FLOWERS A-Z: X IS FOR XANADU PHILODENDRON

And they said it couldn’t be done. Greetings, flower fans, and welcome back to Flowers A–Z! This week, I was confronted with perhaps the most challenging of all letters, and although I seriously considered something along the lines of “eXcellent dahlia,” I knew I had to dig deeper. While not exactly a flower, the bold Xanadu philodendron fit the bill. “X” is for Xanadu philodendron! When I heard that this variety of philodendron was called Xanadu, I was immediately transported back to the 1980 Olivia Newton John film (hello, Aussie readers!) and my six-year-old fantasies of being a roller-skating muse. SOLD! 

Although we typically think of philodendron as primarily foliage, they are considered a flowering plant (and many species produce gorgeous tropical blooms). There are hundreds of species within the philodendron family, and they are native to the tropical regions of the Americas and the West Indies. Philodendron like water and humidity and can just as easily climb trees and rocks as they can spread in thick outcroppings on the jungle floor. Some of my favorite tidbits about philodendron come from their role with indigenous cultures in the Amazon: Tribal peoples use the leaves to make ropes, nets and poison fish, and witch doctors use the leaves both in cures and for ceremonial purposes.

Because I wanted to use cool colors to complement the philodendron leaves for this week’s arrangement, I decided to incorporate succulents. For our little “how-to,” I’ll demonstrate staking succulents, so they can be used as flowers in a bouquet or arrangement. Follow me after the jump for this quick DIY. 

The full post continues after the jump . . .

This project requires only a few tools:

• wooden floral stakes from any floral supply store
• thick waterproof floral tape
• thin stretchy floral tape
• floral knife or clippers
• your succulents

Although floral stakes are already pointed, we need to make them into sharper spears in order to poke them into the base of the succulents. Use your clippers or knife to carve the end into a finer point.

Now you can spear into the center of the succulent’s base, creating a stem for the succulent “flower.” Be sure not to poke all the way through the succulent. Just about halfway into the bloom is the way to go.

If you are lucky enough to find a succulent with a little tail, even better!

Take the floral stake and tape it right to the tail using the thick waterproof tape.

For either technique, start the process with the thick waterproof tape. It creates a more solid foundation. Follow that step by wrapping over the thick tape with the thin, stretchy floral tape. This yields more security and a smoother feel. Now you are ready to use these succulents like you would any flower with a nice, sturdy stem! The beauty of floral stakes is that they can be cut with clippers just like a floral stem, so while designing, you are not constrained to the height of the stake.

Now back to the philodendron — tuck them into any bountiful arrangement. Here I used a mix of tropicals (like mini callas) with more traditional/garden-y parrot tulips, brassica and hydrangea. Couldn’t you go bananas over that luscious violet antique Dutch hydrangea? I used the philodendron throughout the arrangement — as an accent around the neck of the vase, nestled in with other blooms, up high for some flair . . . whatever suits your fancy, please do!

And look at how the majestic succulents can masquerade as any full “face” flower.

Despite what you may have heard, never be afraid to mix tropicals or unusual foliage with more typical garden flowers. The trick is in your palette selection and the way you design. When in doubt, if you keep all the elements on relatively the same plane, the results will look clean and modern.

Don’t hesitate to play with color and form in your selection of florals, and join me back here when “y” will be for . . .

FLOWERS A-Z: Q IS FOR QUEEN ANNE’S LACE

Welcome back, summer flower lovers! As you might imagine, some letters of the floral alphabet are easier than others. Like so many Scrabble players, when faced with a “q,” things can get a little dicey. Lucky for us, the gorgeous Queen Anne’s Lace is right in the pocket of the season and happens to be rather lovely. So today, “q” is for Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota, if we are getting Latin and technical).

Queen Anne’s Lace is essentially grown all over the world, although it is native to temperate regions in Europe and Asia. In the United States, you might be as likely to find it cheerfully growing on the side of a freeway as you are in a formal English garden. A perennial favorite with flower consumers who feel it epitomizes the “wildflower” look, Queen Anne’s Lace is actually a form of wild carrot root (and if you cut the stem, you may notice that it has an earthy, carrot-like smell). As with so many flowers and plants, Queen Anne’s Lace was used by ancient Greeks and in Chinese culture for medicinal purposes. The crushed seeds from the flower were thought to be an effective form of birth control. Modern studies have indicated that the seeds do appear to interfere with both progesterone synthesis and ovum implantation. The use of Queen Anne’s Lace comes with heavy warnings for practitioners — the flower looks almost identical to a highly toxic little flower called hemlock!

Queen Anne’s Lace is ideal for casual summer decorating. As seen above, you can simply gather a few stems into wine bottles and have yourself a darling element to accompany dinner, a bedside table or a window sill. But here at Flowers A–Z, we like to kick it up a notch. 

Ah, the classic Ball jar (also known as a mason jar). What farm table would be complete without a Ball jar stuffed with blooms that look “just gathered” from a field? Whether you have a summer home in Lonavala or a studio apartment in Mumbai where you have to vault over the bed to get to the kitchenette, Queen Anne’s Lace in a mason jar should be your go-to.

