Month: August 2010

I love the dahlias! There are so many colors, sizes and variations – Lilliputian to dinner plate, red to purple to variegated. For a flower lover, it’s like a trip to your favorite ice cream store. How do you even choose? The soft guava variegated dahlia is my newest favorite… at least until my next purchase. Mixed with exotic foliages and scabiosa pods, they quickly become the center of attention.

Take a look at this exotic beauty! Lobster claw Heloconia makes a dramatic statement in this tropical styled design. A bamboo container (one of the new eco-choices available today) filled with orchids, freesia and kangaroo paw is sure to be a favorite. All the blooms are so long lasting. You will be delighted and amazed – promise!

Did you have a tough day at the office? You need a meditation flower arrangement. Are the kids making you crazy? Time for flower therapy! Lysimachia, commonly called Gooseneck Loosestrife, is at its peak right now. A stem or two or three in a classic Ikebana dish creates the perfect meditation arrangement. Get yours now and add a little Zen to your life.

Destination weddings are the hot and happening trend. Many brides are choosing a seashore ceremony – Hawaii, Mexico, Belize or Jamaica… a wedding paradise! Choosing the bouquet to fit the setting is easy. Think orchids, roses and berries in fire hot colors of red, orange and gold. Add a sophisticated scepter styling with a long, leaf wrapped handle and you have instant, dramatic glamour.

When I travel, I am often accused of following a path of ever widening, meandering circles to my destination. The straight line is not my first choice. There is so much more to be seen along the meandering and winding route. Mother Nature shares my philosophy and brings the winding twist to the bloom. A curled grass, a gnarled branch or a contorted stem… all lead you along the meandering path to floral design beauty.

Traditional, hand tied bouquets are très chic this season. Flora2000’s David Beahm Collection and Mumbai collection feature an array of creative arrangements inspired by this traditional, time honoured form. Moreover, bouquets have an interesting history. In olden times, courting couples would often slip secret notes, keepsakes, even keys into an innocuous bouquet of beautiful flowers. There is an instinctive attraction towards flowers that are natural and free-flowing. Hand tied bouquets involve minimum cutting of the stems, enabling flowers to remain in their natural form.

The trick to getting the classic garden style look is to include plenty of foliage and greens, in varying hues and textures, to constitute a sense of balance with the flowers. We have incorporated unusual elements like tendrils of areca trees and smooth green palmetto shafts— tropical and imaginative contrasts that bring out our traditionally beautiful, large headed roses. David Beahm’s Nita and Angie are colourful masterpieces of luxuriant roses; their style, although reminiscent of archetypal Victorian bouquets, has a distinct contemporary feel.

Shabby Chic elegance comes to the life in your flower bouquet. The dusty hues of summer blossoms: Astrantia, Scabiosa, Lambs ear and lavender Dahlias, Veronica and Hydrangea old fashioned blooms that exude romantic charm. A simple glass cube of flowers designed by Flora2000 gives you the aura of the old with the contemporary flair of the new.

A classic, long lasting beauty – the Phalaenopsis orchid is one of my favorite blooming plants. I first fell in love with this “butterfly” orchid when I stumbled upon the pure white variety at a local spa. Now, I search for the new and unusual color variations. Yellow, pink, purple or variegated, there are so many to choose from. Each will bloom happily at home for weeks. Now that summer guests are stopping in to visit, you’ll want to pick up a couple of these beauties – one for the entry and one for the guest room. They are the perfect fresh touch for the home.

Lemonade anyone? Oh, how I love the summertime. I relish long lazy days lounging in the back yard and impromptu warm evening picnics with a tall, cool glass of lemonade. Mmmmmm….. Add a little zest to your picnic table top with sunshine yellow and crisp white flowers in a lemonade pitcher. Yes, you’ll need a second pitcher for serving the beverages but, oh what fun! Add a checkered table cloth, friends and potato salad – you’ve got the beginnings of a grand summer celebration.