All in the Golden Afternoon..

You may or may not know that I am in Floral Arranging I this semester.

I love it! Except for we still hadn't touched flowers till this last wednesday. It's pretty much been basic floral history and bow tying - not a strength of mine, by the way. Probably my least favorite actually. You can see one of my attempts above. I have made good ones before its just not consistent for some reason. I think the ribbon has an agenda against me and it decides whether or not its going to work. Whatever, Ribbon. I don't need your sass.

Do you wanna see what I did? Basically all we did was this one right here - with baby's breath, carnations and lemon shaped leaves:
Reminds me of Phantom of the Opera. I like it still.
These are all corsages by the way.

Anyways so that's all we were taught and then I came back after my last class that day to the Flower lab and was just tinkering around with different things. They pretty much just give us extra tools and materials to practice, and the only flowers we're really given are carnations or baby's breath or whatever else we worked on that day.

BUT i learned a critical truth - the advanced students don't get to keep their creations, because that could get way expensive. Instead, the student lab assistants take apart their beautiful pieces and any flowers which can't be used over again (like because their stems are too short) are thrown away. SO! of course I went and asked them if I could just take some of them instead of being trashed. And it was glorious. SO much variety then! And, daisy in hair, I set to work jsut messing around and seeing what I could come up with. Okay now these were just for practice, so don't get all huffy with me if you think they look bad. Madeline and my roomie Amber like the first one. The 2nd, more wild one, was more geared towards myself and my very bohemian, tropical roommate Jessie loved that one. I know the colors don't flow. But I didn't really care much it was cool wearing home



Needless to say I think I'm def going to be pursuing this further. Mainly because I enjoy it and because if I do choose to go into event planning, this sort of stuff is perfect to shoot me out into that industry. Many event planners start off in a business like a floral shop and branch out from there. Also, I discovered apparently there is a Event Planning cluster in Horticulture. I'm not changing to it or anything but I looked through the classes in that cluster and found that it could be incredibly helpful to me. I think I found out what my filler will be for the rest of my college career. Not too difficult so it won't get in the way of my business and communications classes, but it will give me experience and teach me skills I'll need. And it's good stuff-for-your-hands work, very relaxing.

There are 2 practicum classes i'd take, the first is working at the Flower Center on campus. Unpaid unfortunately, but we do all the presentation stuff in different settings and events and learn shop management etc. It's stated purpose is to set up the student with skills for an internship

The second practicum is Wedding Flowers. Basically, its just a whole lotta greatness in relation to learning wedding and special occasion arrangements in preparation for the Spring Flower and Bridal Open House, which I will only be attending this year, not participating in. I'm excited to see how they bring everything about.

Then there are 3 levels of one class, Wedding Flowers A-C
Sounds like the same thing right?
Well.. not as much. It's basically the event planning and designing part of the whole gig. The first year learns the different requirements for wedding/even designing and we do the basics in bouquet construction and consultations. The 2nd year is trained more advanced in bouquet construction, leadership, teambuilding and management of event planning. The third year is the top dog, and basically we're trained in freestyle bouquet design, and group designing for events with supervisory leadership.

When i was in the lab, a group from those classes came in there to brainstorm. They must have just gotten assigned with something, I was enthralled with their discussion. Apparently they are like assigned certain rooms to work in and they choose themes and figure out how everything is going to go. And what direction to take it in. I think I heard baby room, bridal room and something else. I was just creeping in on their group planning and it just sounds so freaking fun. I think as a first year you're kind of just there to basically learn and help with the work and then slowly you move up to being in charge, which is great because you've had 2 semesters of experience thus far and you can really bring something to the table...

I don't think I'll make it that high up though.. the downside to all of this is the A-C event planning classes have to be taken one after the other, and they are only offered in the winter semester. So.. I would have had to start this year, and then after the mission go back immediately into that winter sem, and then my final semester take the last one. Sadness. I may get to the B class though so that's good. And any association with that event project will help. I wish I'd discovered this sooner though, I would love to learn the training in freestyle design and having a team to direct and work with. Ah well.. c'est la vie.

On a happier note, I've been looking into flowers a lot more recently.
Let's go through some of my faves, shall we?
*** WARNING****
Be aware that the word 'also' is going to come up quite frequently in this post. Sorry. There's nothing to be done about it. Not enough people read this for me to care about rewording it.

