It's always fun to check out the floral competition at the show. I am always glad that I don't have to judge any part of the show. Comparing apples to oranges (sometimes asparagus?) and coming up with prize winners must be a difficult task!
On Tuesday, arrangers were busy putting their arrangements together. So many choices...
In any art form using materials that are already beautiful in themselves, there is often an inner struggle in the artist's mind. How much of the natural beauty of the glass, flower, wood, metal, etc. is allowed to speak for itself versus how far can one manipulate a material to make his/her statement. In this first-prize-winning entry, "Circles of Life" by Fiore Dorato International, a delightful balance of mastery of technique and admiration of the natural beauty of flowers has been struck.
This is the only entry for which I have no title or creator. If you know, please tell me!
"Ikebana as Art" Ikebana by Megumi
"Every Flower is a Masterpiece, Every Bouquet is a Museum." by KAN Orchids/Flowers
"Jewels of Life" by La Vassar Florists
"Mary, Mary" by Metropolitan Market
"Vincent" by Dancing Bee Designs. Frames were used a lot in this show because of the "Art in Bloom" theme.
"Swoon" by Sandra O'Malley
"Daringly Divergent Dali" by Countryside Floral and Garden won second place.
According to the rules of the Floral Competition, at least one hundred dollars of floral material must be used in each arrangement. I love this as a piece of art but that had to be some pretty expensive cardboard!
"Floricasso" by Fena Flowers.
"Breaking through winter the Heart begins to Heal" by Fleur de V
"Floralaura" by Laura Straight
Debra Prinzing, author of the book "Slow Flowers," in which she recommends buying flowers only from American growers, put together this lovely residential-sized arrangement. Check out the website here.
"Enrapture" by Cordia Botanical Art is a slice of garden on a table!
Third prize went to "Art Nouveau" by Christopher Flowers.
Capitol Florist
I'll end with some details of the material used in "Swoon," plants I've swooned over myself.
A grevillea which isn't hardy here.
A Leucadendron, also just a zone away from being hardy in my garden!
Kangaroo Paws among others. Notice the Tillandsia!
Tillandsias, a succulent, and more Kangaroo Paws mingle with Ranunculus.
While I admire all of these, I don't cut flowers from my garden; they last so much longer outside and watching them die in the house is kind of sad. However, I'm not averse to buying flowers every now and then. What are your favorite flowers to have inside?