“It fascinates me that you can always create something different.”

“After completing my floral design training and master’s program, I started out eighteen years ago as a freelancer for large weddings, trade shows, and companies. It fascinates me that you can always create something different. The possibilities are endless. I draw inspiration from everywhere—nature, travel, the seasons, social media, or simply taking a walk through the woods or the castle gardens. I combine colors, shapes, and materials in my head and then get to work.”

“I love combining cultivated flowers with materials found in nature. What you find in nature, you can’t get at auction, and what you get at auction, you won’t find in nature. Personally, I’m crazy about orchids—different varieties with beautiful colors. I love to include them in every arrangement. My living room is also full of different kinds of orchids, which I try to get to bloom again and again.”

“Floral arrangements can tell a story, too”

“An important part of our work is creating funeral arrangements. That’s precisely where I realize just how special the florist’s craft can be,” says Pascal Zijlmans. “At one of the most intense moments in life, we get to create something that offers comfort, evokes memories, and reflects a person’s personality.” For him, funeral arrangements are therefore about personality, meaning, and experience. “An arrangement must truly reflect the person for whom it’s made. As a florist, you can still make a difference during such an intense moment. That’s where the tremendous power of our profession lies.”

Pascal draws his inspiration first and foremost from people. “Everyone has their own story, personality, and memories. I try to reflect that in my work.” Nature is also an important source of inspiration. He enjoys working with natural flowers, plants, and materials, drawing on their diverse shapes, colors, textures, and movements. “I like it when an arrangement doesn’t look too perfect or contrived, but rather natural and unique.”

Pascal sees a growing need for experience and meaning. “People don’t just want to see the end result. They’re also interested in seeing how something comes to be and the care and craftsmanship that go into making it.” He also notes a growing interest in natural and biodegradable materials. “The future of the floral industry lies not only in creating beautiful flower arrangements, but above all in telling stories, creating experiences, and offering personalized attention.”

Landscape in Lines

Sustainable Oasis floral foam on a rectangular base forms the foundation of this funeral arrangement. Whitewash bonsai twigs are arranged over the floral foam and naturally bound together with floral wire. Delphinium ‘Andes Azure’, Eryngium ‘Magnetar Questar’, Ammi majus, and Chasmanthium grasses are incorporated between and through the twigs. The loose, field-like arrangement gives the whole an almost pastoral character. Asplenium fronds, with their grayish hue, provide a soft transition between the colors and materials and bring a sense of calm and cohesion.

A Personal Welcome

The welcome sign can be customized with individual name tags or a personal message. The sign, basket, and floral arrangement are treated as a single composition, with the flowers framing the text without obscuring it. Oasis Renewal in the basket forms the floral base. Moluccella laevis, Irish bells, and Allium add height and an open, flowing line; Ammi majus softens this with delicate flower umbels. Delphinium ‘Bella Andes Azure’ adds blue, while the soft character of the Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ blossoms provides contrast. Asparagus setaceus adds movement. The Caladium leaves are mounted on a water tube for irrigation.

Soft pink with a playful line

For a young girl’s funeral, Pascal created a understated floral arrangement centered around an Oasis BioLine BioWave. The base remains visible and defines the contours of the design. Fully open, soft-pink flowers of Paeonia ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ are arranged closely together and follow the lines of the BioWave. Thick, uncolored reed weaves between and over the peonies. A few bright pink lines allude to the dark pink speckles that can appear in the flowers. The combination of a solid floral surface and a subtle interplay of lines lends the arrangement a sense of calm, softness, and a touch of playfulness.

Back to nature

A arrangement has been designed for a natural burial ground that consists of naturally biodegradable materials and can be buried along with the casket. Oasis Terra Brick is clamped between untreated wooden sticks on the casket lid. Leaves of Petasites hybridus (coltsfoot) lie face up on the base and take on its shape as they dry. Delphinium ‘Triton Lavender’ and ‘Bella Andes Azure’ provide the blue hue. Low-profile arrangements of Achillea ‘Red Dream’, Eryngium ‘Magnetar Questar’, and Sanguisorba ‘Red Dream’ add color, texture, and movement. Asparagus densiflorus and Asparagus setaceus connect the floral arrangement to the casket. Vanda orchids are watered via a bamboo reservoir secured with Oasis BioLine twine. After the service, these tubes can be given to the bereaved as a keepsake.