Westcoast Winter- Twigs and Blooms

At the recent Artists for Kids gala, we chose to use twigs and orchids in the centrepieces to honour Gordon Smith and his known love of twigs.

Twigs  continue to have a prominent place in my studio and in almost  every floral  that leaves my table in winter.

Through my window, winter is frail birch branches with threads of pale moss like angel hair; darkest brown bark of cherry, plum and apple; bold, waxy laurels;  dusky firs; and one camellia  honouring winter, with its sparse translucent blooms.

A couple planning their June wedding, said as they were leaving my studio, "and could we also have  twigs in the altar pieces?"

"Of course!"

Lois

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The gifts of Fall Flowers

The many gifts of Fall.

Lois

Oh, Canada!

Someone asked me to design a simple bouquet for Canada Day, in red and white, using local flowers. It got me thinking of our national anthem and Canada Day and strawberry shortcake -- and the unforgettable words of a song I learnt during Expo 86, "This is my home, O Canada," So then, I also got thinking about a recent trip I made to Jamaica and about local  red flowers .

I also thought about our Jamaican national anthem and the powerful ending, "Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica, land we love." And about diversity and the fact that I can say "our" when I speak about both national anthems.

In Canada we get to embrace the entirety of who we are.  How rich for those of us whose home is Canada.

What a country!

Lois

Free Bouquet when you Refer A Bride

Claire and Martin Kariya got married at Furry Creek in June 2008. Three years later Claire referred her good friend Caryn  Brighten to me for wedding flowers. When Claire's grandmother recently turned 94, it was the perfect opportunity for her to get her free bouquet."We are extremely close and I miss her so much when I'm away each hockey season," Claire wrote me from Switzerland where Martin plays hockey for Ambri.

   It was a pleasure for me to design a bouquet of pink gladioli- Jane McGregor's favorite flowers which she carried on her wedding day, so many years ago. The bonus was I got to meet Claire's grandmother and see her face light up when she showed me pictures of Claire.

Remember to contact me for your free bouquet,whatever the occasion.

In season right now is the supreme, scented hyacinth which I have been pairing with delicate rununculus and of course the many varieties of local tulips.

Lois

You Got Engaged! Did You Know Each Flower Has A Meaning - Thanks To Our Global Heritage?

Bet you didn't know that Cactus means ardent love?  So far, no one has asked me to make them a cactus wedding bouquet. I haven't had many requests either, for the  ravishingly beautiful and mysterious pitcher flower.

 Could this be because the pitcher plant  gobbles up tiny insects for dinner? Yet who would deny its beauty? Frame it with red roses for passionate love; purple lisianthus for appreciation and a hint of ivy for fidelity.

You may want to avoid the carnivores and go for the refined beauty of white orchids, the modesty of pale peach roses and  the radiance of the rununculus.

If you must have the passion of the red rose but no carnivores, pair it with  secrets  of  purple irises,  mokara orchids,  stocks that say, you will always be beautiful to me and the peony that says happy marriage.

Roses say romatic love

Call me for a consultation and for a great read check out The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Lois   604-922-5186

lois@loiskeaneflowers.com