Written by Odessa Begay for The Flower Podcast
Read moreRomantic Fritillaria
Design by Sarah Winward, Photograph by Kate Osborne
With the beginning of Spring, there are so many flowers that stir my soul and speak to my heart. I love tulips, lilacs, hyacinths, daffodils, my favorite hellebores, ranunculus; the list goes on and on but Fritillaria has awakened a new interest.
With so many events and weddings being cancelled or postponed, I wanted to highlight a flower that has evoked so much happiness and conversation within the floral community.
Floral designers create that additional touch of magic by tucking these whimisical blooms in their bridal bouquets or wedding designs. I’m not sure there is any flower that can cause goose bumps and chills like the family of Fritillaria among flower enthusiasts.
In this blog post, I want to introduce you to this wonderful bell-shaped flower sure to add personality to any design with its dripping and effortless movement. I hope to brighten your day and encourage you to keep feeding your love of flowers.
Fritillaria meliagris
Fritillaria meleagris ‘Alba"‘ Image from Vanengelen
This video was posted about 4 weeks ago. Hilverda De Boer visited Gia Flowers; grower of Fritillaria. More about Hilverda De Boer: - website: www.hilverdadeboer.nl - facebook: www.facebook.com/hilve...
Fritillaria persica
Fritillaria persica growing in the field at GIA Flowers.
Fritillaria persica ‘Alba’
Fritillaria acmopetala
Fritillaria imperial orange
Fritillaria imperial ‘Rubra Star’ in the field from GIA Flowers
Fritillaria imperial yellow
The Imperial Fritillaria are among the largest of the species and to me, the most majestic of them all. This amazing flower exudes elegance and charm as it flourishes in a garden or flaunts its beauty in a floral design.
Harvested Fritillaria imperial ‘Lutea’ at GIA Flowers
Image by Emily Avenson of Fleuropean
GIA Flowers one of the only growers of this special variety. Fritillaria Radeana
The amazing Fritillaria Radeana may not be as well known, but it is truly beautiful. I love its bright green flower that transitions into white.
The image to the left is from Emily Avenson of Fleuropean. Emily shares a love for this amazing family of flowers. What does this piece speak to you? I feel a sense of calm when I look at this image. My busy thoughts seem to melt away and bring me back to focus with a sense of peace. Thank you Emily, for sharing your gorgeous image. The Fritillaria featured in this image is the F. Radeana.
Fritillaria ‘michailovskyi’ held by Susan Mcleary and grown by @marillafieldandflora
Fritillaria ‘Sewerzowii’ from Gia flowers
Fritillaria Uva vilpis in the field from GIA Flowers
Fritillaria elessi is a smaller variety that maintains its darker coloring. Image from Gardenia
Whatever your favorite variety, Fritillaria is an extraordinary family of flowers, and I love the anticipation of its spring arrival. My hope is that I’ve stirred your imagination and nourished your love for the fritillaria family. If you haven’t discovered this charming flower, I encourage you to experiment with its versatility and uniqueness. Some varities are more fragrant than others, and you can expect the larger varieties to have an unusual scent, but this flower as you see below always finds itself as the center of attention.
I have to thank everyone that shared their images for this post. I know you will fall in love with this ballerina of the floral world and look forward to its season for years to come.
Another amazing image by Emily Avenson of Fleuropean. Fritillaria imperialis amazingly partners with Daffodils to welcome the Spring season.
Ian Prosser and Accent Decor creating for Wedding and Events
Large scale events, flower walls, hanging florals, freestanding pillars….floral installations continue to make a statement. Accent Decor continues to stay on trend and to focus their designs to meet the needs of event designers. Ian Prosser, of Botanica Design Studio in Tampa, Fla. and Accent Decor have created a NEW video series featuring a variety of show-stopping wedding & event products for 2020.
The Ceremony Stand is perfect for creating floral walls, ceremony backdrops, a placecard holder, and more. Use as a single stand or combine multiples for a large scale design the ceremony stand is very versatile. Ian completes the look with the addition of assorted lighting using the Selima Vase, Hepburn Lantern, Golden Lantern, and the Bena Lantern.
