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In a Vase on Monday - via the AIFD at the NWFGS

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No doubt some of you remember seeing a few of these photos on the Outlaw's blog, for that reason I almost didn't post them. But ya know, we all see things differently...and I want to make sure I have these photos to refer to in the future, so I must make them mine...

Orange and pink — I continue to do battle with this combination of colors. I love orange, and I love a whole heck of a lot of plants that happen to have pink flowers. How to reconcile their disagreement? These designers didn't seem to care.

In case you're wondering here is the low-down on the AIFD...

Established in 1965, the American Institute of Floral Designers is, today, the floral industry’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to establishing, maintaining and recognizing the highest standard of professional floral design. AIFD and its worldwide accredited members are in the forefront of the industry in presenting educational design programs and in designing flowers for such renowned events as the Tournament of Roses Parade, Academy Awards and Presidential Inaugurations. They are an extraordinary group of talented artists.

The annual symposium is being held this summer in Seattle, hence their booth at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show.

I found the reliance on folded and contorted leaves a little over the top. For instance this one, it was a little too tortured. And why couldn't the Anthurium be held within the knotted Phormium leaf? Why did it need to puncture it?

Weaving and braiding.

And perfectly lovely leaves that have had this folding, bondage, technique used on them? Do you like this?


But it wasn't all about foliar torture, there were flowers to appreciate.

I was crushing heavy on those linear, feathery things. Turns out they might be the fertile fronds of Blechnum spicant? (which I only know becasue of a response to my question here)

While I was all for the mixing of edible and decorative in the floral competition displays (here) I kind of think the carrot, apple and beet (is that what the thing on the left is?) is taking it a bit too far.

And we aren't even going to talk about that orange plastic.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be negative. I'm all for people having fun with flowers and vase arrangements.

I just felt like these were a little too, gimmicky.

But if they caught people's attention (like they caught mine, and Peter's) then they can't be all bad.

After all everyone should enjoy flowers, in whatever way they like!

With that in mind here are a few links I wanted to share. First up an article from the NY Times, "What Happened to Traditional Floral Bouquet" which looks at an entirely different (from these photos) way of using flowers. Then, also from the NYT, a look at their favorite florists on Instagram. I found a few new ones to follow.

Jennifer Jewell, who hosts the podcast "Cultivating Place" on NSPR (North State Public Radio), recently talked with Erin Benzakein, of Floret Flower Farm and the newly released book (which I'm reading right now) Cut Flower Garden. Listen to that here. For an equally interesting look at growing flowers, on a slightly less commercial scale, listen to her interview with Christin Geall, the founder of Cultivated, an urban flower farm and design studio, and a teacher of creative non-fiction at the University of British Columbia in Victoria, here.

Finally, visit Cathy at Rambling in the Garden, for a look at us regular old gardeners who enjoy our flowers and foliage by putting together an arrangement weekly (or so) and sharing them here.

Weather Diary, April 2: Hi 56, Low 40/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

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