One of my favorite things about working with flowers is the way they connect us to one other. It's like walking around with a puppy or a baby.  Flowers are smile-magnets and conversation-starters.

Once I was in New York and I was carrying a flower arrangement across town on the subway. Most people don't look up and smile at each other these days—but with my box of flowers in tow, I got to catch the attention of lots of people, young and old. I got to smile and share my joy!

Actually on the last leg of my journey, a couple got off the same subway stop as me and they helped me carry my flowers for several blocks and I learned a little bit about their life and their trip—it was fun! They got to share their joy with me and fill me back up!

Flowers are more than just flowers. They are a conduit for passing the love and joy inside our hearts to others. Vincent Van Gogh felt there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people, and I agree.

I enjoy a thoughtfully designed arrangement, but what I love even more is the opportunity we have as florists to connect with and love people.

We must keep this most important task top of mind, above the techniques, philosophies or principles of design—message over methods.

A warm, big thank-you to you for your work with flowers, for your heart, and your kindness. Thanks for washing the buckets and taking out the trash. It all matters.  

Loving the world through flowers is important work.

How to Make this Arrangement

Create a base of geranium leaves around the lip of the vessel, and then build up and out on both sides using the spirea. Feather in sweet pea to carry color to the edges of the arrangement and add light texture to balance out the large, heavy leaf.

Add garden spray roses in low for visual weight and depth, and then use tulips to create a color tone gradient between the roses and sweet peas. Finish with ranunculus and scabiosa as focal and floater flowers!

Key Points:

1. Fill from front to back and side to side as you build out your greenery base.

2. Use a gradient technique to establish your color palette.

3. Place focal blooms in different planes to establish depth and finish strong.

Ingredients

• Spirea

• Geranium leaf

• Ranunculus (Charlotte and standard peach)

• Sweet pea

• Scabiosa

• Tulips

• Garden spray roses