Hanging Installations have evolved into glamorous focal points, and designers are pushing the boundaries of creating these stunning floral masterpieces. Accent Decor’s Superior Hanger is complete with chains for easy hanging and also the perfect base to be used with chicken wire for foam free designing. Ian finishes the design scape with Antique Candlesticks and assorted Fat Pyramid Vases.
Need more options for hangers? Accent Decor’s Palatial Hanger is perfect for circular designs, the Showtime Hanger for open design pieces, and the Ovation Hanger for very versatile large pieces.
Whether used for florals or plants, the Formal Stand is a multifaceted piece to incorporate in your design. With working space in the top and usable open space in the bottom, the formal stand is an excellent option for weddings or any event. Ian explains the importance of not only designing in scale for your event, but the importance of designing in scale to your container.
The dreams of sun filled days and the promises of new bursting colors give us hope spring is on the way. Accent Decor is introducing an event collection inspired by the warmth of the tropics. Ian creates a lush vignette featuring sea grass and rattan pieces surely to transform any event into a dreamy masterpiece. Add your own lighting source to add that extra intimate component. Using the Canal Lantern, an assortment of the Rye Lantern, the Tindra Lantern, and the Orsen Candleholder, Ian shares tips for creating this perfect tropical paradise.
The New 2020 catalog is now available with over 450 pages of beautiful artistry. Accent Decor brings you a vast selection of ceramics, glass, and natural vessels along with accessories for all of your weddings and events. Accent Decor’s new website navigation was re-designed with you in mind. Intuitive shopping. Enhanced discoverability and as always, Endless inspiration.
Visit Accent Decor, register your business and shop the new collections of 2020.
Ian Prosser and his daughter Zoë Gallina, of Botanica International Design and Decor Studio, share their floral journey with Scott in a previous episode of The Flower Podcast. Click below
Watch, Learn,& Love:
A new video tutorial
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Top 10 Episodes of The Flower Podcast
We’ve had so many new listeners over the last several months I thought it might be helpful to recap some of the most popular episodes of 2019. Each week I am honored to bring a personal flower story from professionals featuring different aspects of the floral industry. I invite you to a seat at the table to enjoy relaxing soulful conversations my guests share from the heart. It doesn’t matter your floral profession, I believe you will be inspired and encouraged by the voices of The Flower Podcast.
I can’t believe we had a tie in our top 10 , therefore our list has 11 of our guests. Click on the name of my guest to learn more or listen directly below. Let the Countdown Begin!
Christin Geall
Cultivated by Christin
Christin’s incredible eye for gardening manifests itself in her love for floral design. Her skills with photography and writing explode into images of beauty and thankfully are shared through her social media pages. I am eagerly awaiting the release of her new book Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style. Be on the lookout for another upcoming chat with Christin. Her passion for flowers is contagious.
Image by Ana LaFramboise
Gabriela believes it is important to connect with flowers and finds she connects through her floral designs and while caring for her personal garden. Every aspect is so important and taking the time to relate to the flowers gives space to relax in one's creative process. Gabriela chats about teaching, her design process of layering, her garden, learning from growers like Erin of Floret and much more. Featured in publications such as Vogue US and Vogue Italia, Martha Stewart Weddings, Architectural Digest, and clients including Yves Saint Laurent and Mont Blanc, La Musa de las Flores continues to inspire the floral community.
With a degree in counseling and a self-professed obsession with personal growth and the development world, Julie's background paved the path for her work as a Career Pivot Coach. Julie chats career changes, life balance, and what defines you...And it's not your career! So much encouragement in this episode you do not want to miss Julie’s insights. I know from personal experience the importance of not letting your career define you.
