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H: Vicky Letch, host
S: Sarah Holland, Flowers and Plants
H: Hello and welcome to the Lifestyle Show brought to you by Flowers and Plants Association. I’m Vicky Letch and today we’re going to be talking about how you can brighten up your life, or perhaps the life of a friend with some lovely flowers. Whether or not you’ve got plenty of time to create that perfect gift or just a few minutes before you unpack the shopping, we’re going to be looking at some fast, farm, fashionable ways to display all of those flowers. And I’ve been joined in the studio today by a bit of an expert, well very much an expert in all things bright and beautiful, Sarah Holland thank you so much for joining us
S: Thank you
H: It’s lovely to have you with us. Now remember we are live, I’m going to have a little chat with Sarah, and then perhaps in a few minutes we’re going to start taking questions from you, but keep them coming in, start right now, first questions that pop into your head about your own flower needs. Type it in the box on screen with your name, click send and then we’ll have a little natter live, it’s exciting isn’t it? Ok so let’s start off, I was really impressed to find out that flowers were quite involved at London Fashion Week.
S: Yes it’s still going on actually, we have four of our members involved, they’ve designed their own bits and pieces, flower fashion accessories for mannequins, so we’ve got a stole, we’ve got a cardigan, a hat – all kinds of wonderful things that you could actually wear should you want to, so you can go along and have a look at that
H: Fabulous
S: We’ve also got a play table so you can go along and make your own flower fashion jewellery with chrysanthemums
H: Lovely. Because of course it’s gimmicky but there’s nothing stopping you from having a nice say floral bracelet for an evening
S: No or a fascinator, it’s a cheap fun way of doing it and it’s cheaper than going to a high street store, and also you can change it according to your outfit
H: Great, I love that, accessorising – the way forward because it always fits
S: Exactly
H: Unlike our jeans and I sometimes struggle with those! Now talking about things that are inexpensive, because we’re talking about flowers, in terms of a younger crowd if you like, now me included, and lots of my friends, we rent and we’ve been renting for a long time, quite an inexpensive way perhaps to get that little personal stamp in your own home?
S: Yes well just go for things you like, you don’t have to buy massive quantities, we’ll be showing you later, we’ll be demonstrating some ideas how you can use very few stems just to brighten up your home, but chrysanthemums are a fantastic thing to buy, they come in all shapes and sizes, they suit every taste, you will definitely find one you like. They’re what’s being used at London Fashion Weekend so they’re a really funky flower to use at the moment, so yes just go for what you like, one or two.
H: So go for these modern millies out there
S: That’s it
H: If you want that fashion to go all the way through your home. I love this idea
S: Definitely
H: Now obviously being female and caring and sensitive –
S: Yes
H: And thoughtful as we are, sometimes we want to treat our girlfriends don’t we-
S: Of course
H: Just to say thanks for being a friend
S: Definitely
H: Now when you go to buy your friend flowers, what are the sort of things you should think about?
S: Well if it’s me I think about the kind of colours they wear, the kind of home they live in, so think about what kind of room it’s going to go in, think about their age, whether they’re going to like something quite contemporary. You can take a look at our website, flowers.org.uk
H: Yes
S: On there we have flower horoscopes
H: I love it
S: So you can check out your friend’s star sign, so if she’s a Leo she’d really like gerbera which we’re going to be using later on today
H: Ok, that’s a great idea
S: And you can match it up that way
H: Do you know what Capricorn is off the top of your head?
S: I don’t, no, sorry
H: It’ll be something racy
S: I did look through most of them
H: It’ll be something racy and beautiful
S: Of course it will
H: Probably because I’m Capricorn. Now when we talk about fashion in terms of our clothes, in terms of our look, we are always accessorising, accessorising. Now it’s quite interesting to learn about how you – because I’ve been watching you work, how you’re accessorising flowers. I mean you will be seeing this later on so stay with us, but how you’re accessorising flowers with little bits and bobs?
S: Yes you can use anything, you always have little bits that you picked up, you have buttons, you have jewels, things from a haberdashery that you never quite got round to using, pop them on your flowers. You can use necklaces, you can even use food, we’re going to be using coffee beans later on, showing you how you can use that. Use chocolate, use anything. I’ve even made an arrangement in my shoes!
