3 tips for a centre-piece with flowers from your gardens

Looking at the gardens so full of blooming flowers I thought about making a simple centre-piece with what nature offers us. I decided to create the arrangement working with just one colour and its different shades and consistencies.

The hue that I chose was the glorious red of my geraniums. You’re probably asking why I started with the colour and not the flowers. The reason being it narrows down the variety available. It’s essential to stick to one shade or a colour scheme when choosing the flowers you’re going to use. Keeping in mind this rule allows us the freedom to select the flowers and focus on the variety of shades, shapes and texture. I finally decided to match the geraniums with some oleander flowers and roses all with different hues of red.

Yesterday while I was on my way home, a blooming blackberry bush caught my eye. The graceful and tiny flowers seemed to have being drawn by children and are a pleasant reminder that summer is nearly here. I decided to use these to add lightness and frivolity to the centre-piece.

Fruit is also very useful when decorating a table. Shiny red cherries were the perfect choice that echoed the essence of summer. For movement and texture I added a sprig of rosemary, vine with tiny green grapes and some airy fennel bloom.

I use 3 small vases for this floral arrangement. Why 3? As the Latin saying goes “everything that comes in 3 is perfect”; a floral arrangement composed with 3 looks more natural and less forced than an even-numbered collection. Don’t be afraid to play around with the symmetry and asymmetry. Remember to use a simple vase if your composition is of a bold colour. For this centre-piece I used simple glass vases.

In a nutshell

1. Decide on one colour

2. Create a floral arrangement with 3 vases (glass or white ceramic or terracotta for a more rustic setting)

3. Add fruit to give an extra special touch

4. Enjoy and let yourself be transported by the colours

peonies

I’m always seduced in May by the majestic peonies. Being deeply in love with this flower I decided to give it my full attention with a shoot. First of all I started to look around my studio to find some objects to go with the peonies. I found some romantic little glass vases, some hand-made paper bags by Dutch stylist Ilvy Jacobs, an antique cake dish ... While I was deciding the best place for the shoot I came across the bright emerald lettuces growing in my vegetable patch. I thought it would be an unusual backdrop for some photos.

I selected one of my favourite variety of peony, the Sarah Bernhardt; with its delicate pink hue with some splashes of intense red near the stem. The metamorphosis of this flower always fascinates me. The peony bud starts out like a tightly closed fist, and then slowly becomes a flower rich in petals, a little bit ruffled and with that kind of crumpled look which I love so much. Plunging my face into the petals I feel their softness and freshness brush me. I don’t think you can find anything softer or more delicate. While I was buying them I just happened to find the peony Eventide which I saw for the first time. This peony is a single flowered one with its coral pink colour which fades until it becomes nearly translucent white. Only the single flowered variety opens in the day light and close at night.

The Sarah Bernhardt peony belongs to the herbaceous perennial plant, and was known in ancient Greece for its medicinal properties. It originally came from China where it was called the Queen of flowers. During the past centuries became more and more important and was an iconic flower. In 1903 The Qing dynasty declared it the national flower.

Enough small chat take a look for yourself!

If by any chance you are near Turin at the moment, go and visit the Commande nursery. This place was born out of passion for the peony. They have many different varieties of this magnificent flower.

May blossoming in my garden and terrace

May is an awesome month for my garden and terrace, every day there is surprise awaiting. I’ve been watching the peony bush for some days and just yesterday the first white flower blossomed. There is such a lot of life within it, ants are running up and down its branches and insect are nestling among the petals.

A poppy with its delicate red petal has just blossomed and I really don’t know where the seed came from.

The plants that we chose for the terrace are growing very well.

The green wall that we created is fully blossomed: in April the Osmanthus plants were a perfumed white cloud and now all the roses are opening up. There are different rose plants and each one has its own distinctive colour and perfume. The huses range from pale white to deep purple. The perfume from the white roses is very delicate whereas that of the deep purple ones is so rich and timeless. These roses remind me of the English garden ones which I really love.

The seeds that we planted in early March are growing beautifully. We planted some sweet peas, nigella and cornockles, but we have to wait patiently to see them bloom.

The herbs are coming on splendidly and the first strawberries were delicious.

Yellow, pink and red roses run along the garden fence. Like paint from an artist’s palette splashes of colour brighten every corner of the garden.

