When Size Matters

July 3, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Have you watched the “Tiny House” shows? You know the ones, where people are downsizing, or shifting the focus in their lives to the things that make them happy. What this usually entails is reducing the clutter in the home, shrinking the size of your living spaces so there is less time necessary to clean, and with that comes more time to spend refocusing your attentions. More time to spend chasing your passions, spending more time outdoors (coz there isn’t any room to sit down inside anyway 😂😂😂) and more time with family.

Well, this week, something positively tiny popped up in my feed; Tiny Bouquets. The #tinybouquetchallenge has finally made it to Australia. Some suggest that the trend was started in Dublin by florist, Reka Kurtos. Below shows an image on her entry into Fusion Flower magazine’s ‘Just Chrys’ competition.

These bouquets, as you can see, are not just a couple of stems of flowers tied together, oh no, these bouquets are incredibly intricate and delicate, and finished meticulously whether than be with rustic string, or luxurious ribbons.

To be honest, when you see them with no point of reference to gauge the size you could quite easily be fooled into thinking they are a full sized bouquet.

These bouquets would not be something that your average customer would order….unless of course your average customer is arranging a wedding for Barbie and Ken 😂😂😂

For the industry, it is an interesting trend too. Although these bouquets contain very little, believe it or not, they take just as long (if not longer) to put together. As the work is incredibly delicate, the blooms need to be carefully selected and prepared before the arrangement can be put together. Small sprays may need to be separated from the main stem, or single piece cut and conditioned. Ok, so that is the HOW? taken care of…

And then we come back to the all important WHY? Why would you want to order one of these impossibly small bouquets? Firstly, let’s face it, the challenge is just a bit of good old fashioned fun….from creating the piece, to taking some creative photography. Let’s face it, they aren’t going to fill a vase and spruce up your house for guests. Well, perhaps you want something teeny tiny for your pint sized Prima ballerina after her dance recital. Perhaps you want to leave a beautiful tribute on the headstone of one of your loved ones. Perhaps you want a miniature version of a bridal bouquet made for a thoughtful anniversary gift. In fact, one clever florist finished her tiny bouquet off with her engagement and wedding rings…in place of a bow. That probably gives you some idea how truly miniature they are!

Tiny bouquet challenge — Source: Insta Saver

These bouquets are not something that you would want to order everyday, but for specific occasions they could be just about perfect. I don’t anticipate that you will see them ready made out the front of our store anytime soon, but like any other arrangements, we are happy to help create something unique for you. Come in store to chat, or call 02 9871-1666.

Fwf x

Feature Image via The House That Lara Built

(Re)Flexing Your Craft Muscle

April 4, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Many factors influence a person’s choice of career. As a florist, there might be a passion for decorating, and designing, or a hunger to be involved in large scale events, but at the heart of it all, there must be an undeniable love of flowers.

Mother Nature provides us with such a gorgeous array of flowering plants, which in turn become cut flowers. Funny thing is, we often find new ways to present those flowers rather than leave them in their natural state. There are so many ways to decorate with flowers, and the longer I am in the industry the more I see, and the more I experiment with.

We manipulate the seasons so that we may enjoy our favourite blooms almost year round.

We import blooms from all over the world as we have an insatiable desire that we are seemingly unable to fulfill with what we can produce ourselves.

We colour or dye the blooms, sometimes in such subtle, natural ways, that people are led to believe it is some of Mother Nature’s finest work. At other times, we dye flowers for something different, something in fashion, or perhaps just to fulfil a colour brief….I mean, blue is one of the most popular corporate colours and there are not many true blue flowers in the world, so what were we to do?

We create artificial stems or structures so that we are able to manipulate the bloom within a design.

Floristry has become about far more than simply arranging fresh cut flowers.

One of the current trends is for a rose to have the first and second most outer layers of its petals peeled back to create the most amazing staged version of a rose ‘blooming’. The technique is called “reflexing”. It is a technique that requires a gentle touch and a whole lot of patience as you need to delicately peel the rose petal back and flip it in the opposite direction to the way it naturally grows. When you reflex a rose, you expose the rose head, and are able to create a bloom that is 2-3 times the size of an average rose.