H: You really have thought of everything haven’t you? Now what about colours of the season, what kind of in colours would you suggest, what kind of colours to go for?
S: At the moment, what’s really hot is our trend called naughty by nature, and it’s a very delectable, very selective trend, so it’s about again combining really naughty foods with flowers. Go for really striking colours
H: Yes
S: Go for red, go for dark brown, really chocolatey colours, and then also go for the kind of paler peaches and that kind of thing, and you combine them. It’s about a mixture of textures so combining rough and smooth and hard and soft and almost rubber and latex and that kind of thing with your flowers
H: Alright love, my goodness me! What do you mean naughty foods? Talk about that a little bit more
S: I just mean chocolate, things like – for example you can make flowers look very delectable
H: Yes
S: You can make them look like chocolate, you can display flowers on a cake plate or on a saucer, instead of a biscuit if you’re being a bit waist conscious and you’ve got some of your lady friends round, pop one of those on the side of the saucer instead and you’ll find that you get such a better reaction than if you pop chocolate –
H: That’s such a great idea. And of course now we are hurtling into the winter months unfortunately
S: Yes
H: Staying in is the new going out, blah blah blah, we all like to stay in and have dinner parties
S: Exactly
H: Have you got suggestions as to how we can snazz up that dinner party?
S: Yes, definitely that’s another thing we’ll be looking at later on today, things like if you’ve got 5 minutes before you unpack the shopping and you’re having people round, different accessories you can use, you can use fun containers that you’ll have around the house, we’ll go and show you all of that.
H: I’m looking forward to that actually, you creative cat you. Now I’m going to have a minor moan, just because it does work, so stick with me. Men very rarely buy me flowers
S: Me too
H: It’s happened twice in my life and I’m nearly 30 – it’s a sad story isn’t it? What would you say to someone that says, you know, I never get flowers bought for me?
S: I’d say buy your own, at least you know that you’re going to get what you like, and you’re going to buy as much of it as you like and you will see ideas that you can play around with later. That’s what I’d say
H: Excellent. And are there different flowers that you’d go for for different moods? Say you’ve got a very busy lifestyle and you want to come home to a very calm environment, are there certain flowers that symbolise being calm and –
S: Not necessarily. There was an old Victorian language of flowers, but that’s very archaic and very irrelevant to nowadays. I would say go for calm colours, go for whites go for greens, you can’t go wrong with those if you’re ever stuck for a gift idea, just go whites, greens, that kind of thing. Nice pinks, that kind of thing. I think roses are always a favourite, there’s nothing like a rose. Also scented flowers work really well to relax you
H: Great. And then of course if you’re slightly more racy, a bit of a glamour puss if you like and you want a glamorous look if you like you still have options for that
S: Yes definitely
H: Glamour glamour glamour
S: Go for tropical flowers, go for antheriums which is a really cheeky looking flower with like a big waxy petal with a central spadex, go for things like that
H: I think we’ll sketch over that one! Ok if you just have a look over there, we’re now going to show you some examples of these beautiful, beautiful displays, and of course don’t go anywhere, stay with us, because then we’re going to have a practical demonstration for you. Let’s have a look
Video footage
H: Hello and welcome back – oh we are live. Good to have you with us, if you’ve only just tuned in then don’t go anywhere, because Sara Holland, an expert in flowers, is about to demonstrate all these wonderful different things we can do with flowers in our home, for us girls – yeah. So where are we going to start?
S: I’m going to start with accessories that every girl will have in the home, I’ve got handbags and shoes, this is what I was talking about before
H: Brilliant
S: So here I’ve just got a little table centre that would cause a bit of a stir. I’ve just covered the majority of the shoes up with some leaves and just popped a few blooms in. Like I said you don’t need to buy a lot to make a big impact.
H: Yes
S: But what I’m going to show you know is how to do an arrangement in your wellies – what to do with them –
H: Super
S: After the festivals are over
H: Of course, because wellies are uber fashionable, we all go to the festivals in them
S: Unfortunately mine are still a little bit muddy, you’ll have to excuse that authenticity. What I’m going to use here is just a cut off water bottle, these are fantastic to use, it’s another way of recycling them –
H: Right
S: Keep them and use them as containers for your flowers to put into other things, like your wellies. I have got another one here –
H: I’ve got to say I’m clearly not very bright, because when I found out you were doing wellies I thought is she going to pour water directly into the welly boot?
