take up more water.

  pink, purple, green

  FRAGRANCE evergreen

  DISPLAY Magnolia works well in wide,

  varieties have a strong,

  asymmetrical y shaped arrangements in which the creamy, citrus scent

  branches sit horizontal y. The flowers open before Magnolia x soulangeana is one of the leaves appear, giving the branches a strong, the most popular varieties, chosen for

  BEST COMPANIONS

  its beauty and easy cultivation.

  amelanchier, tulips,

  graphiclike outline.

  ranunculus

  CARE If picked in bud, the vase life can be up to 7 days; otherwise the petals will drop earlier.

  Top off the vase with fresh water every 2 days.

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  Magnolia 51

  In the language of flowers, magnolias

  are associated with nobility.

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  52 Winter & Early Spring

  Magnolia Tree