A spectacular floral design in the vegetative style mixes spring flowers like muscari, daffodils, and sweet peas with green trick dianthus, andromeda, and budding huckleberry branches

Vegetative Spring Design

I love springtime. I love the longer days and the warming temperatures. But, most of all I love the flowers, foliages and budding branches that are unique to the spring season. For this slide show we asked David Kesler AIFD to create a design in the vegetative style. This style of design requires a naturalistic composition in which plant materials are positioned as they would grow in nature. This is David's favorite design style and his finished design is spectacular.

Materials for this floral design include daffodils, sweet peas, green trick dianthus, one branch of andromeda, budding huckleberry branches, a concrete container, and pea gravel.

STEP ONE:


In the strict application of Vegetative Design, the flowers and foliages should be those found growing together in a particular environment with emphasis placed on climatic, seasonal, geographical and topographical compatibility. The floral materials chosen for this design include three varieties of daffodils, sweet peas, green trick dianthus, a single branch of andromeda and budding huckleberry branches.

Line the concrete container, fill it with floral foam, and cover part of it with pea gravel.

STEP TWO:


A shallow unfinished concrete container was chosen for this design. The container was lined with plastic then filled completely with floral foam. Pea gravel was chosen as a basing material.

Place green trick dianthus blossoms into the foam at the base. Insert huckleberry branches to for vertical line.

STEP THREE:


Green trick dianthus blossoms look like fresh moss and inserted tightly into the foam make a wonderful secondary basing material. (Yes, a creative liberty was taken in the use of the green trick dianthus as moss.) The huckleberry branches add a vertical line to the arrangement. The addition of a single rock surrounded by the base of dianthus adds interest to the design.

Insert huckleberry and andromeda directly into the floral foam. Place sweet peas and daffodils in needle vases, then insert into the foam.

STEP FOUR:


The huckleberry and andromeda were inserted directly into the foam. The sweet peas and tiny daffodils were placed in needle vases which were then inserted into the foam. Needle vases are perfect for placing delicate stems in a floral arrangement. The only caution is that one must remember that the vases hold very little water and must be refilled frequently.

Notice that the flowers are arranged in groups as in nature.

STEP FIVE:


Notice that the flowers are arranged in groups, very much as they would be found in nature.

Add a needle vase with a cluster of muscari into the design.

STEP SIX:


A needle vase with a cluster of muscari has been added to the design along with additional gravel and green trick dianthus.

Complete the basing with additional gravel and green trick dianthus, then enhance the design with a thicket of huckleberry twigs.

STEP SEVEN:


The basing of gravel and dianthus is completed and the design is enhanced with a thicket of huckleberry twigs, much like one would find in nature.

Add huckleberry branches inserted horizontally to finish the design.

STEP EIGHT:


The addition of huckleberry branches inserted horizontally through the arrangement adds a dynamic line and completes the design.

This spectacular floral design in the vegetative style features spring flowers like muscari, daffodils, and sweet peas with green trick dianthus, andromeda, and budding huckleberry branches.

STEP NINE:


The finished design is a beautiful example of an interpretative vegetative design style.

Thanks to David Kesler AIFD for creating a beautiful spring-like floral design in the vegetative style. If you would like to learn more, join us in the Classroom or Online and study the theories of design with the Floral Design Institute Teachers.

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