8th March, 2021

 

Dried agapanthus and roses in ceramic container

Hello all,

The arrangement, above came about in an unusual way.  Vicky, who has even more agapanthus plants than me, brought to class some dried as well as fresh flowers for the students to take home. They were left on the ground outside the garage and, after everyone left, I went to clean up. I picked up the bunch of dried, curved agapanthus to put in the garden refuse bin but I was struck by how lovely the bunch was and couldn't throw it away. I kept it in exactly the shape it was, changing only the black tie and made an arrangement with it.

The bunch as I found it

Last week's class theme for the advanced students was an arrangement 'In a Tsubo Vase'. We concentrated on the different mechanics needed to support the branches. Once the students were finished, I gave each one a stem of amaranthus to add to their arrangement as a surprise element.

My arrangement in a tsubo vase. I used dried and painted acacia aphylla,
Port St John creeper and nandina domestica nana in a ceramic container

Maren used Japanese flowering quince, asters,nandina flowers and
the hanging amaranthus

Jenny used fig branches, dahlias and amaranthus

Vicky likes making this type of long arrangement for her buffet in the dining room. She used liquid amber branches
which, even though she thinned out the leaves, still look very full, roses, Port St John creeper and amaranthus.

Nicole used hawthorn branches, sedum and amaranthus

Bredenia used Japanese maple, roses, alstroemeria 
psittacina and amaranthus

Lucy is particularly fond of the golden elm tree and uses it often. Here
she added roses all the way to the back of the arrangement and the 
amaranthus in a dull silver, ceramic container.

Shannen's arrangement was a revision of 'With leaves only'.

Shaneen used flax, elk horn, calla and aspidistra leaves in ceramic
container

Lei's exercise was 'Sketching and Arranging', where students sketch out the arrangement they intend to make before making it. Invariably, the resulting arrangement will be different to the original sketch, either slightly or significantly. That can be due to the materials, mechanics, student's skill etc.

Lei used cordylines, aeonium and sedum in ceramic vase

It is the season for berries and I have been playing with them. I like using them on the branch with or without leaves but, also, on their own. Two tips when using berries this way - avoid pulling the berries off the stem. Instead cut them from the tiny stalk with scissors. Also, if you're going to float them, test them first in a bowl of water to make sure they all float. If one or two sink to the bottom, it an be difficult to remove them.

Black Portugal laurel berries, crab apples and
New Zealand flax

Portugal laurel berries and hawthorn berries
in two glass vases

Bye for now,

Emily