Reflexed Rose arrangement — Flowers by Hermetica via Pinterest

Rose reflexing is being used everywhere by everyone, becoming quite the showstopper for events and large scale installations, and it totally makes sense right? If you have the ability to make a Rose look visually much bigger than it actually is, of course it is going to be front and centre in your arrangement.

Reflexing is not a technique that is only confined to roses either. As a young florist I was initially taught how to reflex tulips, which in my opinion is simpler, although it is quite easy to bruise the tulip petal. These days a quick google search of #reflexed will deliver you pictures of almost every type of flower imaginable, turned back on itself. Like all things, not everyone is a fan…and some even hashtag their pics #tortured.

Reflexed tulip. Source: Floral Design Institute

I’d love to know if you are a fan of reflexed blooms or not?

Fwf x

Featured Image: Via Florelle

2019, The Year of Living Coral

January 11, 2019January 24, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Everyone likes the start of a new year, right? Perhaps you are a person who loves compiling a long list of goals for the year, perhaps not. But regardless, the New Year undeniably brings a feeling of renewal. I think we have all travelled enough times around the sun to realise that a new year doesn’t mean that anything is really going to change, unless we do. But there is something about the feeling of a fresh start, a clean slate; whether that comes in the form of a new year, a new month, or just the start of a new day.

A fresh start often brings with it new perspectives and (hopefully) fresh inspirations. Each year, artists working in every aspect of design eagerly await Pantone’s announcement of the new colour of the year. It brings us fresh inspirations, and reinvigorates our creativity. It provides a hint of what our year may look like, what shades we may feature in our work, and which colour we may need to reinvent in more ways than one.

This year, for 2019, Pantone has chosen a colour known as Living Coral that they describe as ‘a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.’

Coral is a shade that sits somewhere between an orange and a pink. It is more vibrant than salmon, and more orange than watermelon.

It is energetic, youthful and vibrant. It works well with psychedelic greens, and chartreuse , and deep tones like burgundy. Coral can work well within muted colour palettes also, taking inspiration from natural skin tones. It works well played against other pink and orange tones, too and works well within some pastel blends.

Pantone says: “Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.
In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.

PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral emits the desired, familiar, and energizing aspects of color found in nature. In its glorious, yet unfortunately more elusive, display beneath the sea, this vivifying and effervescent color mesmerizes the eye and mind. Lying at the center of our naturally vivid and chromatic ecosystem, PANTONE Living Coral is evocative of how coral reefs provide shelter to a diverse kaleidoscope of color.”

Pantone has prepared 5 colour schemes to illustrate how Living Colour can be used in a variety of ways.

Source: All Colour Palettes guides from Pantone

Coral will make a gorgeous colour choice for bridesmaids dresses for any upcoming nuptials but Pantone’s colour of the year is not reserved for weddings only. Pantone’s colour influences design everywhere, so expect to see cushions, throws, and decor accessories available soon which you can use at home. Clothing, accessories and jewellery will also feature in this vibrant colour.

Image of a woman holding a Coral inspired wedding bouquet — A bouquet modelling just how it is done using the Shimmering Sunset colour guide. Image via Pinterest

There are so many popular choices of flowers available in Coral such as ginormous dahlias, glasshouse grown roses, gorgeous ruffle garden roses, poppies, infamous Coral Charm peonies, snap dragons, tulips, carnations and more. There are plenty of fresh cut flower choices available in Living Coral throughout the whole year for you to enjoy. I love Coral, so I’m thrilled 😉

Fwf x

Image of a coral toned flower

Image of a coral toned dahlias — Source: Jardine Ravec Jean Paul

Coral snap dragons — Source: David’s seeds and plants

image of a Coral toned tulips — Coral toned tulips

Image of Queen Bey wearing her flower headdress

All Hail The Queen of Flowers

September 14, 2018May 29, 2019 admin Leave a comment

Being a mum of two young girls, hairstyling is something I have had to get good at, quick 💇🏼 But, I’ve come to the realisation this week, that I am still reinventing the same tired old hairstyles that I grew up with, and really I have to lift my game. It used to be enough to add a couple of cute clips, or a ribbon. Hell, a hair circlet was reserved for a christening, or confirmation, or wedding….some sort of special occasion. These days, flower crowns are becoming almost commonplace, and it appears that a head literally FULL of flowers is what is hot right now.

