BOTANICAL NEST

Framed design featuring Nest-like structure for flowering.

• Construction details on the frame:

  • Double frame (inside/outside 1x3” frames connected with foamcore

  • Apply glue from the backside along the seam (wood/foamcore)

  • Stretch the muslin (fabric size allowance to cover the various sides.

  • Pin the fabric to the edge of foamcore to allow for solid stretching, and also to contain the overspray. 3M 77 spray adhesive to use to adhere muslin to foamcore.

  • Paint the muslin surface with latex white house paint. This stretches the fabric to make it taut

    
    

• Swivel frame – Steps to install this feature – components needed

  • 3 Bamboo skewers were drilled into criss cross the swivel frame.

    
    

• Construction details on the Nest:

  • Midollino extenders – fattened, yarn and raffia wrapped extenders are wound curvilinearly through the diagonally placed bamboo        skewers. The extenders are wound like roots vertically up the swivel frame to mimic tuber-like root system – all bind-wired.  Also a strand of dark green yarn midollino extender mingling amongst them.  

     

•  Making the Nest – The roots turn into the coiled nest, into which bundle of Ficus roots are used to complete the nest.  This combination of fibrous nest structure allows for insertions of water tubes on spike to allow for flowering out the nest.

PLANTED ONION SETS & BEANS IN TRAYS

White Onion Sets planted in Trays (7 days ago)

• Soil substrate is Coconut Coir (compressed shredded coconut fiber – sterile medium)

•  Onion bulbs have rooted beautifully and have sprouted - beautiful vertical shoots

•  The root systems being established in the substrate provides foam-like ability to insert flower stems to hold like floral foam in the spaces between the bulbs.  A potential alternative foam medium. Also edible onion rooted, ready to plant in the garden after the arrangement is finished.

• Insert Viburnum opulus low to the onion surface & stemmy Poppy (Papaver nudicaule)                                 floating overhead.          

Red Onion Sets planted in Trays (7 days ago)

• Soil substrate is Coconut Coir.

• Dark Hellebores to complement the color of the red onion bulbs with Eryngium tucked in between the bulbs for texture and color contrast.

• Mung Beans and Lentils seeded in Glass Dish

• Testing the feasibility of sprouted beans in Coconut Coir to provide an alternative to floral foam for designing flowers.

• Room temperature fluctuated from warm to very cold – inconsistent sprouting 

• The cold temperature caused rot and mold. Discard.

• Try again at warmer temperature in April/May onward 

GROWTH SEQUENCING with 3D MIDOLLINO STRUCTURES

• Midollino 3D structures: as per YouTube video below

• Morphing shapes in sequence

• Supported by single bamboo skewer per each structure with water tube bind-wired inside the rim.

• Morphing flower mass in sequence Viburnum opulus & Muscari

ROOTS STRUCTURE (EXPOSED)

• ROOTS Deciduous Huck (Vaccinium parvifolium)

• This root structure is built upside down.

• A floating earthline at the juncture of up growth and down growth.

• To represent the earthline – placement of sprouting Nerine Bulbs

• Upward growth is outlined with fascinated willow just starting to sprout with catkins.

• All flowering components are designed low and skimpy – as sprouting element.

• Mosses and Textural material such as Green Trick or Green Trachelium to define the beautiful earth textures

TUBERS & BULBS (Nerine) with Water tubes

Construction

• Built with fattened Raffia wrapped Midollino Extenders connected by bindwiring & skewering Series of U-shaped Extenders

• Placement of 4” water tubes – bindwired

• Placement of Nerine bulbs