Exploring Modern Floral Design using Sustainable Techniques
- Lillian AT MY ROSE GARDEN
- May 8
- 3 min read
I have always used old fashioned floristry techniques ever since I started cutting flowers from my own garden. The concept of using floral foam was foreign to me, and it would never have occurred to me to use toxic chemical concoctions to prolong the life of flowers in the vase.
As I'm not formally trained in floristry, this can partly be attributed to ignorant bliss! And yet, the idea of adding anything toxic or not re-usable when creating beautiful posies and arrangements stems from my long-established organic gardening practices. You see, I grew up watching my Grandpa garden his beautiful flowers organically.
When I was doing my Horticultural Science degree many moons ago, we did a short stint of growing vegetables in the university field. We were given a choice of weed control, with many of us opting to use sugar can mulch. Yet, others chose black plastic weed matting. After the vegetables were harvested, I was horrified to witness long rows of plastic matting being ploughed up and discarded after one short season of use.
I am fortunate to have grown up in an era when sustainable floristry was not unusual or seen as 'different'. It was just how floristry was done. The likes of Constance Spry in the early half of last century used techniques that we refer to now as sustainable mechanics, such as flower frogs at the base of a vase to support stems. Chicken wire was readily available and so was used to stabilise arrangements in a range of different vase and vessel shapes. Reading Constance Spry's floristry books today is a lesson in using what you have to hand so as to create stunning arrangements.
Large celebrations, such as weddings might involve a whole community of gardeners coming together to contribute an abundance of flowers from their gardens. These collaborative efforts used what was available locally and in season. I love seeing old wedding photos of brides carrying beautifully abundant, garden style bouquets, against a backdrop of large urn arrangements filled with the best locally gathered flowers.
I recall going with my mother to do the church flowers. All of the flowers used in the large vases were cut from local gardens and arranged in water alone. I love the simplicity of this, as after the weekly service the flowers were taken home again and re-used.
The term "sustainable floristry" as something unique or different, wasn't in use until fairly recently. because plastic floral foam and toxic concoctions weren't in general use. Well not in my experience, as the average gardener picked their own flowers to use for floral arrangements. This also meant that flowers didn't have to travel far, so chemicals weren't needed to keep flowers 'alive' for longer.
Contrast this with the current importing of roses from Colombia and Kenya. Because they travel such distances out of water, roses are fumigated with toxic chemicals to keep them alive for longer. Reports say that as much as 90 per cent of roses are imported into Australia now, putting many small rose growers out of business. Imagine the enormous cost to the environment of this practice.
So, if you're considering a wonderful celebration such as a wedding, do something wonderful for the environment as well by choosing locally grown, not flown, flowers. Or maybe you can get your friends and family together to arrange freshly cut flowers from your local flower farmer.
And if you're nervous about creating the bridal bouquet, your flower farmer will recommend a florist or create something lovely for you. Not only will your flowers be fresh, seasonal and very beautiful, you will also be helping a small local business. And always request that your floristry uses sustainable methods without floral foam and toxic chemicals. That way you will be able to hold and sniff your beautiful flowers safely.
I'd love to hear your experience of using local flowers in your floristry.
Enjoy,
xxLillian
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