What has inspired the new look? Queen Bey, of course.

Beyoncé’s September Vogue cover pictured her wearing a full floral headpiece that was as high as it was wide. Created by inspired London based floral designer, Rebel Rebel, the over the top head piece looked as though she had literally gathered the entire field of flowers on top of her head. Another headpiece created for the shoot was filled with an enormous amount of luscious green leaves, textured elements and lush tropical blooms.

Image of the Vogue cover featuring Bey's full floral headdress — Photo by Tyler Mitchell, Vogue, Sept 2018

Image of Beyoncé floral headpiece from Vogue Magazine — Photo by Tyler Mitchell, Vogue, Sept 2018

The UK version of the magazine featured Rhianna on the cover also adorned with a full floral piece. So, given that the September issue is the most important issue of the year for the fashion magazine, it appears that flowers are going to be HUGE for the year ahead.

As is often the case with Beyoncé, this trend has kicked into overdrive. Taylor R (@iamtay_tay) says she was inspired by Beyoncé’s floral head fashion, and so set about creating her own user friendly version that she has shared with the world via You Tube. Her unique ‘up style’ reduces the weight and heat of a full floral piece making the trend more accessible for ordinary people to incorporate everyday 😂

Image of a woman that turned her hair into a flower vase - VIRAL

The floral industry has seen designs like the living card come and go, so why not a living vase? While as a creative I appreciate someone thinking outside the box, I have to be honest and say I am just not convinced that this flower vase hair is going to take off.

Still, we are totally willing and able to create. gorgeous arrangement for you should you wish to experiment with this new look for your next party, exhibition…or just a day at the office 😉 Because, after all you should never let someone else’s opinion become your reality….you only get one life to live, have fun with it!

Fwf x

Drive You Wild Flowers

August 30, 2018 admin Leave a comment

A familiar face from the Sydney Flower Markets, Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflowers was featured on last week’s episode of Gardening Australia. A fourth generation flower grower, Scott’s passion is evident in the way he talks about his work and his love of Australian Flora.

If you missed it, and are interested in watching the segment, you’ll find it here.

Craig’s great grandfather, William “Robbo” Robinson, the first in the family to start in the flower trade, sold flowers via a mixed business between the train station and Woronora cemetery.

His grandfather grew a range of traditional flowers on his farm in the Southern Sydney suburb of Menai, and sold a selection of ‘bush-picked’ native blooms long before the restrictions on picking natives were in place.

Craig’s father Col was instrumental in developing Scott’s love of Australian native flowers. As well as growing some traditional blooms, Col began selling native flowers in the market and in 1968 he bought a 50 acre farm at Mangrove Mountain where the business still exists today. Craig and his father shared a love of the outdoors. Col was a rock climber and Craig, an interested hiker. They would often spot interesting flora on their adventures and this fuelled their inspiration.

Approximately half of the farm is native bushland, while the other half is cleared with several glasshouses set up. They grow a range of native flowers including waratah, billy buttons, mulla mulla, grevillea, wattle, eucalyptus, paper daisies and a large kangaroo paw range which is a key line in their business.

Eastcoast Wildflowers Farm. Source: Try booking

Craig is one of those growers that has built a great business based on a combination passion and hard work. For years he has offered florists a wonderful range of Australian flowers; flowers that get florists excited to create. Australian Native Flora is stunningly unique in appearance; they have gorgeous colour variations and a particularly interesting texture.

When people talk about natives, often an image of a dull coloured arrangement comes to mind, but that simply is not the case. Native flowers can be incredibly bright. Telopea, for example is derived from the Greek word ‘telopos’, meaning ‘seen from afar’ and refers to the robust, brightly coloured head of the red Waratah which can be spotted at a great distance.

Craig also shared a glimpse into the glorious colour range that they grow on the farm of kangaroo paw. Paw grows for approximately 8 months of the year, making it incredibly important for their business.

