One of top fall flower trends is finding unusual ways to incorporate texture into flower arrangements.
To do so, "berries, branches and leaves are at the top of the list," says Carol Caggiano, freelance floral designer AIFD, PFCI. "In some areas, like New England, the color and climate change. In other areas, like the Southwest, the weather doesn't change as much so it's more about creating a feeling of fall with rich color and texture."
What's so cool about texturing your floral arrangements is that it's so easy. Carol likes using ilex or hypericum berries, bark, curly willow, birch, mosses, bamboo, lotus pods, dried okra, dried poppy pods, lamb's ear or "whatever is lying around."
She points out that natural gray makes a wonderful, and unexpected, neutral in bouquets. Super-soft lamb's ear lends a slivery gray to your color palette. Dried poppy pods are also a great source for interesting gray tones.
Another little-known option: Magnolia leaves are a rich, shiny green on the front; the back resembles textured brown suede, which gives them high marks for versatility.
And best of all, berries and branches and leaves easily lend themselves to cutting-edge floral design: more loosely structured bouquets and arrangements as opposed to the tightly packed look.
These are just a few of Carol's many terrific ideas and I look forward to sharing more in the next several days.
Flower Fact of the Day: Ever thought of using baby pineapple as a cut flower? Well, the creative folks at Apartment Therapy did. They combined this fruit that grows, flowerlike, from the ground with salmon-colored lisianthus and yellow freesia. Voila! Check it out at: apartmenttherapy.com/ny/planttherapy/planttherapy-baby-pineapple-as-a-cut-flower-061088.
