Flower of the Month: Calla Lily

December (and 2014) ends in a couple of days, so it's probably a good idea to finally write about this month's flower, which is the elegant and dramatic calla lilies.

I don't just love them for their good looks. They're great because they're quite low-maintenance. The stems absorb and hold water, which is why they have such a long vase life. They do benefit from a stem trim every few days because the ends of the stems can get clogged. They're hardy too, which make them perfect for corsages and boutonnieres.

They're available year-round, but late winter to late spring is the peak season. When I buy them at the grocery stores or wholesaler, I simply checked that there are no bruising or pollination. Unfortunately, they're quite expensive, so I try not to use them too often.

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year to all!

Calla lilies look magnificent on their own

They also look great as accent flowers

I love them so much! Proof: my wedding bouquet comprised of these flowers

Fall-inspired Centerpieces

Creating arrangements inspired by autumn is my favorite. I love the vibrant hues and with the abundance of flowers in season during fall like kale, mums, dahlias, peppers, and hydrangeas, I'm able to create arrangements with lots of lush textures. Here are a few arrangements I've created in the past few weeks. 

artichoke, monkey tail, spray rose, chrysanthemum (aka mum), peppers and eucalyptus in a woodland planter

ranunculus, spray rose, dried lotus pod, scabiosa pod, chamomile and green trick dianthus in a burlap-covered vase

dahlia, green trick dianthus, mini pineapple, mini calla lily, eucalyptus and globeflower in a cube 

kale, ginger flower, pennycress, yarrow and trachelium in a metal flower pot

hypericum berry, pincushion protea, hydrangea, yarrow, celosia and spray mum in a metal vase

mum, hypericum berry, yarrow, spray rose and queen anne's lace in a metal vase

protea, veronica, tulips, oncidium orchid and sweet william with the sweetest Eiffel Tower ribbon

Flower of the Month: Pin Cushion Protea

For November, I'm highlighting one of my favorite flowers--pin cushion protea. One of my favorites because it's unusual-looking yet stunning. Definitely show-stoppers! This flower is named so because it looks like a pincushion filled with pins. It also reminds me of fireworks or sea life. They come in red, orange and yellow.

Fun facts about pin cushion protea:

• it is a member of one of the oldest families of flowers on earth, dating back 300 million years
• a symbol of transformation, diversity and courage
• peak seasons are late spring and autumn when the flowers yield a much bigger head
• native to South Africa and grow like hedges in dry, mountainous regions 

 I love these flowers on their own and composed with other flowers in arrangements (to add some whimsy).

at the flower market 

A red pincushion protea adding a pop of a red in an autumn-inpired arrangement

Flower of the Month: Sunflower

For October, let's talk about sunflowers. I can't help but smile when they're around. Besides bringing cheer and warmth to the room, they are economically important as they are a source of oil, dye and seeds for us. They are mostly available in the summer but also available in the spring and fall. I love using them as a focal flower in rustic arrangements, and even just one stem is impactful! Some arrangements I've created for my home with sunflowers and any leftover flowers I had on hand:

Sweet Woodruff's Floral Retreat

Last month, I had the most wonderful opportunity to attend Sweet Woodruff's fall flower retreat. I've been a fan of Sweet Woodruff and its owner, Lisa Collins, since the beginning of my flower journey. I love her design style--so natural and effortless with a sophisticated touch. I read her blog, and I was so excited when she posted about offering a three-day workshop. I had to attend even it meant being away from my husband on our wedding anniversary and canceling and rescheduling a few appointments. I'm glad I did because I learned so much about the flower business and the icing on the cake? It took place in a delightful town called Minden Hills, ON. It was a few hours from Toronto and little bit isolated but totally okay. In my opinion, peace and quiet are key ingredients in any type of retreats!    

My darling room! We stayed in the most charming lakeside cottage and had the most delectable meals while there. 

As mentioned above, I learned a ton. During our first day, we talked about the business side of flowers--marketing and sourcing. 

Day two was all about playing with flowers. The Sweet Woodruff team demonstrated their techniques for creating a centerpiece and a wedding bouquet, and then we design our own. We had the chance to use the most gorgeous blooms in our designs!

Glorious sweet peas!

I've been wanting to design with Juliet garden roses forever, and I was thrilled I finally had a chance.

Sweet Woodruff's marvelous and artful demo centerpiece.

The final day comprised of a collaborative photo shoot (my first one ever!). Here is When He Found Her, a super talented film photographer named Reid Lambshead, shooting my centerpiece and pretty Lauren, one of Lisa's team members, modeling my bouquet for the styled shoot. Sweet Woodruff showed the attendees how to style a shoot, which is so fun but definitely a lot of work. I can't wait to see Reid's professional pics! 

Lisa's style, talent, attention to detail and work ethic are unmatched. It was an unbelievable privilege to have met her and see her in action. l left Canada totally inspired! 

