Foliage and Flowers

During the 6 years that Ingrid Betancourt was held as a hostage in the Colombian jungle she made a promise to herself – that when she was released she would “always have flowers in my room and wear perfume”.

I know what she means – flowers do add that grace note to a room. Wanting to learn more about how to get that, I signed up for the “Posy Hands” Workshop at The School, taught by Poppy from Pop and Scott, a creative workshop co-operative from Melbourne. I‘d seen Pop and Scott on Instagram and there was something fresh and loose about their arrangements. I liked that they made indoor swings too.

It’s interesting how just a few chance remarks and a demonstration can tilt your perspective. For me it was Poppy talking about the importance of foliage, the structure and beauty of leaves. She showed us how to build up the base up with foliage, rotating the bunch in your hand and then feeding in little clumps of flowers going from feature flowers to secondary ones. We were then given a chance to make our own from a table full of luscious flowers.

There was talk of gathering foliage from the verdant streets of Sydney – with the phrase “I picked it locally” prefered to “ I stole it from the neighbours” Well… actually that’s how I found out that I had an allergy to grevilleas…

Back at the old schoolmasters house, looking forward to trying everything out with homegrown flowers and foliage gathered from country lanes. Standing in the garden I could completely see the sense of having leaves surround the flowers, that’s just how it is in nature.

Making my posy with rich hued late summer flowers; I notice how the soft eucalyptus leaves cradle and frame it. To display it – a jam jar rigged up, tied with string around the neck, another tip from the class. Totally new way of displaying flowers, I like the unexpectedness of it- it gives the wall such vibrancy.