On Sunday afternoon I was sitting on the terrace in the shade reading an article about the use of the rose in the cosmetic industry. I discovered that the rose it the most studied flower by biologists and botanists. The only two roses that are used in this sector are the antique cabbage rose and the damask rose. The cabbage rose is cultivated in the South of France and Morocco in the valley of roses and I strongly recommend that you go there! The damask rose comes from Turkey and Bulgaria. Elisabeth de Feydau, professor of the Ecole of Perfumiers of Versailles, describes the scent of the cabbage rose : as herbaceous, poudrè and gourmand. The damask rose however has a fruitier scent with notes of litchi, raspberry, geranium and verbena.

Still on the same topic have a look at the video about the “Rose of Grainville” which was coultivated for the first time in Grainville in Normandy by the Dior. The villa and garden became a museum in 1997.

That’s all for now. I’ll be back next month to tell you how white lavender and seeds are coming along.

Flowers and Fuorisalone in Milan #2

I spent the evening in the iconic district of the Fuorisalone: Tortona. Everybody, youngs and old alike were enjoying the spring air strolling between the Mudec (Modern art museum) and the nearby area with galleries, showrooms and open spaces.

My last day was spent wandering around the area of Brera where all the most famous design showrooms are situated. As well as my planned itinerary I also enjoyed exploring . Suddenly I across a deconsecrated church which hosted Bulthaup's amazing work. The furniture was in perfect unison with the simplicity of the church. Vases full of white ranunculus stood out on a dramatic wooden table.

My next stop was the Botanical garden at the University of Milan. A small restful oasis in the middle of the city. The Botanical garden was created in 1774 by the Austrian Empresses Maria Teresa. Outdoor furniture was scattered around the garden. Fully blossomed white peonies, light blue orchids and a opulent old wisteria caught my eye. On the first floor of the University there were 50 reproductions of iconic design objects. A perfect match between modern and antique.

And then off to visit designers like Hay and Marimekko in via Palermo. Marimekko had decorated and furnished an entire apartment. Each room had a feminine, seventies feel about it with a splash of colour. In Via Palermo n. 1 a kinetic vegetable garden had been created on a rooftop. A colourful and earthy corner mixing flowers and vegetables.

And I must tell you about the Day-time Hotel, a magical place which had been opened especially for the Fuorisalone, beautifully restored by FAI. This place which was designed by architect Piero Portaluppi between 1923 and 1925, can be found at the Porta Venezia stop of underground. As you enter, you step back in time and see where there used to be public bathrooms, barbershop and hairdresser.

A particularly fascinating apartment is that of Piero Portaluppi whose nephew currently lives there. Just next to it lies the Museum of the Attenali, home of Leonardo’s vineyard.

On the whole a very enjoyable experience and I would strongly recommend it to everyone.

Flowers and Fuorisalone in Milan #1

Each year in Milan in April there is Design week wich includes the international fair of furniture design “Salone Internazionale del Mobile” and the events of the “Fuorisalone”. The international furniture fair started in 1961 to improve the export of Italian furniture. Nowadays is a very important appointment for Italian and European design. This year there are 1258 spread all over the city. During this week Milan opens up its doors and treasures to everybody. The most important areas are: Triennale, 5 Vie, Brera, the citycentre, Tortona and Lambrate.

This year I decided to dedicate two days for the events at the Fuorisalone. Thinking about the itinerary I focused my attention on the interaction between design and historical spaces. It was a hard task to choose between all the events since they were all very interesting.

My first stop was at the space of Rossanda Orlandi, must for the design. A fascinating space with a courtyard surrounded by lush plants. A long white wooden table with a line of glass vases and colourful flowers stood in the middle. The nearby restaurant Marta boasted its eclectic and flamboyant floral decorations.

Moving on I visited two historical palaces. Palazzo Litta hosted an African village 2.0 created by Francis Kerè in the courtyard. On the first floor a project to furnish little flats in Singapore captured my attention. All the ceiling was covered whith colourful ballons… 125 Dutch designers set up home at Palazzo Turing for the week. Walking through the courtyard each visitor was welcomed by 15.000 tulip bulbs given by the Dutch consulate.

Then I explored the area of 5 Vie just behind Piazza Affari. A maze of small streets and allies where every corner held small craft workshops, unusual little shops and design or artistic installations.

