Central Oregon Interior Design | Flower Arranging

Crafting Beauty

SINCE BEFORE GREEK AND ROMAN TIMES, mankind has used natural beauty to express love and friendship, beauty and emotion. A young man might present his sweetheart with a red rose to convey the depth of his affection, and white flowers might be exchanged between nations to symbolize peace.

The ancient tradition of attaching meaning to the gift of flowers continues to thrive and grow. It has blossomed into a creative art that adds life to any occasion.

“People love flowers,” says Terry Coon, owner of Le Fleur Jardin in Bend. “And they’re a relatively inexpensive way to make someone smile.”

Coon has been part of Bend’s flower business for more than 30 years. Like many florists, she did not attend school to learn the craft. Rather, she learned about flowers from both of her grandmothers, who were avid gardeners, and from years of experience.

“I always thought it would be fun to own my own flower shop,” Coon says. “I could see it was going to become more than just a hobby.”

When the commercial floristry business emerged in the mid-20th century, many independent shop owners and street florists worried that large supermarkets would drown them in competition. In fact, the opposite happened, as the retail industry increased the recognition of flowers as unique and meaningful gifts.

Flowers from Near and Far

Flower arranging starts with the basics: the necessary tools for crafting something beautiful. Flowers, which generally arrive in boxes, must be cleaned and hydrated immediately upon arrival. While Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Washington’s lush Skagit Valley and California’s extensive fields are part of the United States’ floral economy, many flowers come in from abroad. Tulips and peonies may be flown in from Holland; South America provides tropical flowers such as bird-of-paradise and exotic roses such as the deep-burgundy black magic and the saucer-sized yellow skyline.

To create the perfect bouquet, Sara Barton, manager of Wildflowers of Oregon, first considers the reason for the flowers. Are they for home decor? A centerpiece for a special event? Next, Barton asks what the arrangement is trying to achieve: A native look or a more modern one? Playful or serious? What color scheme should be used? “An all-white arrangement is peaceful,” Barton says. “Bright colors are happy. You really have to be varied in your style and be willing to adapt.”

Traditional bouquets, such as the European pave, are condensed and colorful. Contemporary styles are simple and monochromatic, often using a single color and only one kind of flower.

One of Barton’s favorite arrangements is the traditional Japanese ikebana. Tall,often exotic flowers—protea or anthurium—are arranged in a low, dishlike vase and cut to reach three different heights, representing a balance between heaven, earth and mankind. “It’s more modern and high style with very clean lines,” Barton says. “It’s very dramatic.”

Pleasing to the Eye

The visual principles of focal point and line are important to any arrangement that attracts the eye and  helps the mind register the bouquet’s overall scheme. Most bouquets have one carefully chosen focal flower or species, such as a Gerbera daisy, and follow a specific horizontal or vertical pattern. Color, shape and size of the flowers are other critical design elements that add to the bouquet’s overall aesthetics.

Dore Watkins, a florist for Bloomin’ Creations, likes to limit colors to three or four per vase. “That way it’s not too crazy,” she says. “It helps you focus on the arrangement and flowers.”

The number of flowers that go into a bouquet depends upon the size of the vase and type of arrangement. “A lot of times we don’t know until we put the flowers in,” Foster says.

Most arrangements also include greenery such as fern, eucalyptus or flat-leafed salal, native to Oregon. “We like a variety of greenery; it gives it texture,” says Barton, who also likes to use grasses such as millet, oat and snake grass to achieve her shop’s signature wildflower look.

Once the floral structure has been set, filler flowers such as latifolia and solidego are added to complete the creation. Fruit, including lemons, oranges or mini pineapples, and occasional woody accents can make arrangements more original.

Mixing Color and Smell

Crafting a bouquet that pleases all of the senses can have its tricky points. Certain fragrances do not mix well. Color can also affect a bouquet’s fragrance. “Yellow freesias give off a fruity smell,” Foster said, “and red and purple are more peppery. White flowers tend to be the most fragrant.”

As with many modern commodities, the market for flower arrangements follows changing trends. Stargazer lilies are the number-one daily seller, along with red roses, at Autry’s Four Seasons; calla lilies are Autry’s top-selling wedding flower. Stylistically, cascading bouquets—as opposed to hand-tied nosegays—have become ppular in the past few years.

“Martha Stewart actually brings a lot f trends into the industry,” Foster said. When we get lots of calls for a certain hing we laugh and say, ‘All right, what’s in he magazine?’”

But ultimately, the creation of floral arrangements—pleasing to both the creator and the customer—has its roots in seeing the practice as an art. “When you have creative license, it’s fun,” Coon said.