And, there it is. Be sure to clean the stems of the blooms that will fall below the water line. Especially in a clear vase, you want to make sure the water is fresh and transparent and that there is no floating foliage. A gorgeous spray of Queen Anne’s Lace looks simply perfect when paired with a bright wildflower like cosmos. I like to cluster the cosmos throughout the sea of Queen Anne’s Lace.

Now for an arrangement with a little more heft. I selected a mustard ceramic bowl with a wide mouth; I just love the happy color of this container and will choose other vivid colors to play off the yellow. The plan is to include a variety of blooms to fill the generous space in the vessel.

I began here with some soft dusty miller. I love the gray color with the yellow and feel the stiff nature of the stems will create a nice grid structure for our arrangement. I believe the key to easy floral design is establishing a solid structure into which you can place any flower.

Once you have established your dusty miller structure, you can add any other wildflowers that appeal to you. Here, I used cosmos, zinnia, veronica, and some button-like echinacea pods. The great thing about working with Queen Anne’s Lace is that it fills in quite nicely. You can be very budget conscious and only use a select few “face” flowers, while the Queen Anne’s Lace does the remaining royal work.

Experiment by starting with masses of Queen Anne’s Lace only and then adding the other flowers as accents versus adding it at the end. You may find it easier to place blooms inside the framework of lace!

The fragile snowflake look of the Queen Anne’s Lace softens the sharp lines of the zinnia and veronica.

Whether you choose a carefree approach of simply plunking your flowers in a glass jar or spend a little time crafting a masterpiece, enjoy the summer floral season. Wildflowers are especially fabulous this time of year. Join me back here  when “r” will be for . . .

FLOWERS A-Z: P IS FOR PEONY

If you know anything about me at this point, it’s that I like to give the people what they want. And typically, what the people want is exactly what I want. That’s why this week, “p” is for peony! I had so many requests to feature this bloom — and clearly it is one of my favorites — so here we are, off to the races. I find that peonies never fail to evoke “ooh” and “aah” responses from even the most indifferent flower consumer. The fluffy, layered petals, the intergalactic centers, the divine fragrance and the saturated colors all pack a powerful wallop. Today I will be using just a few of the many hundreds of peony varieties: Glowing Candles (white), Coral Charm (peach), Le Charme (dark pink), Jules Elie (light pink) and Garden Treasure (yellow).

I think my absolute most-beloved peony variety is the Coral Charm (pictured above), but honestly, this is like determining which one of your children you love most :) Peonies are native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America and range in hue from deep red and light pink to peach, yellow and white. They have a relatively short blooming season, peaking from late spring through early summer, which makes them all the more sought after. Peonies fall into three basic categories: bush peonies, tree peonies and intersectional peonies. The types of flowers within those categories refer to the shape of the blossom, arrangement of the petals, country of origin, etc. — single, double, semi-double, bomb double, Japanese, anemone. Growers in various regions form new hybrids each season, and it is always a thrill to see what’s new at the market every year.

The peony root has long been used in traditional medicine in Korea, China and Japan for general concerns with the central nervous system and cardiovascular system and to address convulsions, allergic reactions and many other more specific ailments. As always, please consult with a professional before deciding to mash up the plants in your backyard and have a go at concocting your own serum :)

Peonies can be very fickle flowers, indeed. First of all, they seem to come into and go out of season in a flash. Once it starts to get legitimately warm in spring, they appear, but the minute it gets too hot, they shy away again until the following year. On the East Coast of the US, by July 4th, they are generally no more, particularly as a cut flower. Second, once they are cut and you bring them home (or bring them inside, you lucky ducks with a garden), if the buds are too tight, they might not open quickly enough for your taste or even at all! Finally, once they open, they are grand and gorgeous for only a few days before they explode into a pile of petals. But alas, our love affair with the gentle peony endures.

Here she is, an elegant Le Charme peony sealed up tight. I have already removed all the foliage up to the bud, cut her at a sharp angle and placed her in a generous amount of warm water to encourage her to pop. But I need this bloom to open immediately, as my  readers enjoy a lush, full arrangement, and they need to see her glorious center. SO . . .

I fill up a vase with clean, warm water and submerge her head for a few seconds, up to a few minutes. Sometimes, if the situation is more critical (“I need to make this bridal bouquet NOW!”), I will let the head soak for up to a half hour or so. As you hold the head underwater, gently swish it around, and you will see air bubbles coming up as the water seeps into the bud.

And just like that, she awakens.

A few minutes later, she was happy to join the rest of her colleagues in a mercury glass urn (here, I used the Jules Elie peonies combined with a green accent of “p” for pistachio greens!). There are so many spectacular ways to design with peonies. Today I have chosen two designs that layer the blooms in a riot of color and texture. I think both have a very baroque feel, appropriate to the fancy peony.

Above, I used a basic, cylindrical glass vase. I filled the vase with modern, variegated hosta leaves, which I think are an amazing complement to the sorbet hues of the peonies in this arrangement (Coral Charm, Garden Treasure and Glowing Candles).

Look at these two beauties paired up . . . almost too much. Almost.

How about that fried-egg-looking Glowing Candle peony?

Please go find some peonies at the local market, in a neighbor’s yard, in a public garden or wherever before they leave us again. Lean in close and inhale the sweet aroma, but be careful you don’t get an ant on your nose — they love the peony nectar. Join me back here when I struggle to top “p” with “q”!