A very peculiar installation was in the Sarnremo carpark, half carpark and half art gallery. I found the mixture between unconventional spaces and design very interesting and stimulating. Following this mood many installations were created in old and unkempt apartments but each of them had its own distinctive soul. One example was the “Ladies&Gentlemen” open apartment with its long and dark hallway covered with black wood panels, the doors with coloured glass and a dramatic terrace overlooking a closed courtyard.

The last stop was at the Sardinian fashion stylist Marras with the “Accumuli” installation. Walking through the lobby and opening the front gate I was embraced by the inebriating fragrance of the wisteria and then overwhelmed by its flowers. A flower corner inside a palace. A space where the inside and the outside were speaking to each other. Floral bouquets outside, dresses with floral patterns inside, floral wallpaper, vintage pieces of furniture. Everything to create a dreamlike atmosphere. Going down the “Accumuli” installation was very minimalist with ropes, terracotta and water. Finally a glimpse at a magical room filled with photos of old people and tables decorated with fine bone-china and flowers.

The fil rouge of this day: flowers and design

End of the first part!

DECORATE A TERRACE ON THE LAKE #1

We are off to the garden market with Giovanni, a botanist and a garden designer. We are choosing the most suitable plants for the terrace on the lake.

This terrace will become a relax corner, a heaven of peace and tranquility.

Giovanni and I decided to create two green areas. On the terrace there were already some plants: hellebourus, nadina, skimmia , roses, tulips bulbs, muscari and hyacinth. We chose some perennials, herbs, shrubs, grass family and some flower seeds.
Our aim was to have flowers all year round. All these plants like sun and half shade, need general topsoil and are very easy to take care of.
We selected some herbs with different foliage: variegated thyme with small green/gold leaves, red mint whose leaves are nearly marsala red, lemon balm, basil and oregano.

Not forgetting a small presents for elves: wild strawberries...

Lavender was a must so we picked two varieties: the wild pink lavender which is already in bloom and the white edelweiss. I’m very curious about the white one as it’s the first time that I’ve seen it.

It was love at first sight with the wild Stipa bush with its flowing dancing mane (I noticed that Hermes used it in a recent advert).

In the last few decades the grass family has become more and more and popular. Many international garden designers love these shrubs as they need little care and water. They are exuberant all year around and breathtaking in winter when covered in frost.

If you happen to go to Lake Iseo this summer, the village of Paratico has a beautiful area of dancing grasses near the lake front. Don’t miss the “The Floating Piers” created by the Bulgarian artist Christo From the 18th June to the 3rd July.

We thought of integrating some Osmanthus shrubs with the roses to create a green wall. The Osmanthus is a frost resistant, perennial plant, with a white spring blossom.

We added a touch of China with the Rosalita Moscata which has 5 petals and an amazing light perfume.
With our treasure of plants and seeds we headed for the lake to plant them.

We put the Bacsac pots near some old ones of different sizes. A few red pots were added to give it a splash of colour.

See you next month!

first floral design workshop of this season

In the last few months I’ve been concentrating more on my floral workshops and so I decided to introduce some new ideas. I wanted it to be a relaxing carefree afternoon, away from duties and meetings. A slow afternoon amidst nature, colours and flowers.

I was so excited about my workshop of the season which was being held at Villa La Valverde.

Maria Giulia, the owner, took us on a stroll to discover the surroundings.In the small wood there was an awesome blossoming Pruns with a cloud of little white flowers, that took our breath away. Then a bright yellow bush of forsythia appeared. Hidden behind old stone walls lies a magical secret garden where a beautiful climbing clematis with white flowers now reigns. The lawn was scattered with wild spring flowers form fresh daisies to pretty little violets.

After our refreshing walk and full of enthusiasm we got stuck in to the course.

For the table decorations we created an elegant floral garden arrangement and a more rustic one with bulbs, moss, foliage and flowers.

I decided to have a palette with white, different hues of pink, fuchsia, violet and coral red. The foliage was olive branches, rosemary and eucalyptus. We only used spring flowers: fuchsia and pink ranunculus, double tulips “Adore”, white, violet and fuchsia anemones, coral red sweet William and bulbs of white hyacints and yellow narcissus.

Mid-course we relaxed with a cup of tea and homemade biscuits.