“I help creative professionals pivot into the fulfilling careers and lives they actually want to be in.” Julie Tobi
Carly Jenkins along with her husband Jamie operate Killing Frost Farm in the Potomac Valley of Western Montana. Besides growing flowers, Carly’s business has expanded to opening Westside Flower Market and adding a floral route to surrounding areas. Realizing the impact on the environment and native species, Carly shares her passion for advocating responsible foraging and educating yourself before cutting in the wild. Carly also values the relationships with their customers and has earned the respect of both sustainable flower growers and florists. I love foraging natural materials myself, and appreciate Carly’s insights and tips to forage with good intent and actually benefiting nature.
Emily Coulter owns Morrice Florist on beautiful Martha's Vineyard. Purchasing an 80 year old flower shop with little flower knowledge, Emily revamped and re-branded the business, turning it into part floral shop, part boutique, and part greenhouse which can be used for demonstrations, workshops, and dinners. Emily chats about the importance of building relationships with growers, vendors, and customers. My chat with Emily will leave you feeling warm in your heart and bursting with enthusiasm to spread kindness.
Amy Balsters, owner of Amy Nicole Floral has been in the retail floristry and special event industry for over 20 years and now uses this experience to teach others. Amy chats about the importance of learning the fundamentals, hiring, teaching, and how to change mindsets. Believing one must teach from a place of empathy, Amy shares the importance of critiquing your work without critiquing yourself. Amy and I could have chatted for hours. All of us benefit from being more kind to ourselves and showing ourselves grace through our mistakes. Of course are there really mistakes are opportunities for growth?
Susan McLeary, floral designer, artist, and educator shares her innovation and inspiration through amazing wearable florals and designs. With her passion for teaching and pushing the boundaries of wearable floral art, Susan continues to ignite our curiosities to explore this growing genre of florals and so much more. In a special bonus episode, Susan also chats about creating foam free installations and shares personally tried and proven techniques and tips to help others in their own creations. Coming Soon, I will be chatting with Susan about her new book, The Art of Wearable Flowers, an amazing how-to guide with stunning images and detailed illustrations.
Garden Roses are one of the highlights of any wedding and hearing the stories that brought Dani and Bill to this property, their journey and struggles growing them allows us to appreciate what goes into every Garden Rose. Fires, floods, insects are all part of the growing trials and triumphs at Rose Story Farm®, and I love Dani’s openness in sharing the family story. Dani shared with us in a special blog post her personal rose favorites. Read Dani’s favorites HERE
Sweet Root Village, owned by Lauren Anderson and Rachel Bridgwood is located in Alexandria, VA outside the DC area. This was such a fun chat with Lauren and Rachel, and I believe you will appreciate their candid and open discussion on motherhood and how they find balance as working moms. We also discuss hiring, working with vendors, pricing, and more. Over the past decade, they have developed a deep love for small business and now share what they know through workshops and classes. They strive to build meaningful relationships, create special experiences, and incorporate sustainable practices in to their business
Emily Thompson owner of Emily Thompson Flowers is located in New York City. I have followed Emily's creative artful design work for years and her artistic gift for taking the raw beauty in nature and orchestrating a floral masterpiece in any season. Emily chats about sustainability, technical excellence, and designing as the seasons change. There is so much goodness in this episode I hope you find it invigorating in your own approach to business and your designs.
“We collaborate with the rough hand of nature, drawing the eye to the infinite glory of the living world with our piercing contrasts and juxtapositions of materials. For our sometimes ornate, other times austere and stripped-back designs, we seek out rare, ill-used, and unlikely flowers, seed pods, branches and undergrowth to achieve design that creates desire for the obscure and love for the hard-to-love.” Emily Thompson Flowers
Shane Connolly, owner of Shane Connolly and Company in London, England tops our list as the most downloaded episode. Bringing a unique perspective, Shane shares his approach in designing for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Shane also chats about his love for the meaning of flowers, and his passion for creating foam free designs. In 2011 Shane was appointed Artistic Director for the wedding of TRH’s The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and was awarded a second Royal Warrant of Appointment, to HM The Queen in 2015. With Royal Appointments and worldwide recognition, Shane is graciously down-to-earth, and I know you will be refreshed by his humor and find his insights meaningful to your own business.
