End of March

We have a sweet wedding and a few deliveries this weekend. Nothing I can't handle. But for some reason I was plagued by floral nightmares last night. Again, I arrive at the market and there are no rununculus, no tulips... just vanda orchids. The funny thing is in my dreams the NYC flower market always looks the same. It's like what I imagine ye' old New York to be like. Pushcarts and gas lit street lights. The flowers are displayed on flat tables. Weird. I guess I'm having beginning of the season jitters. I need to remember spring is my season. I love spring! Stay close to yourself, I whisper in to myself. Stay tuned to your own expression and you will be rewarded. I really want to stay in balance this year. I am making a true effort to stay sane. I will work hard but I will be present for my family and myself.

On another note I read a depressing article about extreme weather in the NY Times this morning. In the market, the Israeli peonies are hard as rocks because they had record low temps this year. Still waiting on Holland and France. I'm wondering about flowering branch for the rest of spring. The guys will be digging deep into the woods of Vermont to bring stuff in for May weddings...we hope. I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens last weekend. Take a look. A walk in nature helps.

Black, White and Red

And now for something completely different. The Brooklyn Museum held a VIP dinner for the opening of the Keith Haring exhibition the other night. We created these modern lush beauties to adorn the tables. It worked perfectly and were a breeze to make.

Again

AHA! Look what a friend spotted on Martha Stewart and forwarded to me (thank you Kat).  There is that funny finger vase again. This time with a much more contained arrangement than mine. I think I might put frilly pink peonies in it next. Yes? Stay tuned.

image from Martha Stewart

Reaching for the Sky

So back on the tall arrangements. Here is one from last weekend that included allium, spirea, french tulips, light blue irises, gorgeous large fritillaria, snowball viburnum and something called lindera - which are those small yellow flowers on the branch. The overall effect was very lacy and airy. I tucked a green leaf in the side as a cuff to ground it a bit. I'm over thinking, no?

Big Blue

Hello friends. I'm in such a great mood today. Who can help it with the glorious weather? The pear trees are in full bloom on Columbia Street and I'm actually drinking an iced coffee! Love. And what I love even more is this arrangement. Let's talk tall arrangements. What do you do? I always hesitate when being asked to create something tall. I'm not sure why? I obviously gravitate towards the spiky flowers - delphinium, larkspur, eremurus. On a side gripe...what I would give for foxglove or hollyhock! (damn you west coast florists and your amazing local farmers). Anyway, of course flowering branch is always gorgeous and gives you great height but sometimes, the budget does not allow. I needed something with presence and on price point. I wanted to keep it simple by only use 3 ingredients - deep blue delphinium, purple clematis and camelia foliage. I have another couple of tall guys coming up that included more stuff. I'll show you tomorrow. I do hope you get some time to spend outdoors today.