Monday 29 September 2014

Spring long weekend x1

We've been doubly blessed in the Australian Capital Territory, we have two long weekends back-to-back. Awesome. The snow has melted on the mountains, more or less, so there was no early morning drive up to Perisher for a day of snowboarding. Instead, I used my time wisely. Kind of. 

I went to Floriade Nightfest with a couple of friends. Floriade is a bit like a flower theme-park. A lolly shop for florists, if you like.
I got a haircut. And had my 'brows done.
I went shopping. A few times. Cabin fever set in about 36 hours into the weekend.
I watched/listened to much of the 2014 Last Night of the Proms.
S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R.
I re-watched Outlander from the beginning in preparation for the mid-season final. 
I bought the (first) Outlander book and am half-way through it.
I went to wander through the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
I've caught up on the laundry.

And I've still got the rest of today to...

read, probably, if i'm being honest.

Also this month:



The annual Bride-to-Be spin off mag Flowers and Wedding Styling was released in September, making me one happy, happy, happy florist. It is a long wait for this beautiful magazine to grace the shelves each year.

I've been obsessing over Lovestar. These vases are genius. So, so effortlessly cool.

My current flower crush is the exceedingly humble chamomile daisy. It must be a Spring thing. These sweet little daisies are the essence of this season.

I've been lusting after beautiful and unusual ribbon.

And thinking about cake styling.

Oh, and of course there was a flower crown for a wedding in there somewhere too. Here is a sneak peek. More to come (hopefully).



K xx


Flowers, styling and photography by Moss & Vine






Friday 26 September 2014

Blossom and bloom

"A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. 
It just blooms."
Zen Shin





K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine



Monday 22 September 2014

Harvest

Just when you think that Spring has blessed you with all of the Grape Hyacinths it can ...


... you pick another handful.

K xx

Photograph by Moss & Vine

Thursday 18 September 2014

Spring in full swing

Jonquils, daffodils, narcissus. What's the difference?
Read all about them here.


Whatever name you know them by, they all smell D-I-V-I-N-E.
These ones are jonquils. The daffodil's little sister, if you like. I'm getting high on their scent as they are currently hanging out on my bedside table. In the past when I've had jonquils by the bed, the scent has been so encompassing that it was the first thing my senses recognised as I stirred from sleep in the morning. I had to lift my head and look around to remind myself where the smell was coming from. 


I love them. And they're currently available in abundance. If you are taking jonquils or daffodils home, here are the things that you should know.

When you get your flowers home, recut the stems to allow them to take up fresh water efficiently. Never combine freshly cut daffodils and jonquils with other cut flowers as they emit a sap that is toxic to other flowers when newly cut. It is possible to arrange daffodils and jonquils with other flowers, just put them alone in water for 24 hours before arranging with other cut flowers. Don't re-cut the stems though. 

Daffodils mean: chivalry // high regard // faith // honesty // forgiveness // rebirth and new beginnings // immortality. 
A single daffodil is unlucky, meaning unrequited love or the foretelling of a misfortune. Medieval Europeans believed a single, drooping daffodil was an omen of death. A bunch of daffodils is a positive gesture, meaning forgiveness or appreciation of someones honesty. 
 Prince Charles is paid one daffodil annually in return for the rent of all the islands in the Isles of Scilly.
(Gray, The Secret Language of Flowers)


I'll have my nose in these all evening long.

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine





Wednesday 17 September 2014

Monday 15 September 2014

Adoration

I just can't help it. I love ranunculus too much. I can't, and won't, stop arranging them in the vase, standing back to admire them, and then snapping photographs of them. I'm trying to hold on to the beauty for as long as possible. I know they will eventually wither and droop, but these particular ranunculus have been hanging out on my coffee table for nine days now. Stunning, gorgeous, pretty, divine. I just can't get enough. Enjoy!






They even made an appearance in the guest bathroom.


Happy Monday!

