Floristry – Susan Rushton

November 30, 2022

Flowers to Celebrate, Thank and Remember

Large flower arrangement with coral, pink and cream roses

Can you believe I happened upon this huge flower arrangement which had been deserted against a backdrop of greenery during a walk? We were exploring gardens attached to an art gallery the morning after some form of celebration had been held.

I was surprised they had been abandoned, but happy to have a few minutes with such a brilliant floral showpiece. Pink, apricot and cream roses popped out, while lilies, peonies and larkspur provided white highlights. Eustoma, eucalyptus, sprays of azalea, other leafy foliage and (I think) an ornamental cabbage carried the garden flowers theme and helped to pack it out.

Continue reading “Flowers to Celebrate, Thank and Remember”

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022

A Floral Feast For Your Eyes

Arrangement of garden flowers: hydrangea, dahlia, phlox, helenium, scabious, sunflower, amaranthus

This colourful floral fantasy is the winning design from Class No. 321 (Blooming Lovely) in the Floral Art Marquee of the Southport Flower Show by Ann Coulton. Continue reading “A Floral Feast For Your Eyes”

June 26, 2021

Retro Floral With Peonies and Roses

Retro floral with peonies, roses, delphinium and hibiscus — Peonies, roses, delphinium and hibiscus

I took this colourful picture a few years ago during an event at the Antique Rose Emporium in Texas. The creamy-white flower is a form of hibiscus. Continue reading “Retro Floral With Peonies and Roses”

January 20, 2021

Wordless Wednesday: Peach Roses

Trailing floral design with peach roses

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020

Rosa ‘Summer Song’ in a Flower Arrangement

Some English Roses are unique in colour and this is one of them. An unusual colour brings challenges describing it. Rosa ‘Summer Song’ used to be ‘a sophisticated shade of orange’, or ‘burnt orange’, but in checking, I note its breeder is now plumping for ‘orange red’.

Rosa ‘Summer Song’ is not a cut flower, but I can see why florists would be drawn to it. Here it is but half open – enough to show the promise inside, but closed enough to last for a few days (with fingers crossed). Continue reading “Rosa ‘Summer Song’ in a Flower Arrangement”

June 12, 2020

Friday Flowers: Sitting Pretty

Roses in a floral design, Southport Flower Show 2019

Roses, clematis, nigella, veronica and hypericum berries in shades of pink, blue and purple look wonderful combined with creamy lisianthus buds, natural wood and lichens. Lest anyone should think I have the talent to have done this, I’ll make it clear that it’s a detail from a floral design by Eleanor Griffiths that I admired at last year’s Southport Flower Show. Continue reading “Friday Flowers: Sitting Pretty”

June 2, 2020June 3, 2020

Floral Pastiche of The Swing By Fragonard

Floral recreation of The Swing by Fragonard

A comment from blogging buddy, Derrick, reminded me to share this installation, created by Flowers from the Farm, a not-for-profit network of sole traders, micro businesses and smallholders who grow British cut flowers and sell them at farm gates, markets, craft fairs and online.

Prompted by the theme of movement at the Chatsworth Flower Show in 2018, it was a quirky, floral recreation of Fragonard’s 1767 oil painting, The Swing. Continue reading “Floral Pastiche of The Swing By Fragonard”