Cherry blossoms have always been one of my favorites. I don't know how they do over here in the states but I love those beautiful Japanese water gardens with these trees just flowing all over. Awesome. If I could have something like that in my backyard I would.
As have Snapdragons - I just loved that their mouths really did snap like dragons!! Fond memories when I discovered that and we've been together ever since. I will probably try to incorporate these fire colored types into my bouquet if and when i ever get hitchedI also love the red ginger flowers - my momma even would bring them to me every now and again, I just love them because they aren't typical, they're pretty, they're big, and they're pretty durable too..
... she even brought one to me for my Senior Musical performance in Wizard of Oz!!! (I was a flying monkey, the only child in Oz, AND the voice of Toto. Score!)

Now, strange as this may seem to you guys, I have never really been fond of 'typical' flowers. Like I couldn't like roses or tulips or carnations or anything like that because they were too normal and typical and everyone had them and men used them as a default romantic notion because they had no idea what to do with life. Now, as I have gotten older, I have found that people in general don't like carnations. My opinion has changed, I think they're okay looking. They're like little pieces of fabric all bunched up and pretty! You have to search in them to find their center. They aren't a favorite but I can appreciate them. Tulips I now like, depending on the color. As for roses, I think there is a time for them. And they are a very pretty, classy flower and I do like them, but I generally only favor them when it is just roses, not when they're in a mixed arrangement. I don't know why. That said, I have come to find that I LOVE garden roses (pictured below) and they can be mixed wherever they gosh darn please. They're just gorgeous!
Speaking of gardens, I also really like the gardenia. I remember we had these growing up. I don't remember if my mom liked them or not but I feel like she loved them (it was a long time ago). I do remember that they smelled amazing. And now I find I love the flower's look as well
I also love the Tiger Lily. Partially because of how it looks, and partially because it is the name of the Indian princess in 'Peter Pan.' I always liked her more than Wendy.
Now, lilies are one of those flowers that can look good almost however it is bred. I have come to really love stargazers over the years.
I also fought against daisies throughout the years. TOO TYPICAL!! But now I can proudly say that I love gerber daisies especially - particularly because of the wide variety of colors they com in. They are just a fun flower. I have, however, always liked these kinds of daisies, because they look like fire. I like that they have that little piece of brown it has at the base of the petal.
Also, I like this flower. It looks similar to a daisy but the petals look different. Idk if it is or isn't but I like this one a lot:
Related to my love for daisies, I love the sunflower. I remember when we used to go visit my friend Tyler's house in Friendswood and they had sunflowers back there. I vaguely remember a trampoline as well? Idk. Another fond memory of sunflowers and possibly part of the reason I like them so much is because when I was growing up, we got taught how to swim at my now-aunt Mindy's home, pre-Mrs.Rippstein. I loved going to their house. I loved their house. I loved getting Popsicle in the shed thing or something like that. I loved the pool. I loved their wood floors. But I reaaaally loved Mindy's room. It had hardwood floors and I think most of the furniture was the same kind of wood. And there were sunflowers all around. I loved it. And it also seemed so.. country. Which I liked. And still like. I'd love to have a nice country home. But not in Houston. Somewhere else. hahaha.
Another country flower I freaking LOVE is the bluebonnet. Mostly because it's the Texas state flower. But also because it's just purdy! And blue! And vivid! I remember our neighbor had them in their yard. And for the longest time I thought it really was illegal to pick them and you could get put in jail and that cops always are on the lookout for people that may steal them. I vaguely believe it was daddy who told me that. Shocker huh?Another flower I didn't realize I liked so much is the daffodil. I don't know why. Part of me says because of the sneezing flowers in my favorite movie 'Hook'. Another part says its because it reminds me of the flower in Charlie and the Choc Factory that Willy Wonka uses as a teacup and then eats. And then I'm also reminded of Alice and Wonderland, but I dont honestly remember if daffodils were in that movie, it jus reminds me of it anyways. Whatever the case may be, it is a pretty little beauty. 1 or 2 daffodils MAY make it into my bouquet. Depending on coloring and if i decide it fits


I'm currently having a love affair with green hydrangeas, and I don't know why. Just something about their look just strikes me and I adore it.
Another one I discovered and was fond of in high school was the Columbine flower, in white. I wasn't familiar at the time with the fact that any one flower can be in billions of diff colors, esp those that start out at white. Yesterday I found the Columbine William Guiness flower, and I love it more than I already like the regular white type.
Today, surfing the net, I found these orange beauties called 'Epidendrum radicans.' I like that they aren't afraid to show off.
I also found that I really like magnolias. The shape of the petal just makes me happy because its so cute and overlappy. However, I do not like Steel Magnolias the movie.

