Twins

This set on two beautiful handmade bowls is arranged in bio-foam from Smithers Oasis. The bowls are also the starting point for the shape – continuing the shape of the surface in the floral work is always particularly powerful. All flowers and berries have been thoroughly cleaned. The leafless stems really participate decoratively in this story. The flower heads and berries are inserted in a kind of screen. Many chrysanthemums and also Hypericum berries are used: real autumn materials. Also discover the processed Astrantia, Scabiosa, Guzmania, Phalaenopsis and Dianthus.

Better together

A wonderful set of beautiful objects of which the base can easily be reused. The base is self-made from two decorative garden stakes in flower form – they were flat when purchased. The two stakes are drilled into the wooden blocks and unfolded to make them spatial. To create even more possibilities, thick aluminum wire is incorporated through and around it – so that tubes can easily be attached to it and flowers woven through it. Zantedeschia is perfect for weaving through the frame, with the stems also participating beautifully. Talinum ‘Long John’ is processed dry here – it always dries beautifully. Furthermore, Gloriosa, some orchids, and Scabiosa are beautifully in place in these autumn objects.

Stewed pears

The stewed pears that blew out of the tree after a heavy storm were given a new lease on life. The colors in the pears are beautiful and, together with the beautiful flower hues, form a lovely whole. The base is a wooden MDF board with small water tubes drilled into it. The board is spruced up with metallic spray paint from Smithers Oasis. For an extra accent, satin cord is glued around the edge of the disc. This object can be reused many times. The flowers used are Cambria orchids, lisianthus, chrysanthemums, dill, Scabiosa, and Phalaenopsis.

Autumn wreath in the mix

On a bio-wreath from Smithers Oasis, many dried skeletal Physalis seed pods are glued. All kinds of dried flowers are incorporated on this base, which makes this wreath largely durable. There are many small buds to be found as well as Helichrysum, Gomphrena and Zinnia. Some beautifully drying fresh materials have also been incorporated. To break up the whole and create a contrast between the natural materials, beautiful (fully biodegradable) satin cord has been incorporated.

Indian summer

Dried sunflower stems of various lengths are glued around an Oasis wreath. These stems are a harbinger of autumn. The whole is covered with orange candle wax. Various flowers are inserted into the floral foam wreath, including Dianthus ‘Green Trick’, nutans (Leucospermum cordifolium), Dahlia, Freesia, Tillandsia, Heliopsis, Stipa grasses, Crocosmia and Begonia leaf. Glass test tubes have been placed in some sunflower stems, in which flowers have also been placed. The Indian summer color scheme emphasizes the autumn period.

'Plants play a big role'

‘Deep red and burgundy are welcome,’ says floral designer Hanneke Frankema, ‘with accents in gold, cream or white tones and surfaces with an oil luster or mother-of-pearl, you make it special. Distinctive color and powerful design: the Lush Natural Elegance theme doesn't need much.’

‘Within this theme, plants and organic shapes play a major role. These can be characteristic strong leaf shapes, but also flowers with special shapes that often match beautifully with each other. Consider the Guzmania, Gloriosa, Phalaenopsis, but also Celosia, with which you as a florist can really make a statement.’

‘Everyone knows it, you have nice vases but a piece is missing or the paint is peeling off. But you don't throw them away either, so they often gather dust in the closet for ages. Yet they offer many possibilities if you think 'out of the box' for a moment and breathe new life into them by sprucing them up. For example, I applied dark red and gold accents to pots and vases with self-adhesive mourning ribbon made of woven fabric. A product for which I see many other applications.’