Flannel Flowers (Actinotus helianthi) Source: National Parks

Flannel flower, which is incredibly popular for wedding bouquets with a more rustic feel, gets its name come the texture of the blooms. The elegant flowers are soft and furry, with delicate petals. According to Scott they have a reputation for being quite difficult to grow commercially, but he has found that growing the plants in pots has been very successful.

What I enjoyed most was hearing and feeling his energy when he spoke about working with flowers and being out in nature. It is obvious that Craig has achieved what most of us only hope for, to turn a passion and a hunger for spreading that inspiration, into a thriving business. His gentle demeanour and overall feeling of calm beautifully illustrated the effects of working with nature and in nature.

Fwf x

Floral Beards, Wigs and Wonder

August 16, 2018August 21, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Agricultural shows like Sydney’s Royal Easter Show, as well as regional shows, like Brisbane’s EKKA have always included some sort of floral design competition. In addition to prize winning specimens of stunning camellias, roses, and of course the local gigantic pumpkin, a variety of arrangements are submitted, displayed and judged on a a list of criteria.

This years EKKA took the concept of ‘manscaping’ to a whole new level. Instead of removing excess hair, the challenge at yesterday’s EKKA instead was to decorate the beard and head area of a (brave and) a willing participant using a combination of flowers and trees native to Queensland. In addition to exploring creativity, the event was able to shine the light brightly on the gorgeous native flora from the region, which can often be overlooked for imported varieties.

The trend has featured at EKKA over the last couple of years and provides an interesting medium to work with. Florists are accustomed to working on intricate floral crowns, floral fascinators, head bands, corsages, neckpieces, buttonholes, even pieces to attach to your clutch bag.

Competitions often provide an opportunity to experiment in ways that we don’t get in our usual business dealings. Over the years I have seen challenges like this where you get to dress a mannequin in flowers, or create wonderful scenes entirely from flowers. It is an incredible to experience to ‘see’ your materials in an entirely new light. I’m reminded of this often when playing with my children. Like when you’re lying on the grass looking at the clouds and seeing shapes and scenes, similarly, my middle child will pick up a coloured leaf on a walk that may have an unusual shape and will see a way she can use it in a piece of art.

I do not anticipate that floral beards are the next big thing. However for the hipster crowd it may provide an interesting and certainly unique way for men to incorporate more florals in their outfits for a special occasion. Just as men began wearing engagement rings a few years ago, we may see some orders for a floral beard adornment for a wedding. Why do the girls get to have all the fun? 😉 Floral expression is something entirely personal and so that means that our designs are guided by what our customer wants.

In the meantime, it gets our creative juices flowing simply thinking about the possibilities. And sometimes, the act of just thinking differently can be the key….

Fwf x

The Effects of the Weeding Industry

June 21, 2018 admin Leave a comment

I know what you are thinking….you think we have made a spelling error title, but I can assure you, it’s not.

The wedding industry is fuelled by fad and fashions, and we as florists are guilty of running with the herd when a trend takes hold, it is a business after all. The question is, are we making short sighted decisions based on profit, perpetuating the problem of glamorising the use of weeds.

What is a weed, anyway?

A weed is generally a term we use to describe ‘a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants’.

The reality is, sadly, many of the plants florists use all over Australia, are restricted plants. A restricted plant is a plant that poses a threat to primary industries, the natural environment, livestock, human health and people’s livelihoods. They are invasive plants that need to be managed to ensure that they do not spread to unaffected areas of the state or country.

Cut flowers are often transported large distances before and after sale. This means that the damage restricted plants poses to the environment, rises substantially and so does the cost to the community and the environment in the greater sense.

Pretty pink pampas grass — Pretty pink Pampas Grass Source: Walmart

Pampas Grass wedding arbour — Gorgeous wedding arbour featuring Pampas Grass. Source: Hooray Magazine

While the current wedding trends favour Australian Native flowers, many florists are teaming these flowers with noxious weeds such as asparagus fern and pampas grass. Many florist pages I follow (read: drool over) regularly use things like Pampas grass in their gorgeous arbours. The scary thing about Pampas Grass is that each head contains up to 100,000 seeds! These tiny seeds are easily picked up by the wind and carried great distances. If the plant then becomes established in an area, it takes over and restricts the growth of native plants. Pampas Grass is also a fire hazard.