S: No, you don’t want to be doing that. I’m just going to take some flowers here
H: Whilst Sarah’s obviously getting set up and demonstrating everything for you, do keep the questions coming in, we are taking questions from you live, so if you have any questions about flowers for your home, anything at all, keep them coming in and then of course we will get them answered for you
S: Ok, so what I’ve got here is a very lovely lot of flowers
H: Do you know what, while you’re getting yourself ready I’ve got a question, so – are you happy to answer questions as you work?
S: Yes that’s fine.
H: This one’s from David and David asks ‘I’m only at home at the weekends so I want to buy flowers which will last. What’s best for that?’
S: Ok well there’s loads of lasting flowers on the market. If he goes for lilies they’ll open up through the week and he’ll get a surprise every time he goes home because they’ll be – a different one opening every day
H: Ah
S: And they bud a lovely scent. You will need to top up the water though David
H: Did you get that David? Top up the water
S: I hope so. Ok, so this is called aster
H: Right. That is gorgeous, I love that
S: The name is derived from the Greek word meaning ‘star’
H: There’s a bit of a boho look isn’t it?
S: Yes I think so, that’s very me unfortunately –
H: Not unfortunate, Sienna rocks it, Sarah can as well
S: So I’ve just got three stems and that’s going to form the bulk of the arrangement
H: This is fab
S: And then I’m just going to take gerberas which are ever popular
H: Ok, splash of colour
S: Definitely, from South America, sorry South Africa those are. These ones are called aplis if you like the pink look
H: Yes, which lots of us girlies go for.
S: Yes
H: It’s nice to have something a bit fun and frilly in the home, a bit playful
S: Definitely. I can’t actually see what I’m doing at all but I hope it’s looking good
H: And you’re working very quickly, I’m impressed
S: Yes
H: Now obviously you are cutting off the stems
S: Yes
H: Why do we actually have to do that?
S: It’s important to do that, you need to re-cut the stems at an angle. I’ve got a special pair of florist scissors, but you don’t need those. These are specially blend so that they can cut through a nice, delicate, soft stem and a hard, woody stem.
H: Ok
S: With the same kind of sharpness. But you can just use any sharp scissors or a knife to do that
H: Great
S: Basically that will – the stems seal over when they’re out of water, so it re-exposes all the new cells and then it will take up water nicely for you
H: Excellent
S: They will just die unless you cut them
H: These are absolutely striking, what are these?
S: They’re gorgeous aren’t they? They’re called Gloriosa, or they’re also known as –
H: Just beautiful
S: Flame lily or glory lily. They’re the national flower of Zimbabwe, they originate in tropical Africa
H: They are very exotic looking
S: Very – gorgeous
H: And it’s quite nice, it’s a great flower if you want that girly look but it’s got a quite sophistication about it, that one I think
S: Definitely, and what I’ve done is I’ve made a completely zany arrangement
H: That’s brilliant
S: Just to compliment the way that we’re putting them in welly boots, and I’ve got –
H: She’s got a pair, can you believe it
S: Of course I have
H: A pair of wellies
S: I’m well prepared, so there you go
H: Look at that
S: I hope these will look kind of similar. So that’s something you could do –
H: That is fab
S: To welcome your guests in, or it’s a really nice thing to get kids involved in if you –
H: Yes that’s a really good idea
S: Babysitting or anything like that
H: That’s a great idea. Sarah, we’ve had another question, this one’s from Sam. Sam thank you very much. ‘What UK flowers are available for this season?’
S: Again chrysanthemums, go for those, you’ll be able to get them from your local florist
H: Ok great. Ok, what do you want to do next?
S: We’re going to show you some little fairy favours, these are so easy to do, lovely if you’re having the girls round for dinner
H: Y
S: As you can see I’ve put them in very appropriate shot glasses
H: Now let’s pop these down –
S: Yes down
H: You’ve had your time, come on! You’ve had your moment in the sun
S: Or in the mud
H: Or in the mud
S: So you can have these by every place setting
H: Right
S: They’re also really nice for a children’s party, or if you’re having a hen night you could have them as place settings there or you could also pin them to your outfit
H: Really very pretty as well for a dinner party if you wanted to lay one on each setting perhaps?