Wedding Bouquet Inspiration for 2020
Our amazing guests create incredible floral masterpieces and are so kind to share their images and inspirations, we have picked a few to showcase. Trending colors and designs, new trends on the horizon, timeless classics and a wide assortment of materials are perfect inspirations for 2020.
Gabriela Salazar
Image by Christina McNeill Photography
Gabriela Salazar has included the beautiful trending colors of pale golds and blushes. This trend seems to be gaining momentum. The use of dried product is the perfect compliment to Gabriela’s use of color.
With the Pantone Color being Classic Blue, there will be requests for blue accents in our weddings. Isha has created a beautiful bouquet with a hint of light blue that blends perfectly with the blue/green color of eucalyptus. As one of our favorite colors, We are looking forward to this latest Pantone inspiration and are eagerly awaiting fabulous floral creations for 2020.
Image by Suzanne Rothmeyer Photography
I love the elegance of this bouquet showcasing the companionship between pale blushes and assorted pinks. The stars of this bouquet are the fabulous roses from Alexandra Farms. Bridal Piano (Pinker) and Mariatheresia (Blush) blend perfectly with the astilbe, sweet peas, lambs ear, and butterfly ranunculus.
Image by Kristin Sweeting
Holly has a simple love for nature and bringing unconventional flowers into her floral pieces. The use of grasses, crape myrtle seeded pods, and fuschia blooms blend beautifully with the ruffle look of the peonies, soft roses, and the airiness of the scabiosa. Letting nature speak to you and incorporating these inspirations into your designs truly makes it your own.
The white bridal bouquet is a trend that is rooted in tradition and truly is a classic. Garden Roses are another trend that has gained momentum and with increased availability and variety, we believe this trend is here to stay. In this classic bouquet, Alicia used the white rose, POLO. This is considered a traditional rose that opens with the garden rose shape and is a perfect substitute. It does take some time to open to its full potential to process according to your needs.
Image by Elizabeth Wells Photography
Deep moody colors continue to inspire us no matter the time of year. It’s fun to play with this color palette and make it your own by taking it in the direction that works for you and your client. So soak in these wonderful rich tones and assorted textures.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these amazing images from our talented guests. With so many possible styles, plethora of colors, and wide variety of flowers your sources of inspiration are endless.
Floral Design and the Golden Ratio/Spiral
By Holly Carlisle
Let us begin by unpacking the concept of the golden ratio and spiral that Scott and I discussed during the podcast. The golden ratio is a classical, organic proportion that exists within nature. It can be easily identified within the spiral architecture of a shell, the pattern of the seeds in a sunflower or in the tip of a bourgeoning fernshoot, to give a few examples.
It can be defined by a mathematical formula which repeats infinitely and can be outlined geometrically. As I was a fine arts major and perhaps am not one hundred percent qualified to be discussing mathematics, here is a drawing of the ratio and the spiral that exists within it.
Holly Carlisle
Golden Ratio and Spiral
To me, the infinite repetition of the spiral within the ratio itself represents an energy that succeeds in constantly drawing a viewer inwards. As an artist, I am always trying to guide a viewer closer to the core of my work, so I am interested in creating that sort of energy in the works that I build. Understanding this and other systems of proportion (such as the rule of thirds) can be a useful tool in creating harmonious compositions evocative of the beauty we see in nature.
Image by Nancy McColl
In my work, I have found that my understanding of the golden ratio has become more instinctual than methodical. That said, I believe that studying and developing a deeper understanding of these classical systems of proportion can become a useful tool in developing compositions that catch the eye.
Thank you Holly for sharing these images and post with The Flower Podcast!! - Scott
Laura Dowling: Floral Diplomacy
Laura Dowling served as Chief Floral Designer at the White House for 6 years from 2009 until 2015. In this position, she planned and implemented decorations for major events at the White House, including the White House Christmas, state dinners, the presidential family quarters, the public tour route displays, and Camp David, an imposing portfolio of literally thousands of large and small events, floral arrangements, table settings and innovative volunteer projects.
