Very Peri Flower Palette

Video Transcription 

The Pantone Color of the Year for 2022 Very Peri is fabulous. Here at Floral Design Institute we knew we needed to immediately make a Flower School video to share this courageous and creative color. It is so open for imaginative expressions. You've probably heard those keywords, so let's get started and look at it in flower style. 

When Very Peri was announced I was ecstatic. It's such a flower-friendly color. Starting with the blue, not flower-friendly, but then adding the undertones of the violet-red giving you that spectrum to work with there's so much available. Of course, you could go to the classic, the carnations, the roses. They fit the palette so well. One that I think is going to be strong, because it's almost perfect, is the agapanthus. It has the variations, the tints, the tones, and the shades that really reflect Very Peri. Then snapdragons, the Limonium family, and sweet peas, they come in that full spectrum. Calla lilies, how fabulous; clematis, and stock Matthiola. You can see so much to choose from. Then we haven't even begun looking at the orchid family. 

Starting with a large vase, it's filled with flower food water already premixed, and I added a few rocks in the bottom just to add a little contrast. For the mechanics on the top going to a floral netting cup that I can just lay right on, creating an armature. Squeezing it so some goes down in the center and some is coming over the edge to make sure it stays secure. Now when you're working with your flowers you always want to think about foliage as well. The eucalyptus family, with that blue-gray hue, absolutely perfect. Breaking it down, giving it a cut, and sliding it through down into the water. Letting it extend, coming around nice and full. Roses, they're a heavier bloom so maybe going a little bit shorter, creating some depth, adding to the focal emphasis. You can see I'm radiating through a central binding point, everything crossing towards the center. Coming in with the stock, the more muted tone that coordinates with the lighter tint, giving it a cut and it too radiating through from one side to the other, and just twisting to go through the armature, extending. And repeat. And make a decision, is it one-sided or two? I'm going to do two-sided and radiate all the way around. 

Now let's look at some of the other flowers that can fill in, following through. I mentioned the agapanthus, it's just so perfect. Cutting it down and then feeding it into the armature, giving that stability, bringing in the color. Mini asters, they come in a whole spectrum in that lavender palette. Veronica with its graceful drape. Twisting it until it fits in perfectly. Lavender, another one that this is their year. The lavender goes so well with that palette. And, again, adds fragrance. So you've got flower therapy, aromatherapy all in Very Peri style. Feeding it in. Grouping them because it's a little smaller, so that it for sure shows. Eryngium, going into that stronger blue. Then the callas, molding their stems so that they'll drape, giving you even greater extension. And giving it a cut and then finding the hole that's big enough for it because the stem is a little softer you want to make sure that you don't tear it, so sliding it in gently. The sweet peas, getting more of the tint, the lighter color and placing it in. Then, again, repeating all the way around. 

You may have wondered why I started with an armature rather than just weaving. Well the benefit is I can take shorter blooms, like the Phalaenopsis orchids, they're too short to go in the design but if I place them in a water tube they've got a water source. And the water tube will actually nestle right down into the armature holding it in place, so you don't have to glue it or anything and you have a water source. So going through, adding more orchids. Then to bring the lighter tints upwards in the design adding just a last touch, the snapdragons that can come up through the center. 

The recipe for this Very Peri arrangement there's a lot of different things in here. The reality is you can pick your favorites, you don't need some of everything like I did. Today I started with the gunnii eucalyptus, give me a soft base in that grayed palette. Then, and I've got samples down here to remind myself, snapdragons, and agapanthus, and calla lilies. I did three or four of each. Then, of course, the roses and the stock. I did seven of each. Sweet peas, mini asters, Veronica, lavender, and eryngium. Five to seven of each, just kind of dotted around. Then the fabulous miniature Phalaenopsis, three of those tubed and tucked in. You can see it makes quite a luxurious design. 

Looking back to the color wheel, thinking of that palette, there's so much more. Iris, delphinium, hydrangea, larkspur, clematis. You can take your own inventive creativity and invent a recipe that's perfect for you. If you need more creative inspiration, check out the website Flower School .com. If you have questions you can reach us through there, because now it's your turn. Create something fabulous. Be sure to take a picture, post it on social media, and hashtag Floral Design Institute that way we all can see what you do as you do something you love in Very Peri style.