Cotton bush, also known as Swan pods are also a restricted plant in some states. Here, in Sydney, you will pay top dollar for the lime green balls. Unfortunately the pods contain hundreds of seeds. What the concern is, is that when the floral arrangement is disposed of, those hundreds of seeds will have the opportunity to germinate, and therefore the plant may spread in a far wider sense than if the seeds were carried by wind and rain naturally.

Another couple of favourites are Privett Berry, and doddavine. Despite being restricted plants, these are hot sellers in the flower market. Whether lime green, or ripened in a deep navy blue, the Privett berry provides a cost effective, and textured choice for bouquets and arrangements. But as you can imagine, when those tiny little berries begin to dry and drop off, they become sprinkles of destruction.

Doddavine, which is also known as ‘Strangleweed’ grows everywhere, and in the Australian bush as the name suggests, it strangles everything in it’s path.

There is of course a way you can have your cake, and eat it too, so to speak. If you have your heart set on a restricted species, such as Pampas Grass, you can make sure that you source the product from overseas or that it has been treated by way of irradiation. Some venues and wedding planners may even insist on a treatment certificate to ensure that are able to continue to protect our beautiful environment.

It is certainly going to take some time, and it will be extremely hard to regulate but it seems that a change is coming. Now it’s time for us all to decide if we are going to run with the herd this time…or be left behind.

Fwf x

Paper Flower Maker Makes Her Mark on the Industry

April 4, 2018 admin Leave a comment

As a florist, it goes without saying that I find natural, fresh cut flowers absolutely beautiful. Nature creates the most exquisite intricacies in each flower petal, so that each bloom is stunningly unique. These are the details that we look to exploit when we put an arrangement together; we look at the minute differences and play around with the variations in colour and texture to build an arrangement that is eye catching and exquisite.

Often, our clients also have a vision when they walk through our doors. Perhaps they have a particular bloom in mind, or a specific colour. It is made all the more important when this detail is central to a theme for a party or event….so what is a florist to do if what the client wants is just not available?

Cetti’s garden roses Picture Credit: The Green Vase

“There is a place for faux flowers today,” says Whitney Robinson, editor in chief of Elle Decor. “They are essentially copies of what you would buy fresh…not everyone has the time or budget to be able to buy fresh consistently. We are entering a new era in faux flowers as well, toward a new generation of paper flowers that takes the artistry to the next level.”

Coleus blooms and foliage are crafted from paper — Cetti creates individual Coleus pieces with gorgeous foliage Picture Credit; The Green Vase

It seems that with our busy lifestyles today, consumers are looking for a way to decorate their homes/offices or events without the maintenance that fresh flowers require. In the last few years many florists and homewares stores have begun stocking larger quantities of faux flowers to keep up with demand. With modern materials and more realistic production, these faux flowers are a very suitable alternative to the real deal. Sure, they do require some dusting and fluffing but they make sense for many spaces.

Some people will still turn their noses up….that is unavoidable, and sure, there are some blooms that look better and more realistic than others, the key is making the right choice for your space. And believe it or not, it is not only the humble working class that are embracing these no fuss, floral alternatives, faux flowers have got some real street cred.

Paper anenomes handmade by Livia Cetti — Handmade paper anenomes by Livia Cetti.

Hibiscus flowers are fragile, so these paper versions are a great alternative for arrangements — Gorgeous paper hibiscus created by Cetti. Michelle Obama used these in arrangements for a Korean State dinner at the White House. Picture Credit; The Green Vase

When Michelle Obama, the then First Lady had tables adorned with hibiscus envisioned for a Korean State dinner, artist Livia Cetti set upon designing exquisite handmade paper ones as the fresh version was far too fragile to be up for the task at the White House. In fact, paper flowers are moonlighting at some of the best addresses, and are being accepted by decorators, designers and influencers around the world. Cetti, once a stylist for Martha Stewart has now written two how-to books on paper flowers. She supplies her paper flowers to some of the high end shops in New York and sells them on her website, with prices starting from $35 per stem (some are priced at $200 a piece!) “People like the fact that paper flowers stay around for a while,” Cetti says. “My objective isn’t to be as realistic as possible; it’s to find the character and feeling of each flower and interpret that.”

