Debra Prinzing

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SLOW FLOWERS: Week 7

February 17th, 2013

“Lilies, Two Ways”

Two "lily" elements fill my antique majolica cachepot, set in the dining room window to catch the rare winter rays of sunshine

Two “lily” elements fill my antique majolica cachepot, set in the dining room window to catch the rare winter rays of sunshine

Ingredients:
12 stems lily-of-the-valley shrub (Pieris japonica), harvested by Oregon Coastal Flowers
5 stems white ‘Navona’ Asiatic lilies, grown by Peterkort Roses
Vase:
9-inch tall x 9¼-inch diameter majolica cachepot from the late 1800s. I found this unique piece in Palm Springs, in a shop otherwise filled with 1950s art glass. I simply couldn’t resist the botanical charm of the piece, so I splurged and ended up flying home with it on my lap!
A detail from inside the vase . . .

A detail from inside the vase . . .

Eco-technique

Flower frogs: I’ve made it a personal goal to stabilize flower stems with organic methods rather than the conventional florist’s foam or “Oasis.” That product, I have learned, contains formaldehyde and does not break down in landfills. An old-fashioned flower frog (in ceramic, glass or metal) is a great alternative. You can find flower frogs at flea markets or tag sales for a few dollars (or raid your grandmother’s supply). One of my favorites is a half-dome cage. It sinks to the bottom of the container and has ¾-inch square openings, ideal for woody stems. This is an arranging tool of the past, seriously useful for the present-day!

NOTE: Each Sunday of this year, I will post my photographs, “recipe” and tip for that week’s floral arrangement, created for my new book, Slow Flowers. Enjoy the floral journey through 52 weeks of the year~

 

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