Thanksgiving Flower Round Up

BROOKLYN’S SAIPUA – ARTISANS OF ORIGINAL FLORAL NIRVANA Let us gather together to give thanks to the hipster. The the youthful floral superhero who fearlessly, if not naivly, uses a new toolkit of plant material provided to them via the Dutch airlines and an increasingly savvy floral trader – who daringly mashes together spring ranunculus and sweet peas with Australian desert shrubs, berries from Turkey and some South African Amaryllis. The result? Pure beauty that breaks most every rule created by either botany buffs or traditional florists.  I have to admit, it’s refreshing and undeniably beautiful, especially given what one normally finds available. alas – my Google search for Autumn Floral Arrangements: Tradition is fine, some sometimes, we get caught up in modern cliche’s and global sameness. These are just, plain, ordinary. They are not thoughtful, original or even traditional. It doesn’t take much time to see that they all look the same, and they go on for page after page. Sunflowers, pumpkins, mums, faux autumn leaves and wheat. It’s sad that such floral celebrations have become so un-inspired. Heck, they aren’t even authentic. Instead, they merge into a mass of cliche  and sameness. With so much material to work with, a simple bowl with brown, bosc pears would be a better choice, or, cut branches, perhaps some with leaves on them that still have some color ( if you live in the north). I am using cut branches of Fothergilla foliage, all golden and grey. But, given that you can find a good florist, here are some inspirations from some of the best. Today, in most major cities, and even in more rural areas, ( even now, in my local haunt of Worcester, MA where our local Wegman’s has incredible floral finds) we are finding talented floral designers who are daring, innovative and creative. Tradition is fine, but sometimes, a new view is even better.   In America, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving, and one of the most common questions I get is “what can I do for my table arrangement this year?”.

PORTLAND OREGON’S INK & PEAT’s EAMES INSPIRED DESIGN OF BEEHIVE GINGER, ALSTROEMERIA SILVER DUSTY MILLER, GOLD BILLY BUTTONS AND SUCCULENTS.

Here are some of my favorite sites, and designers working in the US today to inspire you, even if you live in Europe or Canada – since, hey, it’s autumn, right? Go celebrate the colors, and materials of the season!

INK & PEAT’S MORE TRADITIONAL BLEND OF CORAL AND GREEN ELEVATES THE THEME, WITH ROSES, GREEN HYDRANGEA DRAGON’S EYE LEUCADENDRON AND MINI KALE. TO ME, THIS FEELS LIKE A NICE VINTAGE GOURMET MAGAZINE COVER FROM THE 1960’s. IT’S LIKE A WARM KITCHEN.

If you live near Portland, Oregon, check out Ink & Peat, on of my favorite design blogs, stores and florist.

PINK AND BEIGE, MIST AND BLUSH – SAIPUA’ DESIGNERS DECONSTRUCT AUTUMN LIGHT ON A FOGGY MORNING.

Then, of course, visit Saipua.  The artisan of ‘soap and flowers’. OK, this is as hip as it gets, but still, think of the competition in the New York area. Saipua continues to reign as Brooklyn’s soul source for holistic floral creations that so much more than more than art and flowers combined, their creations make ones heart race.

Saipua transforms plant material into surprising and unexpected creations which somehow never cross that boundary between botany and design, a practice  appreciated by folks like me ( and probably you), who ‘gets’ the simplicity and wonder of a mere plum branch, or the pathetic fragility of a grey tinted poppy. Especially when it is elevated to saintdom through thoughtful photography.

POLLEN FLORAL ART DEMONSTRATES BOTH GOOD TASTE AND BOTANICAL KNOWLEDGE.

GREY SUCCULENTS, CYMBIDIUM ORCHIDS AND BANKSIA  COMBINE TO MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT THAT COULD MAKE ANY MUM AND SUNFLOWER, SHATTER IN SHAME. DON’T BE AFRAID OF GREY, BROWN AND BEIGE.

Another blog source, Cross Pollination, and thier retail store Pollen Floral Art from another hip city, Austin, Texas offers great ideas, and they deliver if you live in the Austin area. Pollen Floral Art offers more than just wedding arrangements, yet many of these could make interesting arrangements for autumn holidays.

AUSTIN, TEXAS’ POLLEN FLORAL ART’S INTERPRETATION OF AUTUMN (SANS WHEAT AND MUMS).