A Bunch for the Weekend - # 78 - Anemones

It's always a pleasure and lots of fun to buy a bunch of flowers for the weekend and this series of blog posts, called 'A Bunch for The Weekend, will show you how you can make quick and easy flower arrangements for your home. 

Buy the flowers where it's convenient and easy for you whether that is from a flower stall, farmers' market, the supermarket or a florist. 

Always try to buy seasonal flowers - they will be a lot cheaper.

Make sure you condition the flowers as soon as you get home. Remove any foliage that will end up below the waterline in the vase. Trim the ends of the stems at an angle and put in fresh water as soon as possible.  

This week, on 'A Bunch for the Weekend', I'm featuring some hot pink Anemones. As a vase I'm using a vintage apothecary jar - that normally comes with a stopper. This one has a large enough neck to comfortably fit a handful of 10-15 stems.
  

Around the neck of the jar I have tied a few strands of black and white baker's twine. It picks up the dark and very beautiful centre of the Anemones.

Anemones can be quite delicate so they should be handled with care. They have a hollow hairy stem and should be placed in shallow water. In deep water they have a tendency to rot.

On a little white ceramic plate I have placed a mix of black vintage glass buttons, a pair of black clip-on earrings and a mini belt buckle. They are all from the Victorian era when black jewellery was very popular.   

I love Anemones with their almost black button centre and their frilly petal collar, They can be a little challenging to use as they continue to grow in the vase and the stems tend to bend. But it's well worth it as they come in so many gorgeous colours and they last much longer than you think!  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous and floral Friday!

I'll be be back on Sunday with another 'Florets' - a quote from a passionate flower lover.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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Creative with Flowers - # 3 - Pink Anemones and Tulips with Eucalyptus Foliage

Mixing a couple of different pinks with grey-green foliage is a great combination to use for a flower arrangement. 

What I have here are deep,dark pink anemones combined with two different pink tulips. I started with building a framework of eucalyptus foliage in quite a large zinc container. The eucalyptus will help to hold the flowers stems in position.

Here is an image of some of the props that I started with. I picked mainly black, a few different grey and a little bit of white.

It's a selection of mostly vases but also some odd, fun little things like black and white dice, vintage black-handled table knives, an empty picture frame and an ornate Victorian metalwork. Some of these objects I used to combine with the floral arrangement others didn't make it. 

The black objects is picking up the black center of the beautiful anemones and is also contrasting well with the pink and the grey foliage. A neutral light grey fabric anchors the arrangement on a dining- or sidetable. 

I kept the foliage quite long and I did the same with the anemones - they almost look like they are hovering or floating above the tulips.

I made a second small arrangement with just a few stems of the anemone - using one of the grey vases. This one I found in a charity store for very little money and I use it all the time.

Below is a close-up of the stunning anemones - not one of the easiest flowers to use - the petals are delicate and bruise very easily and as the flower open up and shed pollen - the pollen will stain the petals. 

So you have to handle the anemones with care - but while they are around grab the opportunity and buy a bunch and use them on their own or combined with other flowers and foliage. 

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral Wednesday!

I'll see you on Friday with another 'Bunch for the Weekend' -some more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

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Flowers of the Month - February 2016

3 February - Flowers and Ribbons -Wrapped up Flowers

It's the end of February and I'm back with 'Flowers of the Month' - where I'm featuring all the different flowers and floral arrangements I have posted during the last month. It's been a full and very busy month on the blog.

The title of the post under the image - is also a link to the post - if you would like to see it again or you missed it.

5 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - Blue Hyacinths



7 February - Florets - Floral Quote by Alathea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo



8 February - Tiny Blooms - Snowdrops



12 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - Three Posies of Tulips

14 February - FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Happy Valentine's Day!



17 February - Creative Ways with Flowers - Orange Flowers



19 February - A Bunch for the Weekend - Scented Stock and Spray Carnations



Florets - Floral Quote by Shane Connolly



22 February - Tiny Blooms - Pink Hyacinths



24 February - Creative Ways with Flowers - Colourful Tulips, Ranunculus and Anemones



26 February - FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - White Flowers for the Table



28 February - Florets - Floral Quote by Grace Bonney

[All Images: Styling and Photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral Monday!

I will be back later in the week with more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~

For more floral inspiration follow me on:

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Florets - Floral Quote - # 101 - by Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge

3 Quotes by Grace Bonney

"Instead of leaving your flowers all the same height, try cutting the stems at varying lengths to create a simple arrangement that is reminiscent of flowers growing in the garden."

"One gorgeous, full-faced flower combined with a little bit of foliage is sometimes all you need to create a show-stopping arrangement. When money and time are tight, it's easiest to let a beautiful flower speak for itself."

"Dome-shaped arrangements are a classic, goof-proof option for a centerpiece. Mixed flowers in tonal colours make a great dressed-up arrangement, while using only one type gives a simple, casual look. Don't fret if your dome is less than perfect: a natural rounded shape will look just as elegant."

  ~ Grace Bonney ~ 

[Grace Bonney - American, founder of the blog Design*Sponge and author of Design*Sponge at Home.]

[Quote: from Design*Sponge at Home (2011).]

[Flowers: Anemones.]

[Containers: Vintage milk bottle.]

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]  

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a fabulous floral Sunday!

I will be back next week with more floral delights from Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~

For more floral inspiration follow me on:

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

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Creative Ways with Flowers - # 2 - Colourful Tulips, Ranunculus and Anemones

I love colour - well, almost all colours - I particularly like all the pinks and purples and the blues and lilacs. I often keep a very tight colour palette - that I find easier to work with and I still find it a challenge to combine strong colours from different ends of the spectrum.    

