Circle around the candle
A wire bowl forms the base of this design. The visible wires are accented with Hypericum berries. Gloriosa, Anthurium, and tone-on-tone Vanda orchids are arranged in a floral circle around the candle.
Hardcover book
For this design, Mike used a technique he had previously applied in his design for the VBW Flower Cup 2025. Instead of covering handmade chicken wire with wax, he opted for a clay finish. This design is emphatically not a bouquet, but an arranged piece. It includes, among other things, a Gloriosa from Gloriosa van Ruiten, a Vanda from Ansu, and a Jatropha from Marginpar.
Illusion
This asymmetrical design uses a simple wire structure, combined with a variation on the so-called spiderweb technique and executed with stripped conifer branches. This technique is incorporated into the first four arrangements and creates the illusion that the bouquets stand completely on their own. In reality, they are supported by subtle “legs” of the structure, which are virtually invisible due to their reflection in the water. For this design, Mike used, among other plants, Helleborus, Scabiosa, and Gloriosa from Marginpar.
Golden Keepsake Mold
The unusual cushion shape is constructed from Oasis SEC blocks and spray-painted gold. Crumbs of dried Craspedia are glued to the base and secured with a layer of veneer. This protective layer prevents the surface from transferring color and makes the base resistant to light impacts. As a result, the base can be reused more often. The flowers are glued directly onto the form: various small-flowered chrysanthemums form the compact base, with orchids and Gloriosa serving as accents. This technique results in a sleekly finished funeral arrangement with a distinct surface texture.
Wreath of Infinity
Dried seeds have been glued onto a homemade wreath made of Oasis SEC blocks. This long-lasting base can be prepared in advance and reused. Wet bio-floral foam is placed in a cut-out slot, from which the flowers and other materials draw water. The compact floral wreath consists of various small-flowered chrysanthemums, complemented by orchids and Gloriosa. Vines of Ceropegia woodii break up the closed shape and add depth to the arrangement. Thanks to the combination of wet floral foam and long-lasting chrysanthemums, the funeral arrangement can be delivered several days before the funeral.
With a shine
On warm days, this arrangement offers an alternative to a floral wreath.
The hand-blown vases are filled with Sanguisorba ‘Red Dream’, Talinum ‘Long John’, Craspedia ‘Paintball Pop’, Gloriosa superba ‘Simba Fifty Shades’, Panicum ‘Warrior’, and Chasmanthium latifolium ‘Mantis’. Dark Scabiosa from the Scoop series deepens the color palette. Ball candles in gold bowls and dinner candles in luster candlesticks add a touch of sparkle.