L'Art du Bouquet

In Celebration of the Spring Bouquet

 

    J’ adore le bouquet Francais! Whenever I visit Paris, I am drawn to the adorable, portable, round French bouquet that is ubiquitous in every Parisian flower boutique, on every street corner, and in the most fashionable shops. These are not simple garden flowers hastily arranged or the stiff, formulaic compositions that are still far too common here. There is nothing dated or frumpish about these bold couture creations. Au contraire! The French bouquet is a classic floral style that is constantly updated with of-the-moment trends in fashion and the decorative arts to exude tres chic style and panache. They are designed to inspire and command attention, become the life of the party, and bring a sense of joie de vivre and conviviality to special occasions and everyday life.

The classic French bouquet is all about technique, style, and attitude. French bouquets are remarkably intricate and complex expressions of floral art, relying on fresh combinations of unusual materials, a jaunty focus on color, and punctuated by surprisingly whimsical notes. At the same time, they are deceptively simple (with practice!) to make. Start with either a classic glass vase or an organic container, an abundance of seasonal flowers, and a few creative accents, master a few techniques for putting it altogether – and voila! You, too, can make a sassy, elegant bouquet with a decidedly French twist.

Choosing materials. Round flowers make the best round bouquets, so use flowers with a round face. These include roses, ranunculas, mums, daisies, sunflowers, etc. These are the focal point flowers of your bouquet. In addition, select smaller, complementary flowers for texture and to provide depth to the round outline. Here, I’m using hypericum berries, lavender, mimosa, and olive branches to give texture and interest to an early summer sunflower bouquet. Finally, add special finishing touches to personalize your bouquet such as fruits and vegetables, folded leaves, trailing vines, shells, colored wire or ribbon.

 

             Building the framework. Create the outline of the bouquet by adding stems of the focal flower, building your design from the bottom up. Let the stems support each other, creating an organic grid, for a more natural look.

          Creating the shape. Start filling in the framework with smaller flowers, other textural elements and greens. Cut stems to the right length to create a smooth, overall round shape. Hint: If you cut a stem too short, wire another piece of stem to the bottom to make the flower the correct height.

          Finishing touches. When you think the bouquet is done, pack in more flowers and foliage. When the bouquet is full, round, and complete, use finishing elements to create additional impact. For a spring bouquet of jonquils and daisies, wire feathers on floral picks and insert into the bouquet. A fall bouquet could mix colorful mums and viburnum berries with mini-pumpkins to create a charming seasonal display. For an elegant companion to roses, place individual cymbidium orchids amidst the flowers. In a bouquet of spring flowers and vegetables, add fresh herbs and berries to the mix, setting the composition in a container of chartreuse-colored banana peppers for maximum effect.

Bloom and Gloom: Flower Tips for the Current Economy

Throughout history, flowers have been associated with exaggerated exuberance:  think of the lavish confections of roses and lilacs in the court of Versailles, the Dutch tulip mania in the 1600s, or the Victorian-era obsession with hidden meanings of flowers and florid floral décor.  Contemporary floral trends, while decidedly more muted and sedate, still celebrate flowers as a desirable element for marking life’s special occasions – or for just enjoying everyday life. It seems that whether it’s an era of economic boom or bust, flowers transcend practical considerations to become an object of fancy and desire.  

Yet, the relentlessly bad economic news can put a damper on even the most enthusiastic flower aficionado.  After all, flowers are expensive and ephemeral and are easy to dismiss as a frivolous and ultimately wasteful expense. 

But if you subscribe to the notion that flowers have intangible qualities that provide charm, beauty and happiness, the challenge becomes how to integrate them – stylishly and inexpensively – into your recession-era lifestyle.  Here are some flower tips to remind you that spring is on the way and that the economy will get better soon.

 1.  Buy seasonal flowers.  The least expensive flowers are always the ones you can buy locally in season from the farmers’ market or from the grocery store.  This time of year, the daffodils and tulips make their debut, providing a cost-effective, heart-lifting glimpse of spring.  In addition, spring branches are always a good buy, offering high impact and longevity for a relatively low price.  Look for quince, pussy willow and curly willow tips to display now and over the next few week as the buds unfold.  (photo above by Kate Headley)

2.  Use a single flower judiciously.  It’s a well-known fact that one carefully selected focal point flower conveys more impact than a jumbled collection of uninspiring flowers or arrangements.  The key to getting a sleek, modern look is to invest in a single, elegant flower such as a phaleonopsis orchid or Dutch hydrangea, and present it creatively – in a beautiful container, slanted on an angle, or in pairs or groupings.  (You can find them at Red Barn Mercantile) 

 3.  Use less expensive flowers en masse.  On the other hand, if you admire unabashed extravagance and want an opulent look for less, a good strategy for stretching your floral dollar is to use large amounts of inexpensive flowers (e.g., daisies, carnations, etc.) in a large, monochromatic bouquet.  (photo byRobinson Photo).

4.  Add fruits and vegetables to flower arrangements.  A top tip from L’Ecole des Fleurs, the French flower school in Paris, is to incorporate fruits and vegetables in floral arrangements.  Fresh seasonal produce adds color and bulk – as well as a contemporary touch – to traditional bouquets and is an economical alternative to flowers.  Use vegetables such as green beans, carrots, or celery to create organic containers and add seasonal produce, (e.g., apples, artichokes, or lemons) as accents in flower arrangements.  Unusual elements, including potatoes and onions, can create surprising, yet effective, results.  (insert apple branch bouquet photo, credit:  and potato wreath. (photo by Kate Headley)

5.  Make a personal statement with flowers.  The most rewarding aspect of having flowers in the home is when you create something original, special and beautiful for yourself.  Look around your house and garden to locate materials and found objects that can be incorporated in your designs.  These elements, ranging from snippets of ribbon and paper to tiled fruit, can be used to craft bouquets that bring natural beauty and personal style to your interior décor. (photo credit "Orange" bouquet above left:  Kevin Allen.)