Here I have worked on combining some deep purple and bright orange double tulips - with bright orange ranunculus as well as some extremely dark anemones - they are so dark they look almost black.

All the flowers have interesting textures and colour variation in the petals. I like the fluffy foliage on the anemones and the little green pointy tips of the tulip leaves. It all helps to give a lot of interest to the arrangement.

I have cut the stems very short. All the flowers sit just above the edge of the vase - giving it a low and compact shape - perfect for a dining table, coffee table or side table.

I have used my old favourite vase - the Savoy vase designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. This one is a mini one just 10 cm tall - but perfect for small, short and sweet little flower arrangements. 

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a lovely floral Wednesday!

Me and Titti from HWIT BLOGG will be back on Friday with another FLOWERS - all about early white spring flowers for your table.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

For more floral inspiration follow me on:

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Floral Media - A Classic Spring Combination from McQueens Flowers

I think by now we are all longing for SPRING!! Here is a short video with a classic spring combination from the top London florist McQueens Flowers.

They have used a handmade chunky container in a neutral colour that adds contrast and texture to the whole arrangement. To start off they are using knobbly pussy willow branches as a framework to support the other flowers and keep them in place. There is quite a few but they are not too tall - in the end just tall enough to sit just above all the other flowers. 

Next they have added eight blue hyacinths as well as several small bunches of blue muscari also called grape hyacinths. Last they add nine white anemones - all three flowers are evenly spread throughout the arrangement.

Remove any broken or damaged leaves on the hyacinths - but leave the bulb part at the end of the stems. The muscari usually comes with lots of it's narrow leaves mixed in with the flowers - add some of those to each little bunch. 

This is a lovely little spring arrangement that is quick and easy to make. Just follow the simple instructions and you'll have one for your table!!

  Have a Lovely Floral Wednesday!

I'll be back later in the week with more floral delights from 

Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid

~ xoxo ~

[Video provided by McQueens Flowers.]

You can also find me on:

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Tiny Blooms - # 20 - Dark Pink Anemone

This series of blog posts - called 'Tiny Blooms' - are about small flower arrangements. Small - might be the size of the container or it could be the size of the flowers or the amount of stems in each container. It can also be that the arrangement is minimal both in presentation and that it's simple, quick and easy to do. Apart from that there are no other strict rules - I'm allowing myself a lot of creative freedom!

Five dark pink Anemones in an almost identical coloured little vase. Sometimes colour matching comes easy and sometimes it can take longer to find the right colour. This time I just opened my prop cupboard and there it was staring me in the face!

Anemones usually have a layer of frilly or fringed leaves and unless they are damaged, when I would obviously remove them, I would keep the leaves as I think they are quite decorative. 

Measure the flower stems against the side of the vase and cut the stems so that the frill of leaves sit just above the edge of the vase. Vary the length a little bit to give some movement and interest.

These Anemones are so colourful and decorative that they don't really need any other flowers or foliage. If you have enough flowers - make up a few little vases and group them together - the more the merrier. 

Quick, simple and perfect for the holiday season! 

Have a Lovely Floral Monday!

I'll be back later in the week with more floral delights from 

Of Spring and Summer.

Ingrid 

~ xoxo ~

[Styling and Photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson

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Floral Fusion - Blue Hyacinths and Anemones

In the April issue of House & Garden - the one published in the UK - I was delighted when I found an article that featured the London florist Vic Brotherson. 

I featured a floral quote by her here on my blog last Sunday - in the series that I call Florets. 

So you will already kow that she owns the charming florist shop Scarlet & Violet in Kensal Rise in North West London.

Her work and her book is inspiring and her shop is like a treasure trove full of flowers and vintage. 

Here is my version of mixing flowers and vintage treasures.

The theme I came up with after finding some blue Hyacinths and dark blue Anemone - was you've guessed it - Blue!

The lovely blue floral fabric that I have used as the base is a Liberty fabric. 

Going through mine and my daughters collections of jewellery I found lots of wonderful blue bead necklaces. Some ethnic others just M&S. 

Walking on Hampstead Heath in North London I found over the years a lot of broken china that was just laying on the paths. For a long time I wondered why that was and the explanation is that during the Second World War they filled bags with sand from the Heath and after the war they filled the holes with rubble from bomb sites. There is a bit of odd history for you!

So the broken china is from Hampstead Heath and the crystals are vintage chandelier crystals.

As you probably know by now I love vases and other odd containers. Here are three blue ones.

The very old jug has a very pretty blue and white floral pattern and underneath it still has a label saying: "Swansea, Woodbine, sheet pattern jug". I bought it many years ago at an antique fair and I still think it's so much fun to use it as a vase.

The solid blue container is a vintage French polishers jar bought last year at the Country Living Fair - it works great as a vase and I love the blue colour.

The small light blue vintage ink bottle is great for using as bud vase for just one single flower cut very short.

At the moment you see a lot of globes in interior magazines. I bought a few of them some years ago from different car-boot sales around London, for very little money. This one was made by a toy company called Chad Valley in the late 1940's and 1950's. 

The two flowers I've used are dark blue Hyacinths and very dark Anemone.

I have used odd numbers - nine Hyacinths in the jug with just a few leaves and five Anemone in the jar and obviously just one single stem in the ink bottle.

The Hyacinths are still in quite tight bud so I will be able to enjoy them for some time. 

If you use old containers like I have done her - don't put them straight on a wooden surface - old china often leaks so make sure to protect the surface. 

Thanks for stopping by and for making lovely comments.

I'll be back very soon with more floral delights!

xoxo Ingrid

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