S: Definitely. I’m just going to grab what I need
H: Ok
S: This here is a calla lily
H: That is stunning isn’t it? I love that
S: Proper name is Zantedeschia. This is one is called –
H: Zantedeschia
S: This one is called Schwarzwalder, the black one. The reason I’m using black is they bruise very very easily when you handle them, so go for a dark colour
H: Right
S: And in there – I don’t know where I’m pointing it – there’s a spadex and I’m just going to wiggle my fingers in and pull that out
H: Right
S: So really, really easy, you just pull it. Don’t worry about hurting the flower they’re very robust. So I’ve just pulled that out
H: And why did you do that?
S: Because I’m going to insert this carnation inside, so it looks a little bit more exciting
H: Ok
S: Like I say it’s quick and easy way of arranging your flowers. So literally just push that through
H: And of course you could have a running theme throughout the house, think of the living area –
S: Yes you could
S: Even the kitchen, the bedroom
S: So what you’re effectively doing is replacing that spadex with a flower, so it’s all the more prettier, and I’m just going to –
H: Do you want me to hold that for you?
S: No no, that’s fine
H: No?
S: Just cut it short, so that it’s nice and compact, and then take some ribbon just to fix it all together.
H: And then accessorising, I see with my keen fashion eye that you’ve got purple
S: I have
H: Which is of course this season’s black, so I’m being told
S: Well ideally I would have liked orange but we didn’t have any so we’ve got some nice purple which also matches. And you’ll see in that one as well there’s also a little feather that we popped in
H: Now what about, that is lovely, I really like that
S: We’ve got two of those
H: What about for say a bridesmaid or –
S: Yes
H: Do you have anything a bit fun if you’re having a bit of a trendy wedding which lots of people have these days, the sort of barbecue weddings
S: Yes definitely
H: Ideal
S: We’ve got here a little fairy wand which you could also use for another girly night in – or out
H: That’s lovely
S: And – or for a bridesmaid. These ones are quite long so you know how little girls like to wave things about
H: Yes
S: And big girls too
H: Yes
S: So I’m going to show you how to make a really simple one of those
H: Ok
S: That’s a little bit shorter. These here are water files, you can get these from any florist. You can also purchase some flowers with them
H: Right. Water files you say?
S: Yes
H: Ok.
S: You can buy orchids which have them attached to the bottom, and this is exactly how these came. These are called Dendrobium or Sinkle orchids, because they come from Southeast Asia, and what I’m going to do, I’m going to take a garden cane which everyone has, and I’m just going to secure it to the water file to the bottom here
H: Ok. Whilst you’re doing that, where am I? Whilst you’re doing that of course please remember to get those questions in, very important to get those questions in because we’re running out of time. Maybe you’re thinking about a gift for a friend, a loved one or maybe something for your very own home. Any questions at all get them in and you’ll be happy to answer them won’t you Sara?
S: I will
H: Oh we’ve had one, here we go. Lisa says ‘what bulbs can I plant now to grow in spring?’
S: Well if you want to grow them indoors you can buy them ready potted up. We actually only do indoor plants and flowers, but I’d go for spring bulbs, things like tulips, things like narcissi, things like hyacinth –
H: Ok
S: And you’ll find that the hyacinths and the narcissi are really nicely scented as well
H: It looks like a lot of work goes into this?
S: No it’s really easy, I’ve just used a tape like your dad will have some of that around
H: They do have lots of random things in their sheds don’t they, these men?
S: They do, I think one day they may need it. So what I’ve done is I’ve taped the cane to the water file and I’m just going to take some ribbon and some Sellotape
H: It’s a great way if you do – I’m focusing on the wedding just momentarily, if you do want to have a fun modern wedding, it’s nice that you can continue that theme all the way through
S: Exactly
H: To the finer details including the flowers
S: Yes or if – you know – if you were having something crazy like a fairy wedding which is something I would probably do, you can make larger ones for the bride and all the bridesmaids and little ones for the little girls
H: Yes
S: And crazy feathered button holes for the grooms and the men
H: And wonderful things for the more fun sort of hen nights, but the more sophisticated hen nights perhaps?
