Contemporary Fan Design Characteristics
Different shapes other than a fan are also possible, eg a circle shape like Damien Koh's design below or a heart shape or even an artistic variation creating an outline with the stem lengths as in the design below be Kyla Beutler.
Follow these steps to re-create the fan design
Drumsticks (Craspedia) x 7 stems
Cockscomb or brains (Celosia argentea) x 5 stems
Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria) x 5 stems
Chincherinchee (Ornithogalum) x 6 stems
Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) x part of 1 bunch
Dogwood (Cornus alba 'Sibirica')
Floral foam cut to the shape of the vase.
STEP 1:Shape the floral foam to fit the container and soak. Strip all the leaves from the flowers. STEP 2:First insert the Celosia after cutting to an appropriate length - these will define the fan shape. Then some tall lengths of dogwood is inserted between each one as in the image oppostie. It makes more of a design feature however if the dogwood is higher than the flowers. |
FLOWER INFO: Celosia Celosia are a most unusual flower and are available in several vibrant colours. They are excellent flowers to use for textural designs for obvious reasons - their flowers are very tactile and furry to touch and resemble coral or a brain. CULTURAL SNIPPETS: Milner, G (2009) explains in his book that the leaves of the Celosia are edible and are eaten as vegetables in India. Some species are also used medicinally. Whale S (2011) identifies a variety called 'Soko Yokoto' which translated means 'make husbands fat and happy' which also refers to it's edible quality. FLOWER CARE: The flowers can last up to 30 days but it is advisable to remove the leaves as they will wither after only a few days. They require a substantial water source so it is essential to condition the blooms well before using in floral foam. |
CULTURAL SNIPPET: In British culture the Alstroemeria means 'wealth, prosperity and fortune'
HISTORICAL ORIGINS: It is originally from Peru hence the Common name of Peruvian Lily. It was named after a Swedish botanist called Klas von Alstroemer who was a pupil of the famous Carl von Linneaus who devised the current International usage of the binomial system of naming plants in Latin.
TRIVIA FACT: Sue Whale in her book "Cut flowers" has identified the unusual trait that the leaves on the Alstroemeria actually grow up side down!
HISTORICAL ORIGINS: Has it's origins in the Meditteranean and South Africa where they called the flower 'tjenkenrientjee' hence the common name Chincherinchee. It is also sometimes called "Star of Bethlehem". The name of Ornithogalum is derived from Greek, meaning bird's milk 'ornithos' = bird and gala = milk.
TRIVIA: These flowers are phototropic which means they will always bend towards the light.
Evaluation
Elicriso (2000-2004) "Celosia" [on-line] accessed on 16.5.14 and available at: http://www.elicriso.it/it/come_coltivare/celosia
Fancy Flora (2012) "Some interesting facts about Alstroemeria" [on-line] accessed on 16.5.14 and available at: http://fancyflora.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/alstroemeria-lily-of-incas.html
Micscape Magazine (2006) "Chincherinchee - Ornithogalum thyrsoides" [on-line] accessed on 16.5.14 and available at: http://www.microscopy-uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artfeb06/bj-ornitho.html
Milner, G (2009) "Fresh Cut Flowers" Victoria/Australia: JoJo Publishing
Whale, S (2011) "Cut Flowers - A guide to their selection and care" Birmingham: Jago Publishing Ltd