Flowers: A Tool for Innovation and Change
Laura Dowling’s Ted Talk. Ted x Mid Atlantic
Inspired by President Obama’s message of hope and change, Laura created floral designs to reflect these sentiments and chats about using flowers as a strategic approach. Focus may be environmental, cultural traditions, symbolism, and much more.
Photo by Stichting Kunstboek
Promise You a Rose Garden: Ex-White House Florist Tells All
New York Times
The former White House florist Laura Dowling, in New York City’s flower district.
Credit Tawni Bannister for The New York Times
By Katherine Rosman
Laura Dowling’s garden style bouquets are exquisite gatherings of lush and vibrant seasonal blooms, poetic arrangements that evoke sentimental memories and inspire ethereal dreams. Highly original in concept and design, Laura’s bouquets weave layers of blooms, fruits and entwining vines with fabricated materials such as paper, ribbons and wool, blurring the lines of traditional floristry to fuse flowers with nature and handcrafts in new and unexpected presentations. At once fanciful and whimsical, refined and elegant, her colorful bouquets exude a friendly and approachable aesthetic that have inspired a First Lady, high-level dignitaries and legions of fans from around the world with their great charm and liveliness. She believes that flowers – the ephemeral but enduring mementos of special occasions and everyday life – convey a vast range of emotions and meanings that words alone cannot express, unlocking a powerful tool for uplifting spirits, telling stories and enriching our lives. In her new book “Bouquets,” due out later this year, Laura shares her secrets and insights for creating 75 innovative designs that focus on l’art du bouquet – the most personal and evocative form of floral artistry – including detailed step-by-step tips and techniques for crafting her unique, signature-style bouquets for all settings, seasons and occasions.
“ I think we need more opportunities for thoughtful, collaborative problem-solving and creative expression vs. devolving into cliques and group think – a challenge in the social media era. The bottom line is that the appeal of flowers is timeless and enduring – and will continue to play an important role in our increasingly hectic and busy lives – creating new opportunities for everyone involved in the floral world.” Laura Dowling
New 2019 Holiday Wreath Stamp Collection will soon be available. Laura shared this wonderful news about her latest project years in the making. Antonio Alcalá served as the art director Laura Dowling designed the festive wreaths for the holiday stamps. Photographed by Kevin Allen.
Compote Masterpieces by Christin Geall
Every week we are entrusted with an amazing collection of images from each of our guests. When we spoke to Christin Geall, we wanted to put together a collection of her compote designs and invite you to experience the magic that she creates with her flowers. All these designs and images were created and photographed by Christin Geall.
Before you look at these images we’ve put together with Christin’s help, I hope you stop and take a breath, close your eyes, and imagine you’re in a museum. When you open your eyes, my hope is that you drink in each image and notice her particular use of color and space. On her podcast with us, she mentioned the careful arranging of light and shadows in addition to the use and selection of each flower. I would encourage you to take a moment and open this blog post on a computer or at least a large screen to experience the detail in each piece.
One of the magical qualities that Christin demonstrates time and time again is the manner in which the natural color and curve of a branch, vine, or grass can draw your eye directly into the center of the design. Then, when you step back you can see how every element works together to create a design with both continuity and form. One of the aspects of this design that I find so amazing are the clean colors: the purity of the whites, the vibrant yellows, and the hint of green that comes with spring.
During various times of the year, a floral designer has the opportunity to work with an assortment of wild elements like grasses and vines. I love how Christin uses more wildflower like blooms to fill the space and create interest. You could look at this amazing floral design for a long period of time and continue to find hidden gems. The different types of greenery and their diverse shades and textures play with the colors of each flower.
