Design #1 ‘TROPICAL NOUVEAU BOTANICAL ART (FLOWER X ART HYBRID)’ 

I have had a long standing working relationship with Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, the flower farmers of Hawaii. I have been a fan of using tropical flowers to reflect the sense of adventure to exotic places for many years.  Using tropicals had always given me an edge, in mix with random temperates for that surprise element. The use of tropicals in a blend with temperates started with the use of the softest tropicals, the orchids, which blended well with the softer garden flowers.  Tropical Nouveau blending emerged in an attempt to soften the stark, hard look of tropicals by contrasting texturally with soft temperates, segueing with color play.  In doing so, it introduced the possibility of a more adventurous design which enabled the coined storyline ‘Travel through Flowers’ possible. You can experience the flora of Hawaii at the same time appreciating the beautifully bred heritage David Austin Roses from UK…. total opposites showcasing its unexpected combination of botanical lineage. Play on contrast to show off the beauty of one against the other… by color, texture and form.  Opposites always create drama!! 

Tropical Nouveau also reflects the Art Nouveau feel, the natural gardeny, curvilinear open form style design which was not previously explored as a suitable styling for tropicals. 

This design also explores the use of mixed media to create the base structure or sculpture for flowering.  Paint, Wax, Foamcore, Chickenwire, Dried Botanical and Fresh Botanicals (combination of plants and cuts).

The layers of different materials/surfaces to contrast the other becomes an assemblage of sort… which ultimately showcase or present the fresh botanicals artfully.

On the aluminum rod, I attached the chicken wire rolls first in sections, using UGlu dashes and bindwire to make them stay securely in place.  I then used 2 thicknesses of midollino extenders – 10 pieces in all, to wrap tight and loose around the center rod and chicken wire to provide good attach points for additional structuring.  They, in addition to providing the mechanics, also doubles as sinuous bendable lines, like living vines so that they serve both functionally and aesthetically in the design.  I bindwired the dry painted (one side) Strelitzia nicolai leaves to start composing a sculptural piece.  The curvilinear foamcore (painted and waxed) pieces are added to complete the curvaceous form inspired by nature.  

This composition will last a long time.  All the fresh botanicals are in water.  Only Lily grass and Aspidistra are woven into the chickenwire understructure without water to cover the mechanics.  But they will dry and preserve itself.

INTRODUCTION TO HYDRATION BOX:

Advanced hydration of flowers for FREE STEMMING is possible in a prepared hydration box.

A plastic storage box with suspended layer of chicken wire inside holds the cauterized stems (with beeswax dip to seal the stem end) of flowers with most of its leaves stripped.  The chicken wire cradles the blooms which are misted with water and paper towel layer placed over them and misted to moisturize the flower fully overnight in the cooler.  The blooms become turgid from this complete hydration so that they perform better free stemmed in the design.

INTRODUCTION TO FREE-STEMMING:

Free Stemming is designing with flowers into mechanics (built structure with sticks, chickenwire, any kind of armature), without water source. When using flowers which have tolerance to be designed without water source for a short term event, no water tubes need to be applied. If some stems need water, it is possible to insert water tubes from the back or under side of the design after free stemming. This is a time and labor saving system of designing for short term event work such as wedding installations and event setup for a day or an evening. This systems allows us to skip a step when there is no apparent difference of bloom quality with or without water in that specific time frame.  It also allows for quick take down.

When very little water is involved (especially when there’s no floral foam used), the installation can be very light and easily transportable with no need for heavy lifting.  It sets up for a very efficient and profitable installations for the team.

INTRODUCTION TO THE AWARENESS OF FLOWER LONGEVITY OUT OF WATER:

The new study of flowers and foliage include adding the category of flower longevity out of water in the nomenclature study.  It is a feature which is very helpful to identify materials which are moisture hardy for free stemming or for gluing use.

Examples of foliages/branches for Free Stemming use for 24 hours install duration+: Boxwood, Southern Magnolia, Aspidistra, Hardy Ivy, Hardy Salal, Monstera, Chinese Fan Palm, Cordyline,  Hardy Fatsia, Lily Grass, Equisetum, Branches, Eucalyptus, Leucadendron, Pandanus, Pine, Fir, Philodendron, Italian Ruscus, Ilex, etc.

Examples of flowers for Free Stemming use for 24 hours install duration+: South American Roses (robust varieties), Fall Hydrangeas, Hardy Chrysanthemum, Strawflowers, Anthurium, Heliconia, Cymbidium orchid, Ginger, Protea, Pincushion Protea, Guzmania, Calla, Statice, Narcissus, Ornithogalum, Brunia, Sedum spectabile, etc. 

Examples of cut blooms fully hydrated and cauterized to be used for gluing for 12 hours+ application: Carnation, Ranunculus, Spray Roses, Germini, Hellebores, Phalaenopsis, Vandas, Aranthera, Mokara orchid, Stocks, Delphinium, Nerine, etc.

Some very tender blooms like Pansies when hydrated properly in the hydration box will hold up well for gluing in floral couture work.  Much experimentation is being done in this area of study.

Design #2 ‘FREESTYLE GARDEN FLOWER WALL’

3 pcs of 4ft Bamboo are attached to the front side of the wood frame, extra secured with UGlu dashes and zipties.  Over the bamboo and willow whips inside the frame, attach 24” lengths of chicken wire rolls with bindwire to snake through the frame abundantly – total of 12 pieces to create a solid 3D grid system. This system keeps the mechanics very light and transparent and will allow for as many insertions as you will need very easily.  

Green up first with selection of large and dramatic foliages to create the initial silhouette and coverage. Followed by longer flower stems like Prunus, Ornithogalum, Oncidium and Anthurium.  Design all the flowers by variety to create rhythmic placements by color and texture, inserting stems through the grid to the back.  Extra stem end can be trimmed afterwards from the back, with some of the tender stems being placed in water tubes from the back side.  You need to only supply water to those thirsty stems, this way the weight of this flower wall is kept at the minimum for easy transport and install.  This is also a good efficient design for on-site installation.

The dismantling of this design is equally efficient since most of the stems are free stemmed so they are all compostable upon removal.  The structure and all its parts can be de-constructed down to the components, the frame, bamboo lengths, and chickenwire rolls for further use for the next job in perhaps a different configuration.