I love sharing ideas and tips about decorating the table with what we’ve got in our homes.

A few possibilities could be: a small bunch of herbs, a napkin ring made with an olive branch or a small cone made with a green leaf.

Remember that you can decorate a table very nicely and colourfully using seasonal fruit, or a floating blossom in a glass or even using a coke bottle with flowers in it.

For Easter what about having some hyacinth bulbs wrapped in rustic paper tied with cord, or a small olive branch with a chocolate egg for each guest or a tulip on every napkin.

When I saw all the creations lined up I thought that each one was the mirror of the person who created it. 

I’m always very surprised to see how each person expresses themselves with flowers.
 

Don’t forget our next workshop will be on the 16th April where you can create a natural boho bouquet and an unusual wreath.

tulips

Everything about these flowers fascinates me: their origin, history, legends, meaning and the many varieties and colours.

The tulip comes from the East, from Turkey to be precise, where it’s the national flower. It’s first appearance, in Europe was in Wien in the 16th century imported by the ambassador of the Roman empire. Then popularity spread throughout Europe.

From 1644 till 1647 the Dutch people became obsessed with tulips. During this period the price of the bulbs increased so much that people made a lot of money and others lost their entire fortune. Finally in the 19th century the government decided to regulate the prices making them accessible to everybody.

Nowadays the 16h of January in Holland is the national tulip day. In the biggest square in Amsterdam, Dam Square, an awesome temporary garden is created with more than 200.000 tulips. Ten thousand people visit Dam Square every year and receive a tulip.

A few of my favorites are:

French tulips: the stems are long and very willowy. It’s fascinating to see how these tulips move around and bend while time is passing.

Double tulips: the head has at least 15 petals and when it opens up it reminds me of a peony. A variety which is ideal for brides-to-be in late winter and early spring is the “Fox- trot”. The hues vary from white to pale pink.

Parrots tulips: their petals remind me of colourful feathers of a parrot

I’m always bewitched to see how tulips change during their lifetime. They grow, bend, open up and change the hues of their blossom. They’re a true gift from nature.

Tip: don’t put more than 5 fingers of water in the vase. It’s incredible how much they grow, so keep this in mind when creating your floral arrangement.

NEW BRIDE's MAKE UP TRENDS 2016

One afternoon in December, I was speaking to Tiziana Artduini, a make-up artist, about the new make-up trends for brides-to-be in 2016. So seeing as I’m also passionate about make-up,we decided to do a shoot together combining flowers and make-up.

We were inspired by the colours Pantone chose for 2016: rose quartz and serenity.

“Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace” - Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of Pantone® Color Institute.
In 1963, Lawrence Herbert, founded the Pantone company, and created an innovative system of identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community.

The choice of these colors for 2016 is very meaningful: romanticism is really very important in our daily life.

Leafing through the January issue of Vogue Bride I came across some amazing photo shoots where flowers, colors and dresses were romantic but at the same time contemporary and eclectic.

Coming back to our shoot with a young model, Tiziana thought about the make-up and hair styling, Marco Bravi studied the best sets and I carefully selected the flowers

This season the flower that best represents the rose quartz is the marvellous “Ranunculus cloni” (I talked about this flower in two recents posts) combined with the airy false goat’s beard and the timeless classy Hellebours .

For light blue serenity I chose a satin ribbon because in winter we can’t find this light blue shade in nature. In summer however it can be found in Hydrangeas, Larkspur and Scabious.

The first look was inspired by boho chic, a natural style with loose hair and a very delicate pink palette make-up. The second one was very romantic and elegant with an up-do hairstyle and a more intense make-up with a touch of marsala red.

For a similar look, Tiziana suggests using:

• Mascara: Sumptous knockout Estèe Lauder
• Eye shadow: Wet&dry Diorshow mono ,826 bikini, : Illusion d’ombre Moonlight pink Chanel
• Foundation: Sheer and perfect di ShiseidoContouring: New dimension Shpe Sculpt face Estèe Lauder
• Blusher: Luminizing Satin Face Color Shiseido, Joues Contraste Chanel

Ranunculus

Ranunculus: pure poetry, a very feminine flower with layers upon layers of silky petals.

The latin name is “Ranuncolus Asiaticus”. This flower is also known as spring rose.

