Françoise Weeks European Floral Design

Thank you Joni and Mark for the great  pictures!

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The last few years my friend Joni – photographer extraordaire – and I have collaborated  on a note card project. This year we chose flower shoes. Here are some of the pictures that Joni took last week – soon I will do a blog post for the new notecards.

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photo: Jamie Bosworth

You’ll delight your Mom with a unique arrangement made in a container that is transformed into a living sculpture. Learn how to wrap vessels in leaves or cover them with herbs, reeds or artichokes; then design a a glorious arrangement with lilacs, viburnums, tulips and other seasonal treasures, that is tailor-made for your own container.

            Monday, May 2                                                           6:30 – 9:00pm   $75

Call to reserve your space @ 503-236-5829

http://francoiseweeks.com/wordpress/classes

The hands-on classes are limited to 8 students per class and are conducted at Françoise’s Studio – 2754 SE 33^rd Place.  Prices include flowers, supplies, use of tools, and best of all, your creation goes home with you!  Receipt of your check (or payment with Paypal) for the full tuition secures your place in the class.

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Cold frames are magical: they offer a perfect transition for seedlings that are grown indoors or in greenhouses, before the young plants have to face the daily elements of Mother Nature. They also are used to extend the growing season of vegetables.

My eye caught a miniature version of an old fashioned cold frame and it seemed like a perfect ‘container’ for an early spring woodland arrangement.

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Vintage style, vintage dresses, vintage vases,… vintage is IN this year!

Old bottles of various sizes and types  make an interesting and imaginative collection to fill with spring flowers. A few of these vases clustered in the center of a round table or a selection in the middle of  long narrow tables  look fabulous! And how about decorating a mantle with a variety of them?

Photography by Joni Shimabukuro

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Another whimsical bridal bouquet!

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Fun and different!

Flower purses  make  wonderful hostess gifts and are perfect centerpieces for smaller tables.

Or would you like a unique bride’s bouquet or bridesmaid’s bouquet? As always, the possibilities are endless!

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Two more months before the Spring officially starts – but luckily there already are plenty of cut  spring flowers available: tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, anemones, hellebore  and primroses as well as  blooming branches like forsythia, hamamelis  and quince. What a treat!

In my garden the crocus and miniature daffodils have been poking  through the soil for the last 3 weeks. Soon I will cover them with a warm blanket of black gold: mushroom compost. It is such a fabulous soil amendment and the plants thrive on it. I am thrilled that the various hellebores – a favorite! -  have started to bloom already – in my book, spring is right around the corner…

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

Kathryn Elsesser

Even though the selection of flowers and texture is certainly limited at this time of the year, the choices of white blooms shine. Early bulb flowers, such as tulips, anemones, paperwhites, ranunculus, cyclamen and hyacinths are here!  Add to these the year-around availability of freesia, roses, sweetpeas, lilies, iris and phlox and voilà, the choices are abundant. Kale, parsley, brussel sprouts, small fruits, succulents, berries, evergreen foliage and vines from the garden will complement the arrangements beautifully!

An easy project in winter is to force paperwhites or hyacinths in water or soil; watching them grow steadily is fun and once they bloom, their fragrance will fill the room. My Mom used to force hyacinths every winter;  their scent always elicits fond memories.

Thank you Joni and Jamie for photographing these winter arrangements!

Joni Shimabukuro

Joni Shimabukuro

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