I bow deeply to the Fritillaria, which - thanks to Mother Nature's good care - is one of the first to dare to bud again in the 'New Spring'. Green life rises from the withered leaves, weathered branches, and brown earth. These are the fresh leaves growing from an awakening bulb from deep hibernation. I would like to show three designs I made with two fritillaria varieties from Radical Wonders.
Pointing Out the Seasons
As a teacher of Floral Design at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in Wageningen, Netherlands, it is very important to point out the seasons to the students. To work with plants, such as the Fritillaria, which only reveal themselves in a certain period, is a privilege. Just like eating asparagus and strawberries, we look forward to that and we consciously enjoy it for a while. I consider it a task to point out to the students the ephemerality and transience of the materials we work with.
These characteristics make our craft and knowledge important because that is how we distinguish ourselves as floral designers. Due to its short presence in the year, the fritillaria becomes an exceptional flower and one to look forward to.
I Bow Deeply to Fritillaria Orange Sweet
I bow deeply to this special species of Fritillaria imperialis, also known as Imperial Crown. Fritillaria Orange Sweet symbolizes majesty and wealth. Fritillarias in this color were painted by Dutch masters as early as the 17th century. She was given a prominent place on the canvas and towered over the still life as a prevailing and static flower.
When students work with authentic flowers such as this Fritillaria Orange Sweet, there is an awareness and appreciation for the history of flower arranging. When placing and processing this flower, good thought is required and this also requires symbolic and technical knowledge.
The Fritillaria imperialis is depicted among other seasonal congeners and usually remains subordinate to this prevailing form. It is therefore important to process this flower with materials that remain subordinate and serve more for the design and functionality.
Fritillaria Will Raise Her Crown
If you give her some time, the fritillaria will grow a little further and she will raise her crown even more richly. In this design, I used gold colors in beeswax. The Imperial Crowns are prominently placed in the beeswax dish by means of small wooden skewers, which show the technique of a kenzan. The two types have been processed in two layers so that they can both show their powerful expression.
Final Bow for Fritillaria Persica
Finally, I make a deep bow back to the Fritillaria Persica. This beautiful sunken purple color in metamorphosis to green deserves the right processing and does not need much. As a designer, you will always be in conversation with this specific species. This fritillaria also continues to grow as a cut flower and makes the most graceful movements.
Because of its growth habit, you as a designer can do nothing but move with it. Observing, analyzing, and only then finding the right place in your design is the best way in this case. An instructive path, because it requires quite a bit of improvisation from the designer.
Due to the graceful lines, the special play of colors and the submissive materials such as the peat and the roots of the birch, this design has quickly become a fairytale-like appearance. The beautiful incidence of light, almost Claire Obscure, creates small vistas that make the design exciting to watch.
Flowers by Radical Wonders: Fritillaria Orange Sweet, Fritillaria Persica.
