Wed, Jun 17, 20
Welcome to your Box of Blooms
June 16-30, 2020
Greetings flower lovers!! You've just received your Belle Fleur Box of Blooms and it's time to bring Summer into your home and start channeling your inner floral designer. In this week's segment, noted floral designer Meredith Waga Perez, owner and Creative Director of acclaimed floral & event design boutique, Belle Fleur, will walk you through a step-by-step process on how to clean and condition the stunning flowers that have landed on your doorstep, directly from Holland. She'll also guide you on how to design and create beautiful arrangements with these blossoms, ensuring your home will look and feel amazing.
5.1 Conditioning & Designing Chamomile
Tips for working with Chamomile
Chamomile is the ultimate 'country' flower with its tiny button flowers with bright yellow centers. It will brighten up any spot in your home and is sure to make you smile.
Chamomile smells lovely and looks great, but it requires a bit of work. Be sure to lay a protective layer on your work surface to avoid any staining from the pollen and get to work stripping ALL the greenery.
We strip all the greens leaving only the stems and the flowers. We do this because the leaves tend to wilt and die within 24 hours but the flowers live on for some time. Refreshen the water daily.
All that conditioning will be worth it when you see your arrangement lighting up your space. This sturdy flower should last so long as you change the water and trim the stems daily.
5.2 Conditioning & Designing Peonies
Tips for working with Peonies
We're nearing the end of peony season ands these Elsa Sass White Peonies are beauties. They'll bloom to a nice size but be sure to keep refreshing the water daily.
Trim the stems at an angle to the right size, depending on your vase, and we like to strip most of the leaves. Be sure to use cool water and keep it out of direct sunlight.
The Elsa Sass are known for their outer red trim, which quickly falls away as the flowers open and bloom. Some heads will come in tight - if you want to open them up faster, use warmer water.
We like to keep the peonies as tall as possible and we strip most of the leaves so the heads receive water unimpeded. For ease, we like the loose, free and natural look.
5.3 Working with Eremerus & Calla Lilies
Tips for working with Eremerus & Callas
Eremerus, also known as Foxtail Lily for it's large curled, fluffy bloom atop a long stem. The Foxtail Lily is sleek and modern looking and very easy to work with, requiring no pre-conditioning.
These yellow Calla Lilies are so bright and colorful. Their long stems allow you to design either tall or short arrangements. Cut the stems at an angle and place in cool water.
We like to stagger the lengths of the stems to get a natural look. Not all of the florets will bloom but Eremerus will still look stunning and impressive.
We chose to cut the Calla Lilies down and used a symmetrical look with crisscrossing stem pattern in a oblong vase. Be sure to change the water out daily.
5.4 Conditioning & Designing Vanda Orchids
Tips for working with Vanda Orchids
Vanda Orchids are long-lasting and sturdy. The brilliant color will dazzle you but be sure to remove the water tube and trim the stem before placing in cool water.
The multi-flowered stems have a beautiful, speckled pattern on each flower - delicate, as if hand painted. Each stem arrives with a water tube to help preserve them.
It's ok to snip a flower or two to ensure a good fit in your vase of choice. Keep the clipped flowers and float them in shallow bowls with cool water. Makes for a beautiful accent piece.
The end result will be stunning! We used clear tape in a gridded pattern to keep the stems from falling over. The orchids should last for some time as long as you keep them in a cool place and change the water daily.
Want to share your beautiful designs?
Send an image of your arrangement to meredith@bellefleurny.com so we can feature it here!