S: Exactly, I think it would be a lovely thing to do for that. So all I’m doing is I’m wrapping –
H: I’ve got another question in. Oh this one’s from Lucy, thank you very much Lucy. ‘I’m up for treating my man. What flowers are ok to buy men?’ That is a very good question
S: That’s lovely. They do like it as well actually, you’d be surprised, they really do appreciate it
H: No I can imagine. They’re softies really
S: Yes they really are
H: What would you advise?
S: I would go for actually a really cool indoor plant, something tropical because they’ll panic about how to look after plants. Also they’ll want a plant that’s very easy to look after, so go for a foliage plant, but a really funky one.
H: Ok, so it’s alright to treat the boys to these flowers?
S: Of course it is, I mean I have given people roses before and they’ve really liked it, but I’m not with them any more so I don’t know if that was sensible or not! What I’m doing is I’m taking a big wide leaf here, this is called Galex, you could also use something like ivy
H: Ok
S: And that’s going to cover up the horrible stopper, and then I’m just going to take a few heads of these little orchids and then I’m just going to push them through
H: It’s quite methodical, I mean when you look at it it looks so crazy, you think how has she done that?
S: Yes it’s really easy
H: But actually it’s just layer upon layer
S: Exactly, so I’m just pushing those through because there’s a big hole there
H: Ok
S: And then –
H: Oh we’ve had another question, it says ‘I don’t have a fortune to spend, is it ok to buy flowers from the petrol station if they look good?’
S: Of course go ahead, I think you can buy your flowers from anywhere. The main thing is looking after them when you get home
H: Ok
S: So give them a good cut, at an angle, with a good, sharp pair of scissors, and pop them in some deep water and then keep re-cutting them if they look a bit sad. Doesn’t really matter where they come from. Obviously if you go to a florist you’re going to get a better selection and better looked after flowers – well presumably. You might have some fantastic petrol stations out there. But yes, that’s absolutely fine
H: Ok. Now what about if someone is buying you flowers, and quite often younger people perhaps don’t necessarily have a vase, other than a welly and a shoe and a bag, what else can you suggest, things like pint glasses maybe?
S: Yes of course, wine bottles is a favourite of mine –
H: That’s nice
S: Especially if you’ve melted candles down the outside, that looks really, really lovely. I’m going to show you actually something here –
H: Ok
S: That you can do if you – that’s the by the way the completed fairy one, there you go
H: I’ll hold that, I’ll hold that, here we go
S: You can take that with you. Say if you – this is actually a really good follow-on question from – was it Sam?
H: It was – what the last one?
S: Yes
H: It was anonymous
S: It was anonymous?
H: Yes
S: From anon?
H: Yes.
S: I’m going to now show you what to do, if you were to get a very kind of standard bouquet of flowers, so
H: Ok
S: So this is the kind of thing you’d get –
H: So this is great, this is a situation that we are in so often
S: Exactly
H: In fact even if we wanted to buy them for ourselves quite often we’re in a hurry and we just get that bog standard bunch of flowers
S: Exactly, so what I’ve got here are 3 roses – oh sorry
H: No you’re ok
S: Poke you with them. Three gerbera and two chrysanthemum, that’s the kind of mixture you would get and the kind of colours as well
H: Yes
S: So the first thing I’m going to do is take as many of the leaves off as I can without them looking bare because the flowers are going to lose a lot of water through the leaves,
H: Right
S: If you’re removing them it’s going to help them last longer
H: I was never sure why people did that you know?