Fwf x

Celebrity Florist Predicts Floral Trends For 2018

March 22, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Every florist secretly fantasises about achieving a certain level of success. To reach that level where their work so revered, their reputation for artistry is so reknowned, that celebrities are literally beating down their door to work with them. Few florists will reach this pinnacle, and make it to the elite level that commands this degree of attention and admiration. They are the florists that have the freedom and the budget to create those jaw dropping installations that many of us merely dream of, the ones who created the pictures that we so often have brought in as inspiration at our own floral concept consultations. One florist who has made his way to the top is Jeff Leatham.

I tend to find that when you design too far ahead, you lose the inspiration.

-Jeff Leatham

Using one flower en masse is a way to create drama whilst keeping your fresh flowers simple and chic. — Legendary florist Jeff Leatham was originally a model before landing a job in the florist within the Four Seasons Hotel. Photo credit Four Seasons

His story is quite an interesting one, as becoming a florist was really never in his plan. Leatham was enjoying a career in the modelling industry and had returned from jobs in Milan and Paris looking for some work. Coincidentally, a job was going at a flower shop in the Four Seasons Hotel, and voila, Jeff Leatham took his first steps toward becoming a forward thinking, boundary pushing, exciting and successful florist.

When Leatham began, he entered the industry making garden bouquets and arrangement much like any florist. Sure, they were beautiful he says, but he wanted to create something different. Speaking to Teen Vogue, Leatham says “…we were creating something, this new style that I created 15 years ago, it was innovative and changed the way people think about flowers. I know that sounds strange, but before I started with flowers, flowers were just pretty garden bouquets and different things. I remember the way I did flowers before, just kind of mixing flowers together and doing just mixed bouquets. It was beautiful, but it wasn’t clean and simple. Then [we started] creating things that are very simple and all one flower in a vase. This whole idea of all one flower in the vase and keeping things really simple and clean and chic. Doing flowers in different ways, wrapped around a vase and bent around like this.”

Use the natural line of a bunch of flowers to create movement in your floral arrangements. — Leatham’ signature style is unmistakeable. He creatively anchors groups of flowers in a variety of cases. Phot credit Popsugar

Leatham’s signature style was exactly that. He followed the rule of 3; never using more than three colour tones (where possible keeping it monocramatic), and never using more than three types of flowers. Leatham’ strongly grouped bundles of flowers, the same flower en masse, were uniquely anchored in vases, creating strong lineal movement, and stunning blocks of colour.

Dramatic blocked colours makes arrangements stand out — Jeff Leatham created eye catching and dramatic colour blocked displays. Photo credit Sperr

Jeff predicts that the trends of 2018 will see a decline in the popular flower wall. He says, “It used to be really cool, and sometimes its still pretty, but I think its just been overdone. Everyone wants a flower wall and no one realizes how expensive they really are.” That is certainly something that we find to be true in retail floristry; budget never quite matches the vision and expectation. Instead, he believes 2018 is going to see flowers dripping from ceilings. This look has started gaining popularity recently, and if his Instagram pics are anything to go by, this trend will continue to gather momentum as the year pushes on.

“Most trends — things that are really popular and what people love — usually happen on accident. It’s either something falls over or I change my mind the last minute. I’m like, “No, take that down and move that over there.” That’s usually how our trends start. It’s just very last-minute. That’s really the way I design. I tend to find that when you design too far ahead, you lose the inspiration.”

Fwf x

image of a Gorgeous native bouquet by florist with flowers

People Going WILD For Wildflowers

March 14, 2018March 20, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Trends come and go, and what is deemed ‘current’ will invariably influence the way people create the aesthetic for their wedding day. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, native flower growers are currently struggling to keep up with demand, as the population favours wildflowers for both wedding flowers and for their homes.

