How to create your own bouquets and centerpieces
Piscataqua Garden Club members created double works of art: arranging flowers in vessels by New Hampshire potters.
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In this container by Don Williams, Cynthia Hosmer used dried Allium giganteum and dried Endless Summer hydrangea. Hosmer says she was going for “simple and sculptural to enhance the natural elegance of the container.” By harvesting flowers at their peak and then drying them, it’s possible to lengthen the short New England summer. “Just toss them on the compost pile before they get too dusty,” Hosmer says.In this container by Don Williams, Cynthia Hosmer used dried Allium giganteum and dried Endless Summer hydrangea. Hosmer says she was going for “simple and sculptural to enhance the natural elegance of the container.” By harvesting flowers at their peak and then drying them, it’s possible to lengthen the short New England summer. “Just toss them on the compost pile before they get too dusty,” Hosmer says.
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Barclay Jackson says she chose this large and elemental piece of sculpture by Deerfield potter Al Jaeger “in order to challenge myself. The container looked like it just fell off a cliff or tectonic plate, or was picked up at an archaeological dig near a volcano. To me, it suggested elemental power and mystery.” Jackson used great spears of coral red gladioli, bunches of curly willow and pussy willows, and some dark red dahlias to give depth and variety.Barclay Jackson says she chose this large and elemental piece of sculpture by Deerfield potter Al Jaeger “in order to challenge myself. The container looked like it just fell off a cliff or tectonic plate, or was picked up at an archaeological dig near a volcano. To me, it suggested elemental power and mystery.” Jackson used great spears of coral red gladioli, bunches of curly willow and pussy willows, and some dark red dahlias to give depth and variety.
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“My intent for this arrangement was to interpret with dramatic restraint the Asian design and shape of the container,” Georgia McGurl says about this container made by Maureen Mills of Mills & Zoldak: Potters in Greenland. “There was also the challenge of the very small opening at the top.” McGurl addressed these points through the use of large, white chrysanthemums for “authentic drama” and bamboo for V-shaped height.“My intent for this arrangement was to interpret with dramatic restraint the Asian design and shape of the container,” Georgia McGurl says about this container made by Maureen Mills of Mills & Zoldak: Potters in Greenland. “There was also the challenge of the very small opening at the top.” McGurl addressed these points through the use of large, white chrysanthemums for “authentic drama” and bamboo for V-shaped height.
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For Danna Dearborn, this container by Don Williams of Don Williams Clayworks in Deerfield, called out for height. Dearborn achieved that by using tall, black-painted dowels. She also used black-painted leaves of Proteaceae Banksia ‘speciosa’; green draping rope of Amaranthus hypochondriacus ‘Pygmy viridian’; and red draping rope of Amaranthus hypochondriacus ‘Pygmy torch’ to repeat the circular coils of the pot. Pink Hypericum and two stalks of Amaranthus hypochondriacus ‘green thumb’ finished the arrangement.For Danna Dearborn, this container by Don Williams of Don Williams Clayworks in Deerfield, called out for height. Dearborn achieved that by using tall, black-painted dowels. She also used black-painted leaves of Proteaceae Banksia ‘speciosa’; green draping rope of Amaranthus hypochondriacus ‘Pygmy viridian’; and red draping rope of Amaranthus hypochondriacus ‘Pygmy torch’ to repeat the circular coils of the pot. Pink Hypericum and two stalks of Amaranthus hypochondriacus ‘green thumb’ finished the arrangement.
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Kimberly Devlin-Brytz wanted to use simple plant material that wouldn’t compete with the “amazing texture” of the vessel made by Boyan Moskov, of Boyan Moskov Ceramic Studio of Contoocook. “The white callas and aspidistra met these goals,” Devlin-Brytz says. “And the gorgeous texture of the container was allowed to shine.”Kimberly Devlin-Brytz wanted to use simple plant material that wouldn’t compete with the “amazing texture” of the vessel made by Boyan Moskov, of Boyan Moskov Ceramic Studio of Contoocook. “The white callas and aspidistra met these goals,” Devlin-Brytz says. “And the gorgeous texture of the container was allowed to shine.”
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Designed by Virginia Lyons in a container made by Boyan Moskov, this arrangement is anchored by calla lilies, with support from day lilies and hypericum. “I loved the container,” Lyons says. “Its strong round shape seemed to call for something tall to balance it. The smooth white callas contrast with the textured black of the vessel, and the hypericum gives a little color.”Designed by Virginia Lyons in a container made by Boyan Moskov, this arrangement is anchored by calla lilies, with support from day lilies and hypericum. “I loved the container,” Lyons says. “Its strong round shape seemed to call for something tall to balance it. The smooth white callas contrast with the textured black of the vessel, and the hypericum gives a little color.”
