A striking assortment of white- and pink-hued blooms is a go-to arrangement of summer and monsoon flowers that thrive in the shade. The flowers largely used are carnations, gerberas, roses, baby chrysanthemums and gypsies. Leatherleaf fern leaves are predominantly used in most of the arrangements. During these challenging times the variety available is limited. The containers and accessories can be quite fascinating and available in most homes: cups, saucers, wine/margarita glasses, large water jugs and so on.

Spherical blooms

This entire arrangement is developed on a wooden, round, flat base. In isolation, it is often used as a coffee-table arrangement. Two large semi-circle moist oases are fixed together to create this spherical arrangement. Thick areca palm leaves, also known as butterfly palm, are washed and oiled. They cover the entire oasis from bottom to top, leaving some space for a cluster of fresh white carnations to be placed at the top to create the focal point of the design. The repetitive subtle lines of areca palms generate an interesting flow that supports the focal point of the soft white carnations. At the base a garland of pink carnation blooms encircles the spherical body, building a beautiful balance. It is interesting to observe that the texture of areca palms almost looks shiny and lacquered while the fresh flowers are stimulating and calm.

Tea Time Saga

Who doesn’t love receiving gifts? I immediately use most of them. The pristine white cups and saucers were recently gifted to me and I placed them on this lock-shaped, dull textured wooden platter to create a gift design. Small moist oasis pieces were placed inside these cups and a variety of flowers were placed in them. Pure pink gerbera is a symbol of beauty and are believed to lessen everyday stress. They are naturally clubbed with baby pink carnations, white roses, white chrysanthemums, gypsies and fresh leatherleaf fern leaves. The fluent radiant line movement of fully-open flowers creates an informal rhythm and direction in this finished work. The air-purifying green leatherleaf fern leaf is a dynamic soil improver that enriches it and stays moist for a number of days.

Dining Table Stories

This is a simple and elegant DIY dining table arrangement. For this one needs four-six margarita glasses (depending on the length of the dining table) and an assortment of flowers are placed in them. A small piece of moist oasis is placed gently in the glass. A variety of pink chrysanthemums and white roses, baby and gypsophila (a genus of flowering plants in the carnation family) are placed in repetitive circular lines, creating innate rhythm. In between, on a flat wooden log covered with white designed paper, the ribboned candles, small glass containers filled with bright pink gerberas and leatherleaf fern leaves creates a proportionate continuity. The eye will naturally follow this line of continuance, linking a series of similar shapes and forms.

Open-style pieces

This transparent Egyptian water jug with sleek handles on both sides and a small tap creates a defined 360-degree design. This is an overfilled bunched design and the spaces between each component allow them to be appreciated. This design has balancing of solids and space with the dark area creating a focal point, the area of interest, while baby pink and bright pink carnations are fixed in the oasis at the mouth of the half-filled jug. Contrasting long dry twigs are added to provide a visual balance. Some gypsophila in dual colours and bi-colour baby chrysanthemums are added all around it to determine the height, width and depth. Did you know that gypsophila are also called Baby’s Breath, and that one plant can produce 10,000 seeds? Bright green leatherleaf ferns are placed all around. These dominant leaves help to bring a sense of order to this design.

Hanging Garden

I sit down in my terrace and watch the birds fly home in the evening and that inspired this design. A hollow bamboo piece about 15” long is fixed on both sides with jute cord to help this design hang from low ceilings. Moist oases placed in the hollow provide support to this arrangement. It’s a two-sided design with delicate white and pink baby chrysanthemums complimenting the firm leatherleaf ferns. It is a horizontal hanging design which gently sways with the wind. For the birds it is a swing to rest before flying home. The components used are an interesting combination of fresh, delicate flowers and foliage in contrast to dried hanging bamboo base that is irrevocably linked to proportion and cannot be considered and isolation.

Sunita Kanoria, trained at Pushpa Bitan, is a judge for national-level flower-arrangement competitions, and currently utilises her time and talent as a floral-decor demonstrator at various forums