Floral Design Tips - Part 2

For our second installment of Tips and Tricks, let's discuss alternatives to floral foams, which is a design trick I try to avoid as much as possible. It's sponge-like substance that retains water and is porous so the flower stems are easily inserted. They're popular because they hold flowers securely for transport and work in a variety of container shapes.

above photo from www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com

However, there are many terrible things about it:

1. harmful to the environment (petroleum-based and doesn't ever decompose)
2. carcinogenic and inhaling the dust that comes off the dry foam should be avoided
3. time-consuming to use because they have to be properly soaked in water first and then taped into containers
4. flowers can get clogged up and then can't drink water (in fact, some flowers hate them, like tulips, sunflowers and hydrangeas)
5. costly because unlike the floral frogs, which can be used repeatedly, foams are a one-time use only product 

Because of all these cons, I only use them when I don't have any other options. Instead of foam, here are mechanics I like to use:

When using a low and wide vessel, floral frogs work well. I love that they're reusable and don't take that long to glue onto the vase.  

photo from rootstoblooms.com

Chicken wire is another option.

photo from rootstoblooms.com

A grid of waterproof tape on the mouth of the vase (as discussed here).

Stay tuned for more tips and tricks in the future!

Flower of the Month: Hydrangea

Welcome to another installment of Flower of the Month! For this month, let's highlight the beautiful summer/early fall flower, hydrangeas! These days, they are blooming everywhere in the neighborhood. I think most florists have a love/hate relationship with them. They wilt easily and need additional prep work to last. But with their large, round blooms, hydrangeas are gorgeous as a base flower in arrangements. They provide a cushion for other flowers in place.

Below are some hydrangea-specific conditioning tips I've learned in the past:

1. As with other flowers, cut stems in an angle. But I also cut up the center for the stems for additional water absorption. Hydrangeas LOVE water (in fact, hydrangea translates to "water barrel" in Greek). 
2. Revive wilted hydrangeas by submerging them in water for a few hours. Fill a tub or deep bucket with tepid water and then place the flowers lying down in the water. As mentioned above, they love water and need to drink from the top, too.  
3. Believe it or not, alum, the spice, is a hydrangea's best friend. Sometimes when you cut hydrangeas, they form a sticky substance over the cut that prevents the flower from drinking water.  Alum prevents that sticky substance. After cutting the stem, immediately place the bottom 1/2″ of the stem in the alum and then arrange as usual. This spice does turn the water dark, so it's best to use an opaque vase when making an arrangement.

at the flower market

at the High Line

a large scale arrangement with lace cap hydrangeas I made at FlowerSchool NY

Tips for lasting flowers

Fresh flowers can definitely cheer up the bluest of moods and add some life and warmth to a room. Their beauty, freshness, aroma and the fact that they are only in that vase for a short time reminds you to enjoy them while you are fortunate enough to have them around. Here are some tips to ensure your flowers stay fresh as long as possible:

1. Change water every 24 hours to discourage bacterial growth. Nothing kills flowers faster than having to drink dirty water. To change water, gently lift the flowers up, dump the old water and then put new water in the vase. 
2. Remove any flower from the arrangement that have faded so it does not contaminate the other flowers. 
3. Keep it away from direct sunlight, excessive heat, televisions, appliances or heating or cooling units, which give off heat and wilt flowers. 
4. If possible, re-cut stems with a sharp floral knife or clippers every other day. When trimming flowers, cut stems at a 45 degree angle. This exposes the greatest surface area of the stem and allows the flower to absorb as much water as it can. 
5. Be sure that there is no foliage at or below the waterline as those leaves will decay and cause the growth of bacteria. 
6. Avoid placing flowers beside fruits or vegetables as they give off ethylene, which is a gaseous hormone (not harmful to humans) in the plant that induces the flower to drop its petals and become a fruit.

Treat yourself with some flowers today!  

Summer Blooms

It's mid-August, and it's that time of year when flowers really love to show off. Love it! Here are photos I took of my most favorite summer flowers from the last two months.

foxgloves: I hope for a chance to arrange with these flowers soon.

clematis: I haven't had a chance to design with these flowers either. I found them at the flower mart recently, but they were so expensive! :(

chamomile: they make such a charming filler flower.

delphinium: not too many flowers that are naturally blue, so I love these flowers!

allium: another flower I would love to use in a design.

sunflower: how can you not smile when these flowers are around?!

roses: July's flower of the month

zinnias: another happy flower and a favorite of butterflies. They come in vivid red,yellow, orange, pink, green, and purple. I tried to grow these in my backyard as I heard and read that they are easy to grow.  They didn't grow, unfortunately. I don't think my yard gets enough sunlight and I didn't water them! Oops!

lilies: I love their scent, and as a floral designer, I love that they are long-lasting!

dahlias: to me, they symbolize late summer (August's flower of the month, too)

hydrangeas: it seems to be the favorite of many. 

yarrow: I used these flowers at a flower arrangement class with young girls, and they loved them for their awesome texture (reminded them of honeycomb). 

I also love hibiscus. It's Hawaii's state flower and they love the sun and heat. 