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Sheila McCurdy says Deerfield potter Al Jaeger’s work brought to mind a sumo wrestler, thus the apple “topknots.” The day-lily stems are intended for a bit of geisha decoration to extend the Asian feel. Because Jaeger gave this container has a solid, weighty look and feel, McCurdy was able to use Little Lime hydrangeas as the main element. “Generally I find hydrangeas hard to use in designs because of their size,” McCurdy says. “But placed low in this stocky container, they worked well.” The other green elements were chosen for their variation in color and in texture: smooth, shiny apples; fluffy Japanese false cypress (Boulevard arborvitae); and rigid, straight stems. The purple liatris provide some contrast in color, texture and shape—a little spark of interest.Sheila McCurdy says Deerfield potter Al Jaeger’s work brought to mind a sumo wrestler, thus the apple “topknots.” The day-lily stems are intended for a bit of geisha decoration to extend the Asian feel. Because Jaeger gave this container has a solid, weighty look and feel, McCurdy was able to use Little Lime hydrangeas as the main element. “Generally I find hydrangeas hard to use in designs because of their size,” McCurdy says. “But placed low in this stocky container, they worked well.” The other green elements were chosen for their variation in color and in texture: smooth, shiny apples; fluffy Japanese false cypress (Boulevard arborvitae); and rigid, straight stems. The purple liatris provide some contrast in color, texture and shape—a little spark of interest.
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“The unusual height and vertical form of this vase (by Don Williams) along with its black color made it a very dramatic piece,” Jeannie R. Poore says. “So I decided to further enhance those features.” The long, curving grapevine fragment placed on the outside of the vase enhanced its height. The black hosta leaves reiterated the black color and were attached to the grapevine—soaring above and around the vase, returning the eye to two, large white hydrangeas. The container is left clear of other foliage, allowing Williams’s work to be the focal point. “The severity of the white and black colors completed the dramatic composition,” Poore says.“The unusual height and vertical form of this vase (by Don Williams) along with its black color made it a very dramatic piece,” Jeannie R. Poore says. “So I decided to further enhance those features.” The long, curving grapevine fragment placed on the outside of the vase enhanced its height. The black hosta leaves reiterated the black color and were attached to the grapevine—soaring above and around the vase, returning the eye to two, large white hydrangeas. The container is left clear of other foliage, allowing Williams’s work to be the focal point. “The severity of the white and black colors completed the dramatic composition,” Poore says.
Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying “Earth laughs in flowers.” With summer making its way to New Hampshire, it’s easier than ever to smile at a beautiful floral arrangement and imagine the happiness that created it.
Resources
Boyan Moskov Ceramic Studio
(603) 219-3732
www.boyanstudio.com
Decorating with Flowers by Paula Pryke (2010; Jacqui Small. ISBN: 978-0847834297)
Don Williams Clayworks
(603) 463-7275
www.dwclayworks.com
George Marshall Store Gallery
(207) 351-1083
www.georgemarshallstoregallery.com
Al Jaeger
(603) 370-1274
Mills & Zoldak: Potters
(603) 770-1500
www.sliptrail.com
Museums of Old York
(207) 363-1756
www.oldyork.org
New Hampshire Potters’ Guild
www.nhpottersguild.com
Piscataqua Garden Club
www.piscataquagc.org
These bouquets graced the Museums of Old York’s Contained and Arranged exhibit last summer, created by members of the Piscataqua Garden Club in vessels crafted by New Hampshire ceramic artists (and loaned by the George Marshall Store Gallery in York, Maine).
“What a wonderful challenge to the imagination,” says garden club member Barclay Jackson. “This is very different
from other flower shows where we often are given a theme with restrictions of some sort. Here we were given the initial choice of what container called to us, so to speak, and then to express that initial attraction however we liked.”
It’s easy to see Emerson and the Earth smiling through these flowers.
How to Arrange Bouquets
Piscataqua Garden Club members offer the following tips for creating beautiful bouquets:
• Think of the shape of the arrangement you want. It’s usually best to put in the tall pieces first.
• Usually the largest flowers go in the center and bottom part of the arrangement; lighter and airier ones on the outside.
• Be inspired by the container—let it drive your color, height and texture choices.
• Don’t crowd the flowers in—leave room for the light.
• Fill the vase with uncooked black beans to support the flower stems.
Categories: Gardening & Landscape
