This time of year (it is currently winter) the range of flowers available at the market, while really lovely, is slightly limited, in comparison to what is available during the autumn, spring, and summer months.
Many plants are resting during the winter months, waiting for their explosions when the weather warms up.
While for florists, this often coincides with a quieter time, there is still the need for flowers - flower deliveries, events, and flowers in our venues. Some may be content with the narrower range available, but some of us, who like to add unusual bits and pieces to our arrangements, we have to be a bit adventurous.
We are so lucky to be in Sydney to have equally adventurous growers and suppliers, who grow interesting flowers and foliages to to suit our winter climate, and many also keep their eye out for things for us city slickers, literally on the side of the road out of Sydney, or growing naturally on their properties. This is called "foraging".
There's the famous story of Constance Spry, British florist and trailblazer, who in the late 1920's was asked to create a unique flower arrangement in the window of a Bond Street perfumery called "Atkinsons". Forced to improvise, as it was in the middle of winter, and not great time of year for flowers, she used a huge array of flowers and foliage that she foraged from gardens around her, including wild clematis and blackberry. The display became so famous that people literally lined up for miles to see it through the window, and police were required to control the crowds! And the world was 'spryed :)
Where to start first - how to forage
The beauty of foraging for flower arrangements and events, or just for your home, is that for many people, the ingredients you need are literally on your doorstep! You just need to know where to look and what to look out for!
Annabelle Hickson wrote all about this in her book "A Tree in the House". Beautiful branches of gum, wattle, or locut foliage can set a dramatic scene for an event, and all can be picked from a tree in your garden, or your neighbour's!
Annabelle suggests roadsides, abandoned lots and laneways are often the best place to find the prettiest "blooms", or even knocking on your neighbour's door and asking for a small cutting from their rose bush! She also suggests not leaving the house without a pair of secateurs.
Amy Merrick, in her book "On Flowers" provides a lovely guide to gracious foraging!
"1. Always ask permission.
2. Respect areas off-limits for foraging: public parks, front gardens, planters, window boxes, sidewalk tree beds, and planted road mediums.
3. Use clippers. Don't rip stems or pull plants; leave a space looking as though nothing has been cut at all.
4. Take only what you genuinely will use (it's often less than you imagine).
5. Be gentle and restrained. It would be heartbreaking if all the spry little volunteers that give city streets character were snipped."
Wise words indeed Amy, thank you.
So, what to forage? Weeds are a good start, hops have a lovely texture, ivy or other vines growing wild, dainty tall grass, wattle on the side of the road is beautiful now!
Your neighbour might need their magnolia or blossom tree cut back - ask them if they are happy to wait until it's flowering, and do it then!
Camellias grow in abundance - their foliage is beautiful, and when they are flowering they are exquisite.
How to create a foraged look
Well that's easy, just put it all together! Nature has a funny way of working - many things that flower or grow together, at the same time, just look good together. The colour of the grass growing on the side of the road blends perfectly with the berries next to it. And the hue of the flowers at different times of the year work together so well.
So literally just put it all together, and let nature do it's thing.
Here are a few ideas of what I mean, from some of my favourite florists around the world.
Shane Connolly - The king of the foraged look, and fellow Constance Spry fan, Shane creates the most beautiful, natural arrangements. I'm not sure what a lot of the things are in this arrangement, probably because they grow naturally in the UK, but they look beautiful.
By Aesme - this looks like an autumnal arrangement, and was for a wedding, a mix of foliages turning red and gold, and in different textures, a tendril of passionfruit vine draping over the edge.
Katie Marx - This Melbourne florist creates dramatic arrangements with seasonal branches - like this one - pomegranates and some sort of fruit!
Donna Stain - Donna is in Byron Bay - heres she's picked some beautiful grasses, and mixed it with cosmos!
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