Flower of the Month: Dahlia

For August, let's talk about dahlias, which are, in my opinion, truly works of art! The dahlia comes in lots of varieties, sizes (from small, ball types to dinner-plate types) and colors (red, white, yellow, orange, burgundy and fuchsia). Because of their tremendous beauty, just a single stem in a small vase looks spectacular. I also have a soft spot for this flower because as previously mentioned, I started learning floral design last summer. As they start to bloom here during the middle to late summer, I practiced a lot with making floral arrangements using dahlias, which were plentiful at the local farmers' market when I was initially learning how to design.

Some tips I've learned about buying and arranging with them:
1. They start to wilt from the outer petals toward the center, so I check the back of the flowers for freshness.

2. They wilt easily. It helps to get rid of foliage to make them last longer.

3. Unfortunately, vase life is around 5 days.

Here are dahlia photos from my visit last week to the Biltmore House, the awe-inspiring family home built by George and Edith Vanderbilt. What a spectacular place! I highly recommend a visit if you are ever near Asheville, NC area. It was mind-blowing to walk around the garden, and this time of the year, the dahlias were showing off.

check out the bees on the above picture

FlowerSchool New York

It's almost the first anniversary of leaving my finance job for a career in flowers! Miserable, stressed and on the verge of burnout, I gave my two weeks notice and left on 8/2/2013. There was a part of me that felt leaving a stable, well-paying career was crazy, but I've been dreaming of a more creative and fulfilling life for a very long time, so I made the leap. It's been a great year with many floral highlights worthy of documenting so I may never forget (some lowlights too!). One of the highlights is attending FlowerSchool New York.

I actually knew little about flowers this time last year except I adore them and felt excited about learning. I googled "flower school" and found that floral design classes are offered at cities all over the world. I researched like crazy and found FlowerSchool NY as the best option for me. I liked that FlowerSchool NY offered a five-day, all-day intensive program for beginners, and that was perfect because if I ended up not liking floral design, I only wasted one week of my life. Most schools had their basic classes spread over several weeks meeting for 2 hours per each session. I appreciate that at FlowerSchool NY, I'll learn a lot in shorter time. Plus, there was icing on the cake: I get visit NYC, which is one of my favorite cities and only a short plane ride away from Chicago.

large scale arrangement perfect for an entryway or display table

The week of learning floral design surpassed my expectations! I learned so much in a week--how to use a florist knife and clipper, how to process flowers to lengthen their lives, how to navigate the flower market, and of course, how to design bouquets and arrangements of all shapes, sizes and styles. The class comprised of about 15 aspiring floral designers and hobbyists, who were all so nice and eager to learn and The FlowerSchool staff were so inspiring, knowledgeable and open to sharing what they know.

a low garden-inspired centerpiece

I love that place so much that I went back 3 times! For my second time, I took the school's flower shop series. It was actually more of a business course for two days. We talked about pricing, marketing and managing costs, customer relationships and operations. We had homework that entailed preparing pro forma income statements (so glad my finance/accounting background isn't going to waste!). But it wasn't all business. Each students had to create 2 original arrangements in a timed manner based on pretend orders. It's important to work fast in floral design. It was not unlike being on Project Runway! Instead of Tim Gunn, Sullivan Owen, an alumni as well one of the best designers out there provided guidance. She, along with Eileen Johnson, founder and creative director of the school, gave constructive, detailed feedback on my two designs. Seriously, to this day, after I finish an arrangement, I ask myself, "would this pass the Sullivan/Eileen test?"!

The third time in April, I went to see Ariella Chezar for two design workshops. She has her own workshops (which I hope to attend one day), but she also holds a few classes a year at FlowerSchool. I love her style--loose, airy and natural with a freshly-picked from the garden look. She is pretty much a floral icon who helped champion local and seasonal flowers and foliage. Under her tutelage, we learned the compote arrangement and soft cascade bouquet. These two classes had a handful of hobbyists, but there were some established florists who were fans of Ariella. So besides learning from Ariella, I got to network! I met a few and exchanged contact info. Priceless!

a wedding bouquet in soft cascade style with hellebores, anemones and grape hyacinths

Last month, husband had a two-day work trip and went with him. I signed up for two classes. First, I learned how to line an entire chuppah with flowers with Beth Horta, the school's design director. I'm so glad I attended as I learned a few new mechanics. Then I attended a master workshop with Olivier Giugni. I'm also glad I took his class because his signature style is quite unique. I would describe it as contemporary and constructed, and I really haven't had much experience with this look.

at FlowerSchool NY, you get to play with high-quality, gorgeous blooms

Currently, I don't have any plans to go back to NYC (I've run out of airlines miles and hotel points!). Hopefully, I get to attend more classes there in future because there is always more to learn! And it's also such an inspiring place. There are so many non-floral tasks when launching a floral design business (sales, marketing, bookkeeping, developing supplier relationships, etc.) that are frustration-inducing at times. It's wonderful just to play with flowers that's been curated for you in an inspiring  and organized space. It is a chance to design just for me, without anyone to please, and remember why I chose to work with flowers in the first place.

So, FlowerSchool NY, I say thank you for facilitating the start of a new career a year ago!