I have to admit to being slightly apprehensive yesterday about my regular Saturday morning visit to the market. The wind had been howling around the house all night and was still blowing yesterday morning. I fully expected the market to have been cancelled, but I need not have worried about making a wasted visit – despite the high winds everyone was there as usual and the flower stall was full of the most beautiful roses.
I have had in my mind an arrangement using lots of clashing colours of roses for a few weeks now and the bounty available yesterday was pure serendipity! I needed a gift to take to a supper party last night and felt that as it was so close to Valentine’s Day that another heart arrangement would be appropriate.
This was a very simple arrangement to put together. A heart shaped oasis pad, lots of roses and some viburnum leaves to cover the sides of the oasis were all that I needed.
Whilst the oasis was given a good soaking in a sinkful of water, I cut the rose stems very short and removed any tatty outer petals. I then inserted the stems into the oasis, placing the roses very close together and in a random colour pattern.
I love the combination of pink and orange flowers and it will probably be a recurring theme throughout the summer.
To finish I cut the viburnum branches down to short stems and used these to hide the green sides of the oasis.
The heart looked lovely in the centre of the supper table and the zingy colour combination meant that it was not too twee for a post Valentine supper!
So with Valentine’s Day over, roll on the spring bulb season. I cannot wait to be picking narcissi and tulips from the garden for my Vase On Monday. There are a few more weeks to go yet before I will have that pleasure though, so tomorrow I am keeping my fingers crossed for another fine day and a little inspiration!
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Gorgeous! Those colours look wonderful together.
Thank you Chloris!!
pink +orange-love it! Beautiful rose collage for your dinner party:-)
Thank you Robbie – a few years ago I would not have dreamt of such a combination. It’s funny how are tastes are affected by fashion – these days I just love adding colour. I have never visited Great Dixter but would love to go as I believe it is the home of clashing garden colour.
my kinda town! I like adding those vibrant colors in flower beds,too:-) Now as an outfit I am a bit more subdued-lol
Wow – what a beautiful decoration! And the pictures ara fantastic too! 🙂
Thank you Nina!
This is beautiful. I like the energy created by the mix of colors and it’s all nicely contained by the viburnum leaves.
I am glad you liked the viburnum leaves. I set out to do it all in roses, but did not have enough for the edges, so the viburnum was a last minute addition. When I looked at the photos I was really pleased though – the leaves add definition to the arrangement.
This is fabulous!!
Thank you so much – that is a great compliment!
Your hosts will have been delighted, Julie (although I suspect they will have come to expect such creations from you if you have been invited before…)!
You are right Cathy – it is hard to opt for a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine these days!! I do enjoy it though, so both sides benefit. Funnily enough dinner at mine can be quite a disappointment – I find it hard to cook and do flowers.
As long as you have return visitors you must be doing something right, Julie!
It surely is colourful and a wonderful gift, Julie, but having read Wellywoman’s blog on the origins of these roses (well I knew before!) I have mixed emotions 😉