BOTANICAL LIST

• Livistonia chinesis (dried Chinese Fan Palm leaf)

• Lichen branch

• Budding Cherry Branch (Prunus serrulata)

• Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum opulus)

• Ornithogalum arabicum

• Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)

• Helleborus niger

• Calathea ornata

• Calocephalus brownii

• Trachelium caeruleum

• Tillandsia xerographica leaflet

• Green moss

SUPPLIES LIST

• Midollino extenders & Midollino wire vine (see video)

• 4” water tubes

• Chickenwire rolls (see video)

• Paraffin wax (melt in electric crock pot)

• Accent Décor pottery

• Bindwire (natural)

• Acrylic Paint (celadon)

TECHNIQUE VIDEOS (click to watch)

SKETCHES (click to enlarge)

‘SPRING GREEN STRELITZIA & CECROPEA’

A horizontal wood frame was built with 2x2” lumber to create this botanical canvas.  It was painted with a shade of moss green with 2 coats of acrylic paint.  Inside the frame, lengths of willow whips criss-crossed diagonally with each end inserted into angled drilled holes.  At every point where these willow whips inside the frame crossed, those intersections were bind-wired to make the whole gridding really strong and secure.

Onto this grid, I bind-wired loosely coiled Midollino extenders in 3 shades of green (thick and thin) to create an ornate pattern of circular motion throughout the frame.  These become the adjustable attach points for water tubes for cut materials and living plants. 

The first feature material to set the tone for this botanical canvas were the hand-painted (spring green) dried Strelitzia and Cecropea leaves.  They were painted with acrylic paint on one side only to preserve the surface and to strengthen the fragile surface.  The back side of the leaf was kept natural to identify the integrity of the original leaf. (Note: I painted one leaf on both sides and found the final finish too contrived).

The 3 pieces of painted Strelitzia and 3 pieces of Cecropeas were attached first to add the feature ART to the Canvas. The downward flow of Strelitzia was extended further down with the 2 pieces of green blown glass rods I made in Santa Fe, NM in 2019.

Pussy Willow branches were the first set of linear element added to the canvas – bindwired to the structure to float out of the frame to add depth, and to provide additional attach points.  The 2 cut Philodendron leaves on stems made big horizontal brush strokes to this canvas.  The manner in which I designed this work is not unlike painting…. I added the rest of the green and herbaceous materials to paint in shades and textures to this picture. Cut Fatsia and Roebellini Palm were inserted into tubes while Phalaenopsis plant with root ball wrapped in green yarn as well as Pepperomia are attached to its spots with the tendril tips of Midollino extender. Tillandsia xerographica, Echeverias and Cryptantus are tucked tight into the extenders.

Equisetum stem was bindwired to the downward flow of glass rod and snipped at just below the nodes and filled with water to hold succession of Viburnum blooms.  Also clustered String of Dolphin are placed in water tubes to root.  This completes the plant and foliage side of the Canvas. The flowers were placed additionally (Parrot Tulips and Helleborus) to illustrate the potential flowering of this Green canvas for short term event or party décor application.

As cut material in tubes root, they may be planted into soil.

Any other cut materials after they are done can be replaced with other materials.

All water tubes and balled roots of plants need to be watered regularly with squeeze bottle to maintain.

The Canvas has been created with decorative pattern so it can be sustained with minimal amount of materials.

This is a fun botanical art that can be enjoyed long term beyond the usual expectation of cut flower design.