Whimsical Spring Design
Rainy days can be dreary days. But, not if you have bright and beautiful spring flowers in the house. In this video demonstration Leanne creates a whimsical, happy arrangement using children’s “puddle jumping” boots as a container. This is a great “rainy day sales” design for retail shop owners. Enjoy!
Video Transcription
Welcome to the Flower School.com video library. I'm Leanne Kesler, director of the Floral Design Institute. And today I'm here to share with you a whimsical spring design based in children's rubber boots. The mechanics are easy. I added gravel to the bottom of the boots for stability, and then I just set in a vase filled with water and flower food. That way, all I need to do is add all my favorite spring blossoms. To begin with, a base of foliage and some fun spring flowers, maybe a little bit of the oregonia. The colors are so bright with the variegation. Just setting it down in. Adding some into both, because I do want to keep them unified. Maybe a little bit of the pieris, or lily of the valley bush. You may know it by the common name. Removing the lower foliage, letting it drape across. Maybe a hyacinth for fragrance. Tucking it low, that way as it continues to grow and bloom out it won't get too heavy in the boot, but it has that touch of fragrance that's so fabulous. Then going on with different foliages, a little bit of Pittosporum, breaking it down, placing it in, getting that deeper green. Maybe a little bit of leather fern. Stripping the sides, giving it a cut and placing.
The base is established. Now I can start adding in my flowers, maybe some beautiful yellow spray roses. Again, removing all the lower foliage, giving it a cut. Just let it get nestled down in, weaving it into the foliage area. A hypericum in a real soft butter yellow. Green trick dianthus, adding a little more depth of green. Just a little bit of the button chrysanthemums. They're so perky and bright. Breaking it down, using the taller bit first. Then coming in with the shorter. Thinking about where I need just a little more yellow, maybe right in here with the hyacinth. Then adding a few more blooms and repeating it in the second boot.
As I finish, look at it from all sides. Turn it, double check, make sure you're balanced, and then add a little more texture. Maybe a touch of solidaster to give it a little fluffiness, coming up through the top. Maybe you'll find a hole that you need to add another rose or two. Filling it in, so it gets brightness everywhere and then repeat it with the other boot.
The final touch, just to get a little bit of movement, a small amount of lily grass. Just giving it a cut, setting it in, letting it trail outward. Repeat that a couple more places. The recipe, actually quite easy. I started with that base of pieris, some oregonia and some pittosporum. Then I added the three hyacinth tucked in, two in one boot, one in the other. Then I have seven spray roses, two spray mums, three hypericum, six are the green trick dianthus, and then three stems of solid aster. Last, just a few strands of lily grass to complete the design.
Spring design is so much fun. We have so many great flowers to work with, and then when you hunt around for a unique container, it really gets to be imaginative and exciting. You'll find more creative inspiration at our website, Flower School .com. If you have questions you can reach us through there or pick up the telephone and give us a call at (503) 223-8089.
So now, what are you going to create? It's your turn. Find some fun container, gather your flowers and design away. Then, be sure to take a picture, post it on social media and tag Floral Design Institute. That way we all can see what you create as you do something you love.