Another today-find are the Asclepias. They are cute as a button. They even kind oflook like a star made out of buttons from the top view. From the side they look like little dancing princesses.
Aaaaaaaand I found the Dianthus Chianti. Just by looking at it you can tell it is one freaking legit, awesome flower. It's so spikey! And harmless! Unlike another favorite I forgot to mention - the Venus Flytrap. For awhile there I wanted to have a bouquet of Venus flytraps in my bouquet for my wedding.. I mean how cool would that be?
One favorite I saved till now is the orchid. I LOVE ORCHIDS like so many other people. And this is another of those flowers that is just done in so many colors you can't believe it. And its just so pretty! I like the green orchids:
I like how cool the 'Ghost Orchids' are as well. They're just so.. spooky. Esp when there are a bunch together:

But my favorite of all of the orchids is this blue orchid right below. IT'S SO PRETTY! It looks like a tie dyed flower! I remember the first time I saw it. It was at Krogers actually. It was sooo wickedly cool looking. I am almost 98% sure this flower will make it into my bouquet.
Speaking of weddings, I am going to tell you a little bit about one idea I have for mine. There are so many now, that I don't even bother making anything official (hence the 98% on the blue orchids). I'm so bummed you only have one!!! I have so many ideas.. and I can only put one through to application. Freaking. Stinks.

Most of my ideas do not have specific colors attached to them, like I didn't fashion the theme after the colors. That said, my strongest idea at this point does have strong color play. My colors would be turquoise, orange, and black - my 3 fave colors. It all would look waaay cool together. And its not typical. Win-win. I found a bouquet online - not near what I would do for mine - but it gives you an idea of some kind of mix with these blue orchids and orange. I don't like the roses in there. And its too boring to be mine. But it gives you some kind of visualization.

The Dendrobium orchid is another possibility to be included in mine. I love its richness of color.

Today I also discovered Parrot tulips in my quest for pretty orange flowers. Have decided they're up in my tops as far as tulips go

I also think it'd be fun to try to work in like maybe 2 Birds of paradise if i can
I also discovered Sandersonia. Which has shot up to the tops of my faves because just look at it! It's so cute and funny and orange and pretty! Apparently it's like rare or something like that and its in south africa but hey if its possible, It'd be cool having a few of these hanging down

Now as for the black. I have something in mind but I just can't find the flower anywhere. The black ones i have fan haven't really struck my fancy. I want a reaaaally small one and these just don't cut it. If worse comes to worst I could however throw some black orchids on there, but they're a bit bigger than what I was hoping for. I don't want it to end up looking gothic
What I was thinking is like a small 5 petaled daisy of sorts, but black. Actually its more in the shape of the "70s" retro daisies that are such a hit. Or if you look at the small flowers with the beads in them in the following pictures, those in black would do as well. I may just end up putting fake ones in. We'll see though. NOW I want to show you some cute wrap ideas. Obviously I liked the colors of this one, but I also like how it is tied.

I like the idea of getting a few cheapo charm bracelets or whatever they're called at like Target or wherever and fastening them and draping them around it like pictured in this one:
I think I'm fond of the beading and other elements on the wrap like these:And this:
And this:

I like how this next arrangement uses those huge leaves as kind of a backer. That may be fun if I decide to go in a greenery direction
This one is way intense, it looks like her bouquet has a leetle skirt!! :)
This was actually from an LDS wedding I think; it was a Do it Yourself wedding and I just loved how simple yet creative she got with her wrap. As a side note I loved how she pulled off her colors. All of her decorations were freaking cool and pretty and original, and this color scheme isn't seen TOO often either which is a plus.

I'm going to end with just a few bouquets I liked. Not necessarily for myself or anything I just liked them for whatever reason. This one is def included, esp since those little berries look like strawberries! YUM!
Katie Sorensen, a friend of ours, majored in floral design and actually made her own bouquet with hydrangeas. I really like how it came out in the end.
I told you I'm not a huge fan of roses except when they're by themselves. This is an example of something I do like. I especially am a fan of the weathered, antique rose look. It's just pretty to me:
This one I liked because of color, the fact that those look like cherry blossoms and hange, and just the whole arrangement in general. Simple.
And this last one has to be my favorite of those I have found. First of all because of where they come from, second for the things they could symbolize, third for their colors, and finally because of their whole look in general. These are just a bunch of flowers all taken from cacti. How cool is that?! For symbolism it could mean tough but beautiful, it could be kind of a diamond in the rough kind of appeal, could be for endurance and integrity, and there's a bunch more I have thought of but don't feel like writing it all down. It's just so original and it makes one nostalgic for the olden life on the wide open prairie and canyons days, even though I never lived in those days hahaha. Idk i just love the whole piece.
Isn't it a rare beauty?