Ranunculus begin to appear in the flower markets in December through to the end of May. When you see them all together at the flower market, it’s really impressive and so awesome. It’s one of the few flowers that are still grown in Italy and exported.

There are so many hues and colors: from pure white to wine red, from pale pink to energetic fucsia from orange to soft cream and last but not least bright shades of yellow.

Let’s not forget about the many different types of ranunculus such as the classical, the pom–pom, the cappuccino and the magnificent cloni varieties.

The ranunculus cloni with its bigger than average head started to appear at the flower markets a few years ago. It’s produced in Sanremo where it was created.

The ranunculus is perfect for a bridal bouquet. The ranunculus cloni in particular has all the elegance of an English garden rose and the beauty of peonies.

The older they get the more beautiful they become; the blossom opens up more and more to reveal their silken petals.

This seemingly fragile and delicate flower is surprisingly hardy. The standard variety can last about 7 days while the cloni one up to 14 to 21 days. A tip: don’t put more than 5 fingers of water in the vase otherwise the stem will become rotten. When the blossom becomes very heavy, cut it very short and leave it floating in a glass so you can still enjoy it.

I took some pictures from Floret and Flowerona.

Flower Design Course at the Villa La Valverde #2

After the beautiful experience enjoyed by all at the 1st Flower Design Course at the Villa La Valverde, we have to show you the photos from the 2nd lesson we had at the location, this one dedicated to the Rose, the Queen of all Flowers. We created marvelous bouquets, vibrant with deep, rich colours that allowed the Rose’s elegance to play with the freshness of the viburnum opulus and sparkling branches of lilac. (some pictures of the floral material used: IMG1 – IMG2 – IMG3). Also this visit permitted us to find splendid flowers to use in our creations from those growing on the grounds of the Villa, such as indigo iris and hawthorn, used together with strawberries and radishes for particular and fun, smaller, secondary bouquets.

Another warm thank you to all of the participants, congratulations for the magnificent levels of beauty acquired on this occasion as well. We leave you to take a look at the image gallery of this lesson.

Flower Design Course at the Villa La Valverde #1

March 29th, 2014 was the date that Floral Design Courses covered the subject of floral spontaneity at the Villa La Valverde. Splendid bouquets were created when mixing cut flowers with flowers and plants found at the Villa.

We have gathered some photos of the welcoming flowers we found as well as the creations we made.A warm thank you to all of the participants whose energy and passion translated into the optimum results displayed.

A Great Gatsby Wedding

Taking place at the Villa d’Acquarone, an incredible wedding inspired by the magnificent style of the Great Gatsby. A celebration reminiscent of the extravagant 1920’s style parties, realized in collaboration with Palazzo Eventi, which recreated the sparkling, electric, energy rich atmosphere of the times, with extraordinary attention to the smallest of details.

The chromatic floral compositions we created for this event bring to mind the elegance and vitality of the period, while expressing the visual force of fireworks: roses, dahlias, gladioli and amaranthus are assembled to create this effect, playing with their contrasting and powerful coloring in order to complement their diversity. Adding crystal to the ensemble amplifies the effect of the floral array, increasing the luminosity and intensifying the atmosphere of lavish, vibrant luxury.

The Villa d’Acquarone was adorned externally as well as internally with custom arrangements for each separate space. The dining hall walls and the head table were enriched with floral compositions of alternating heights, bouquets of roses and orchids cascading from the chandelier. Outside, a powerful and emotion inspiring floral arch was created for the bride and groom to celebrate their union: the declaration and promises of love were exchanged under a triumphant display of roses, hydrangeas and hanging crystal. The aviary, the pool, the main and supplementary entrances, the lounge area and the indoor fountain were decorated as well.

We left no detail untouched. We even proposed the preparation of beautiful gift corsages for the ladies present at the ceremony: freesias, pearls, and feathers to enhance the head or wrists of the female attendants. Even the external chairs were adorned with organdy and satin bows centered with Swarovski crystals.

A fairytale wedding at the Byblos Art Hotel

These are our floral arrangements created for a wedding which took place at the beautiful Byblos Art Hotel, Villa Amist, in collaboration with Palazzo Eventi.

Potrete vedere il video dell’evento in onda su Sky Sposa TV, canale 425, sabato 25 gennaio alle ore 22:15 e domenica 26 gennaio alle ore 19:25. Una preview qui: