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DIY: Winter Romance in a Silver Brunia Bouquet

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DIY: Winter Romance in a Silver Brunia Bouquet

February 12, 2014

Recently, while browsing around my favorite florist shop, I noticed a clump of rare blooms dusted in a wintry heather gray. I picked one up. “Silver brunia,” the floral expert informed. “Aren’t they lovely?”

“Yes,” I agreed as I reached for a blushing hydrangea nearby. “And what about this unusual cocoa-pink Queen Anne’s Lace?’

“It’s called ‘Chocolate,'” she said. I smiled, and thus my Valentine’s Day bouquet was born.

Photographs by Justine Hand.

Winter  20  Romance  20  Bouquet  40    20  hydrangea  90  s  20  and  20  chocolate  20  queen  20  annes  20  lace

Above: Taking advantage of the wide selection of unusual plants at Winston Flowers in Boston, I selected wintry hues and textures for my “homage to winter” Valentine’s bouquet–adding just a touch of pink, of course.

Winter  20  Romance  40    20  Silver  20  Brunia 0

Above: Though it reminds me of a snow-covered evergreen forest, Silver Brunia Nodiflora is actually native to South Africa. Available for purchase online at McMinnville Wholesale Flowers; $14.95.

winter  20  romance  40    20  false  20  cypress  20  and  20  David  20  Austen  20  roses

Above: Creamy David Austen roses (which have an intoxicating smell) and false cypress also embodied the feel of the winter woods.

Winter  20  Romance  40    20  Silver  20  Brunia  20  Bouquet  40    20  pink  20  hydrangea  20  and  20  chocolate  20  queen  20  annes  20  lace

Above: To soften the spikier aspects of my arrangement and to add a bit of Victorian-era romance, I chose the soft, snowflake forms of pink hydrangeas and chocolate Queen Anne’s Lace.

Winter  20  Romance  40    20  Silver  20  Brunia  20  Bouquet  40    20  assembly

Above: Brunia does not require any special treatment, but as with all woody stemmed flowers, a long diagonal cut will allow it to draw more water. (This is also recommended for the hydrangeas and roses.)

Winter  20  Romance  20  Bouquet  20  with  20  Silver  20  Brunia  40    20  finished 0

Above: So as not to obscure the dynamic forms of the flowers–and to capture something of a wild feel–I left my winter romance bouquet loose and a little unruly.

Winter  20  Romance  20  Silver  20  Brunia  20  Bouquet  20  detail

Above: The heathered tint and ball-like structure of the silver brunia lend an enticing texture and contrast to the bouquet.

Winter  20  Romance  20  Bouquet  20  with  20  Silver  20  Brunia  40    20  long  20  view

Above: A bit of hanging cypress and a reindeer antler found by my stepfather on the Alaskan tundra complete my wintry scene. 

Winter  20  Romanc  20  Bouquet  20  with  20  Silver  20  Brunia  20  detail

Above: With fresh water everyday, my bouquet should see me through to Valentine’s Day.

N.B. Want something more classic for Valentine’s Day? Lindsey’s find, the Bouqs Company’s Roses, are among the best I’ve ever seen. Or if my winter romance arrangement is too traditional, try Janet’s look featured in The Un-Pink Bouquet.

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