Gum blossoms. #floweringgum #native #australiannative #eucalyptus #flower #florist #floristwithflowers #sydneyflowers #sydneyflorist #carlingfordcourt #blossom #gum

A post shared by Florist With Flowers (@floristwithflowers) on Mar 12, 2014 at 10:15pm PDT

It is a far cry from five years ago, when many of these growers were struggling to just keep afloat. Many native flower businesses relied heavily on the sale of dried native bunches, but as China began to produce artificial flowers (a.k.a silk flowers) the interest in dried flowers, well, basically dried up.

Australian natives were given centre stage at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with all bouquets designed to have a strong Australiana feel, featuring some of our beautiful flora. At that time, Australian native production was at its peak. Then, after a tough drought, and a period where the Australian dollar was weak and unstable, production fell dramatically and never quite recovered. The few growers who were left were expected to pick up the slack, which was near impossible.

Wedding Blooms 💍 #hairflowers #wedding #weddingbouquet #flowers #natives #gum #eucalyptus #flannelflowers #whites #bride #tetranuts #floristwithflowers

A post shared by Florist With Flowers (@floristwithflowers) on May 27, 2016 at 5:17pm PDT

Native weddings 💍 #weddingflowers #sydneyflowers #sydneyflorist #weddingbouquet #natives #protea #tetranuts #eucalyptus #gum #flannelflowers #floristwithflowers

A post shared by Florist With Flowers (@floristwithflowers) on May 27, 2016 at 5:14pm PDT

The current trends for fresh flowers includes a clear market for Australian native flowers, and so called ‘wildflowers’. They provide an interesting variety of textures and colours to work with, and a mixture of often long lasting, large focal blooms and small filler flowers. Florist with Flowers offers a variety of fresh flower arrangements available for Sydney delivery such as our native box arrangement and native bouquet, or alternatively you can speak to one of our wonderfully creative staff about what you can put together yourself.

Geraldton Wax in the most gorgeous shade of pink🌸 #geraldtonwax #australiannative #natives #pinks #flowers #flowersonline #floristwithflowers #sydneywinter #sydneyflorist #sydneyflowers #pretty

A post shared by Florist With Flowers (@floristwithflowers) on Aug 4, 2015 at 1:14am PDT

Australian’s have become accustomed to a huge influx of imported fresh flower products, altered and dyed to be any and every colour in the rainbow….or the entire rainbow in some cases! In their pursuit to create something unique, the result has actually become somewhat predictable. Fresh native flower growers have focussed their energies on growing varieties of flowers that no-one else grows, creating their own niche markets. They have reinvented themselves into boutique businesses with products of real value and quality.

Brides come into floral meetings using descriptive words such as; natural, rustic, raw, quaint, earthy, organic, relaxed, textured…. and native blooms can fulfil their design brief with ease. With the increase in interest in native flora, there is consequently an increase in pressure to produce, and the ABC reports that our suppliers are not keeping up.

Gum Nuts 🌿 #floristwithflowers #australiannative #tetranuts #sydneyflowers #natives #australian #freshblooms #sydneyflorist #onlineflorist #summer

A post shared by Florist With Flowers (@floristwithflowers) on Feb 23, 2016 at 8:31pm PST

Craig Scott, from East Coast Wildflowers, is one such grower. He says that many of the industry head straight to his stall at The Sydney Flower Markets at opening time to see what fresh, new and interesting material he has on offer. He has increased production over the years and has a wide variety of stock on offer at any one time. As florists it is incredibly important to stay inspired and interested. Whether the piece has an unusual texture, or spectacular colour, or has an awesome line; these small differences in material can be the difference between creating something average or awesome.

Craig Scott has also run workshops interstate, and found there is a demand for his product there too. Unfortunately he is unable to get it there, but perhaps this just shows there is a gap in the market, and therefore an opportunity for someone else.

I have always been a fan of various Natives….how about you?

Fwf x

Trends

When Size Matters

(Re)Flexing Your Craft Muscle

2019, The Year of Living Coral

All Hail The Queen of Flowers

Drive You Wild Flowers

Floral Beards, Wigs and Wonder

The Effects of the Weeding Industry

Paper Flower Maker Makes Her Mark on the Industry

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