Of all the design I’ve ever created, this design is one of my all-time favourites. When I was being shown around Ruby Orchids (see https://youtu.be/J4HcjbI0mTA), I was immediately drawn to the orchid being used in this design. It’s call Linger Brown. Absolutely delicious specimen with it’s ruddy reddy brown petals and stunning goldie yellow centre.
In fact, up beside the gilded urn it is more gold than yellow. Nature is so clever and I think that starting The Great Botanical Journey with orchids was a wonderful idea.
Did you know that the orchid or which there are some 28,000 pre-dates the dinosaurs. Here’s a thought – the dinosaurs have long since gone but the orchid reigns supremely. I’d say that they were mighty clever.
Things to gather –
- See video on how to gild or apply gold leaf to a container.
- Foam to fill container
- 4 branches of twisty willow either fresh or artificial. I prefer the artificial because it’s easy to manipulate and twist into shape.
- Several arelia leaves.
- 4 stems of Linger Brown cymbidium orchids.
- Moss to cover foam.
- Several pieces of Nandina foliage or similar to tone in with the orchids.
- Birds nest and a small faux bird.
Once again, a big thank you to Ruby Orchids NZ & New Zealand Blooms for the opportunity of going behind the scenes to experience the close-up beauty of the most magnificent orchids. If only thing I have a greater appreciation of the time and work involved in growing these so that we floral designers have what our artistic minds desire. Ruby Orchids are available exclusively through New Zealand Bloom.
You can find Ruby Orchids at https://www.instagram.com/rubyorchids.nz and https://www.facebook.com/ruby.orchids.1
Thanks to NZ Bloom for organising my expedition:
https://www.nzbloom.com
https://www.instagram.com/newzealandbloom
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