Abundance of Color

Fall, like spring, is an explosion of color.

Trees, flowers, and plants respond to the changing light and temperatures - the trees are ablaze, the flowers eek out their last burst of color, the plants grow leggier and insistent as they stretch for the last bit of light.

Decorating with fall colors can be a bit staid with the eternal combination of orange, brown, and yellow. I like to change it up - add some purple, some neon-like oranges, some velvety oxblood reds, even some unexpected pink - and fall looks fresh again.

This wedding was pretty spectacular, I have to say. I really loved the contrast of the antique hydrangea with the pigment-drenched oranges, rusts, and reds. To me, these designs exemplify the look of fall: the mix of colors and textures, the mix of textures, and the lush abundance of a fall garden.

(Check out the cake flowers - what a treat to decorate!)

Flowers pictured include: antique hydrangea, pink snapdragon, hypericum berry, orange lilies, blackout lilies, kangaroo paw, freedom red roses, donna orange roses, orange unique roses, ruscus, salal, green hydrangea, white vendela roses.

Baby Shower: Blue, Boys, and Britain

Afternoon Tea at a British-inspired Tea Room: what fun!

For a lovely afternoon tea celebrating the impending arrival of a baby boy, I kept it simple and let the flowers speak for themselves. Clusters of blue in varying shades dotted the rustic wood tables and looked marvelous paired with the mixed tea cups and saucers. The blue of the flowers picked up the blue in the curtains and the other blue elements of the tea room - a harmonious combination indeed!

Flowers pictured include: light and dark blue hydrangea, light and dark blue delphinium, bachelor's buttons.

Barnes Reds

Reds and greens aren't just for Christmas.

The look of vibrant, electric reds and fuschias next to acid greens is always fresh, clean, and good for any time of the year. For this corporate event, I contrasted the chocolate, coppery clothes with these bright colors.

As I have said before, a lot of different looks can work in this space, but my favorite is one that picks up on the dual, contrasting elements of hard/linear (as seen in the granite water feature, iron gate, straight lines of stone) and soft/curvy (as seen in the fabric walls, wooden floors, light stone). The glass cube (hard) with the burst of nature and color (soft) works perfectly.

Flowers pictured include: freedom roses, hot lady roses, green hydrangea, cymbidium orchids, cockscomb, hypericum berry, salal.

Out of the Blue

As I said before, blue has been very popular this year!

Just a glimpse at a few bouquets and an altar arrangement for a late summer/early fall wedding. Delphinium, often temperamental, is stunning when it's perfect - and this crop was - and the gardenias in the bridal bouquet were pretty spectacular as well.

My favorite view of this wedding is that of the altar arrangement against the stunning cobalt of the stained glass. Nothing is prettier on a clear, sunny day.

Flowers pictured include: blue delphinium, white hydrangea, green hydrangea, gardenias, white mondial roses, white spray roses, salal.

Clouds

Rather surprisingly, blue has been quite a popular color this year - and especially the specific color combination of blue and white.

Another surprise has been the resurgence of baby's breath. After years of (rather harsh) banishment from the world of 'good taste', baby's breath is back. What works best is not using it in a mixed arrangement so popular in the 70s in 80s, but using it as it grows in the garden: in dense, bush-like quantities.

The effect is pretty cool and for a hot early fall day, the look is lacy, ethereal, and natural - the baby's breath arrangements are cloud-like across the room.

Flowers pictured include: baby's breath, white hydrangea, blue hydrangea, white vendela roses.