S: Yes that’s why
H: I thought it was just for aesthetic reasons
S: Well it is as well but it’s to help the flowers along to help them last
H: Ok
S: So we’re just going to pick all those up
H: Because we all want obviously for our flowers to last as long as they possibly can
S: Exactly. So most people would perhaps, say this is the vase you have at home
H: Actually it’s really similar to the only vase I do have at home
S: I’m just going to arrange these really quickly
H: Now in terms of water –
S: Yes
H: Does it have to be of a certain temperature? I mean obviously not boiling water
S: It’s actually better if it’s tepid
H: Right
S: Because apparently cold water which can bubble up has less oxygen in it, apparently, it loses it if the water bubbles up
H: Because they do say that we should drink room temperature water and not cold water
S: Yes
H: Probably similar thing
S: Yes, so ok that’s something you do, it looks ok, but what I’m going to show you how to do instead is to split them up
H: Ok
S: Just because they came all together it doesn’t mean you have to put them all together, because frankly that looks nice but it doesn’t look nice enough
H: Ok
S: And this is often quicker too, so the first thing I’m going to do is cut all the heads off these chrysanthemums
H: Oh! Oh! This is really scary! She didn’t even flinch
S: I know, I’m so callous.
H: Whilst you’re doing this, earlier on when we were having a chat you said that you’ve got some displays with some naughty foods –
S: Yes
H: Talking about edible things, do you have any edible flowers, because I have actually eaten a flower before at a dinner party, did not fill me up, did not even touch the edges, but you know –
S: Wouldn’t recommend it
H: Ok
S: Most commercially available flowers are treated with chemicals and that kind of thing. You can buy organic roses and you could dip them in chocolate if you wanted to
H: It is a little bit random
S: It is a bit
H: Marshmallow’s better isn’t it?
S: Probably. I wouldn’t recommend it, but what I’ve got here are some little espresso cups. They originally had candles in, it was a present
H: Ok
S: This is the kind of thing everybody has – random –
H: Do you want me to move these across for you so you can –
S: Yes thank you that would be fabulous. And you can think what am I meant to do with that after? What I’ve done is I’ve filled them with water and I’m just going to plonk the short heads in there
H: Superb, so simple but so effective
S: Exactly, that’s the whole strapline of this campaign
H: So also it’s not be afraid to –
S: To cut –
H: Excuse the term but butcher the flowers?
S: No
H: It’s ok
S: It’s actually better for them, they‘ll appreciate it more, they’ll last a lot better if they’re cut down. The shorter they are the less the water has to travel up to the head
H: So it’s all about being creative isn’t it really?
S: Yes
H: Opening up that mind and –
S: Well it’s just thinking about splitting them up and that kind of thing really. So I’ve literally just popped them in there
H: Fantastic
S: I’m going to put the flower on the side and I’m also going to – oh they’re all falling out. The ones I had when I did this last time weren’t quite so nice. I’m just going to throw some coffee over there to bring –
H: Oh look at that
S: To bring out the espresso theme
H: That is fabulous
S: And it’s so easy and it took about 3 minutes and it looks fab. And then, I hear you ask, what are you going to do with the rest. Well I’m just going to take another vase
H: Yes
S: And I’m going to put these all together, so I’m going to cut these gerbera
H: Ok
S: So that they rest on the rim of this vase like that
H: So you just measure it up, you take it on the outside of the vase
S: Exactly
H: Measure it up against the vase
S: To the end of the table and then measure it up, and then measure the rest of your flowers up against the original one
H: Now in terms of colour combinations, is it really anything goes or –
S: Whatever you like, I really like cerise and orange like this
H: I do as well
S: Yes well you should go for that definitely. But seriously like you say anything goes. Then what I’m going to do with the roses – you can see that these ones, these ones are called cherry brandy and they’ve got like a cerise outer petal colour, so they –
H: They’re beautiful aren’t they?
S: Bring the cerise shade of the – they’re gorgeous aren’t they? - of these Atlas gerbera through
H: Fantastic
S: So I’m going to have those a little bit taller
H: See now I would never ever have thought of doing that. Never in a million years
S: And what that will do is it creates a platform for the roses to sit on
H: I want to applaud
S: Go ahead!
H: Take a bow! And we’ve got another question here from Susie, she wants to know where she can get more information from?
S: Go on the website, there’s thousands of pages of information – well maybe not thousands, but yes, go to flowers.org.uk or tryflowers.org.uk for some fun and simple ideas.
H: Ok that’s great and that sees the end of the show. Thank you so much, I feel all educated in the world of flowers, as should you. Do pop onto that website to get your own information and tailor those gifts for your friends as well if you want to do something special for a friend. Thank you so much
S: Thank you
H: And I’ll see you next time, bye bye
S: Bye
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