K xx 


Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine




Thursday 11 September 2014

The Language of Flowers, Part 1


Many people consider the meaning and symbolism of flowers to be distinctly Victorian. Indeed, the exchange of sentiment through the language of flowers was at it's height in the Nineteenth Century, but, in truth the subtle and intricate language of flowers is as old as Adam. The Celts, the Romans, and the Ancient Greeks all attributed particular meaning and emotion to flowers. Religion has also borrowed from nature to create Biblical analogies using flowers.


The tale of Snowdrops is one of my favourites. The Victorians used Snowdrops to mean: beauty of spirit // hopefulness // new beginnings // and consolation. 

The Victorians also associated the Snowdrops with death. This is because the little bell-shaped blooms hang downwards, hovering just above the ground where the dead are buried, reminiscent of the way that mourners hang their heads at gravesides.

German folklore views the Snowdrop as a symbol of gratitude. The tale goes, 'God created all things on Earth, but the snow was sad to find itself icily transparent and invisible. God told the snow to ask the flowers if they would give it some of their colour. The snow asked each flower in turn and every one of them refused, leaving the snow sadder than ever. Finally, the snow asked a little white flower, which agreed sweetly to let the snow have some of its pure whiteness. In perpetual gratitude, the snow allows its friend the snowdrop to be the first of the flowers to bloom each year.' 
(Gray, The Secret Language of Flowers, 90)

And it seems to be true, these Snowdrops (pictured) were cut from my childhood garden in the Snowy Mountains. Like it's name suggests, the 'Snowies' has a particularly cold Winter climate, yet these little flowers are happily blooming even with overnight temperatures that fall below zero.


Daisies also have wonderful, if forlorn, meaning. A knight in the Middle Ages wore a double daisy on their shield to proclaim that they had won a lady's heart. Celtic Legend believes the Daisy's very existence was to comfort parents who had lost a child. 
(Martin, The Ways of Flowers, 16)

The English believe that Summer has not truly begun until you can 'set your foot upon twelve daisies.' In European folklore, the appearance of honeysuckle near your home meant that a wedding would occur within the following year. Lilac is symbolic of the first emotions of new love. The Russians believed that cradling a newborn baby beneath flowering lilac would endow the child with wisdom. The Romans believed the sap of the daffodil could heal wounds. And because the daffodil blooms on the Feast Day of St David, it is the floral symbol of Wales.
(Gray)

'The Narcissus, sometimes known as the daffodil, came into being when Echo, a wood nymph, found herself infatuated with Narcissus, a vain mortal who spent his days admiring his own reflection in still waters. Wearied by her unrequited affection, Echo slowly faded away, leaving only the shadow of her voice as a reminder of her misery. The gods, furious over Narcissus's vanity, changed him into the daffodil, a flower that sinks its toes into the damp banks of lazy streams, nodding its flowers downward, always seeming to be taken with its own splendour in the water.'
(Martin)

Retribution is a common theme in the symbolism of plants and flowers. The willow is said to have once been a proud fisherman who steadfastly refused to bow to a passing goddess. As punishment for his discourtesy he was transformed into a weeping tree, condemned to spend forever bowing on the banks of rivers. The willow now represents sorrow and bereavement.
(Martin)


The language of flowers is endlessly fascinating. I could read about it all afternoon long. The two major sources for these fables were, The Ways of Flowers by Tovah Martin and The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Gray. There are many, many books dedicated to the history of the language of flowers. Look them up! Finally, in the spirit of today I want to end by asking, R U Ok?
Leave a comment or a question below. 

K xx

Styling and Photographs by Moss & Vine



Monday 8 September 2014

Friday 5 September 2014

Pinkspiration

I've always been a pink loving girl. My adolescent bedroom was the ultimate homage to the colour pink. I've matured a bit in the years since I moved out of home. And so has my taste in colour schemes. Now I favour navy blue, mocha, sea breeze green, emerald, and rose gold. No matter what the colour inspiration is for your wedding, you will find endless examples of it on the world wide web. And I really do mean endless. 


Below is a particularly comprehensive link from the Queen of colour palettes, Martha Stewart.




And just because I still have a (secret) soft spot for pink, here is the prettiest Winter Wedding inspiration shoot featuring pink pops of colour. I can't get enough of that bouquet.


K xx

Ranunculus boutonnière and photo by Moss & Vine