Debra Prinzing

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SLOW FLOWERS: Week 6

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

“A Display of Daffodils”

A trio of fresh, enticing elements creates this cheery arrangement

A trio of fresh, enticing elements creates this cheery arrangement

Ingredients:
15 stems black pussy willow (Salix gracilistyla ‘Melanostachys’), grown by Charles Little & Co.
12 stems ‘King Alfred’ daffodils (Narcissus ‘King Alfred’)
7 stems maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris), grown by Peterkort Roses
Vase:
8-inch tall x 6½-inch diameter green-tinted glass vase

 

Start with a framework of twigs...then add other stems of flowers and foliage

Start with a framework of twigs…then add other stems of flowers and foliage

Eco-technique

Timing is everything: I love all three ingredients in this charming arrangement, but there is one drawback to mixing and matching them. The pussy willows gave me two full weeks of enjoyment; the daffodils looked great for a full seven days; and the maidenhair fern began to dry out after just a few days. Maidenhair ferns hail from tropical rain forests, meaning they prefer warm, damp, shaded conditions. Our homes are too dry for their liking.
The best way to extend the life of a maidenhair fern (as a cut ingredient or as a house plant) is to keep it out of sunlight, away from a heat source and frequently misted with water.
NOTE: Each Sunday of this year, I will post my photographs, “recipe” and tip for that week’s floral arrangement, created for my new book, Slow Flowers. Enjoy the floral journey through 52 weeks of the year~

SLOW FLOWERS: Week 5

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

“Callas and Cherry Branches”

Simple, graceful, seasonal: Calla Lilies and Flowering Cherry Branches

Simple, graceful, seasonal: Calla Lilies and Flowering Cherry Branches

Ingredients:
9 stems white calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica), grown by Oregon Coastal Flowers
6 branches white flowering cherry (Prunus sp.), harvested by Oregon Coastal Flowers
Vase:
20-inch tall x 7-inch long x 5-inch wide clear glass vase
Place a layer of pebbles in the bottom of this vase to give it visual weight
Love the ombre-coloring on these calla lilies!

Love the ombre-coloring on these calla lilies!

From the Farmer
Calla curve: When cut, your callas may have a tendency to curve. Patrick Zweifel says this is normal and can be minimized by storing the cut flowers (heads down) in a box overnight. Also, once they are cut and placed in a
vase, leave the curved flowers toward the container’s outside rim. The callas will naturally straighten up toward the center.
NOTE: Each Sunday of this year, I will post my photographs, “recipe” and tip for that week’s floral arrangement, created for my new book, Slow Flowers. Enjoy the floral journey through 52 weeks of the year~