Color,Color, Color!! How many times do you wish you had the chance to work with vibrant colors of any kind in your designs. Once again, Christin takes the time to select a wide variety of material often harvested from her own garden to experiment with both color and light. These vibrant maple leaves draw your eye into the center of this piece to expose all of the hidden treasures. Whether it’s the crabapples stripped of their foliage and clustered together or the euonymus and their amazing contrast of hot pinks and orange dancing all around, nature continues to show us how to use color and light and welcomes us into autumn .
In floral design, light is as important as color. Mixing this incredible collection of pastel colored flowers is only enhanced by the light in this photograph. The softness of the light allows the gentle colors to sing in a harmonious symphony. Like a chorus, each flower and their colors play their part in a soft romantic way. The Dahlias which usually are the stars of a piece are instrumental in bridging all the colors together and allowing the little dancing flowers to have their moment.
Using a variety of containers can be inspiring. This container is made out of beeswax. It’s fascinating how this natural element can be both gold and neutral at the same time providing a stage for these rich vibrant colors to truly shine. From the dark purple sweet peas and burgundy colored nine bark to the bright oranges and hot pinks, it is truly an amazing floral piece. In our episode with Christin, we talk about experimenting with various color combinations and to study how colors play off each other and work together.
Sometimes late summer can be a challenging time for wedding and event work. This time of year generously provides us with amazing colored flowers. I hear all the time how Zinnias and Cosmos are too casual for a prime time special occasion, but I think the bold colors can work to elevate floral designs by providing a depth of color and richness. Learning to blend colors within a design is an important part of the creative process which comes with practice. Bridging pinks, peaches, yellows, purples, and oranges, is not an easy task but seasonality is really our friend and helps us to accomplish this. Summer flowers are truly our companions to exciting summer works.
Carrying the eye through a design from beginning to end is testament of true talent and artful skill. Christin has pulled dried fern from the lowest point and extended them through the piece. Meanwhile poppies, ranunculus, and French tulips hold their heads up on every level. Designs like this really hold your attention and can open your eyes to the beautiful stages of a flower’s or plant’s life.
Christin Geall is a Canadian floral designer, writer, gardener, photographer, and author. Her new book, Cultivated: Elements of Floral Style(Princeton Architectural Press, 2020) is scheduled to be release sometime next spring. Trained in horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, she completed a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology and a MFA in writing before becoming a gardening columnist for Gardenista and the Black Press Group, an Adjunct professor, and designer.
Her writing and floral work focuses on the intersections of nature, culture, and horticulture. I hope you enjoyed this small collection of Christin’s work. No matter what the color palette or material, she creates stunning combinations. Taking the time to study her work, the lighting, and her passion for flowers, I hope will Cultivate your inspiration and your desire to put beauty out into the world.
Scott Shepherd
Bio, Designs, and Photographs by Christin Geall
Reliable Flowers for Large Scale Design
With the awakening of floral designs to the no floral foam movement, the need for information on tested products that can last out of water for an extended period of time is more valuable than ever. After talking with Susan McCleary for the upcoming release of her episode on The Flower Podcast, we had time to talk about the need for this information, and she shared her list with us.
Image by Amanda Dumouchelle Photography
This elegant flower garland/column has an amazing collection of long lasting flowers. The above picture has anthuriums, gerbera daisies, lisianthus, plumosa, stephanotis vine, lilies, and spray roses. LaPorcshia, the model, is holding a single stephanotis vine.
Below is a featured list of Susan McLeary’s Reliable Flowers & Foliage for Large Scale Designs.
Garden Rose Favorites of Rose Story Farm®
What an experience to sit down with Danielle Dall’Armi and Bill Hahn to learn about their garden rose farm. To hear the many challenges of farming like insects or downy mildew, add damage from the devastating fires in California or the mud slide/flows that not once but twice moved through their property, only helps me appreciate the love and effort that goes into each beautiful stem. The roses below are a list of Dani’s Favorites. With wedding trends changing from year to year, different colors may be requested, but it’s nice to hear from the grower directly which garden rose are her favorites. Write them down and enjoy! Hopefully at some point this year, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the colors and fragrance of garden roses!