…a host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze… — “The Daffodils” by William Wordsworth
Daffodils, one of spring’s first blooms. They burst amongst the garden with their distinct yellow and orange hues, so vibrant and eye catching. They are the statement of a season beginning its fullest bloom. Daffodils are also known as Narcissus, after the legendary Greek of the same name. They are a symbol of Renewal and Rebirth, representing hope, self-love, unrequited love, optimism and vanity {this which stems from its connection to the greek legend Narcissus}.
These beautiful flowers are ones I didn’t appreciate at first, but the more they bloomed, the more I grew to love these frilly petals, and now anticipate their arrival. From different varieties, like ones with iconic trumpet-like centers to double bloomed beauties that will make you question what you may have assumed Daffodils could be. They are the first flower in the season to grow with abundance in my garden, and so I’ve become mindful never take more than needed for creative play and work. Their true beauty shines in the sun and dancing in the breeze, when they are in nature. And yet, you may not have known that they aren’t the most pollinator friendly flowers, BUT do make great cozy petals for them to rest.
Like almost any flower or stem, the magic lies in its versatility. While we may associate certain blooms with wildflower gardens and others with contemporary lines, I firmly believe flowers can adapt to any style or design — all with some boundless imagination. Paired with lemons they can become a Daffodil Explosion, or in a vintage vessel Daffodil Singularity can evoke the romantic feel of the season.
It seems I gravitate toward creating mono-flower designs with Daffodils, only because they grow in such abundance and really are the only flower in the garden come early spring that work well in centerpieces. But it’s important to know, that Daffodils aren’t the best flower to pair with others if you don’t properly prep them. They release a watery sap that will make other flowers in an arrangement wilt. Daffodils should be cut on an angle and placed in cold water for a few hours before arranging with other flowers. If you recut the bottoms, you’ll need to let them sit again before arranging.
And so this year’s Daffodil creations were made with the intention of allowing their simplistic yet statement-making nature be the focus…
D A F F O D I L’ S N A T U R A L L I N E S & V O L U M E
If you will stay close to nature, to its simplicity, to the small things hardly noticeable, those things can unexpectedly become great and immeasurable. — Rainer Maria Rilke
To think I once didn’t value the beauty of daffodils, as I do now. This year they bloomed quickly, especially when a cooler than normal April had itself a week of summer-like heat. I didn’t pick every stem, in fact even with their abundance I wanted to bring their beauty indoors in a simple way. I choose most of stems that were past their freshest state and one would have never guessed.
Five stems were arranged off-center in a dainty ceramic dish and was paired alongside a larger ceramic bowl with an organic whimsical arrangement of daffodils. In this piece, the daffodil’s statement making lines and volume, shine. In the glow of candlelight, these floral designs show how even just one type of flower can create intrigue and depth.
The incandescent magic and softness candlelight adds to any design…
W I R E D C A S C A D I N G B O U Q U E T S
Wired floral designs, have become as popular as can be these days. While incredibly beautiful and inspiring, it’s a style a bit more sculptural than my typical naturalistic approach — but I am a curious creative! I love learning new techniques, different ways of creating, and these endless innovative designs did inspire me with a spring story…
As the first garden blooms slowly came to life, I imagined grazing my arm across the fragrant hyacinth and daffodils dancing in the spring breeze. What a sight it would be if they gently and delicately gathered around my arm…
Daffodil season is so short, and so with a few free moments I had myself some fun with this floral design technique. Just for me. Could the lines and dimensions have been more technical. Sure…
Could the photography have been better, certainly. After all, these are screenshots of a video. But it’s all because I wanted to enjoy the spontaneous creative moment, rather than give my extra energy into a setup with the intention of perfection for an algorithm.
Nature is raw and untamed. It’s perfectly imperfect. Even if this piece was created in the moment, it was very much intentional. A flower loving gal who would love nothing more than to be enveloped always by the grace and wonder of flowers. To cherish the curiosity to learn, to play while discovering and furthering one’s authentic floral style…well, that’s the whole point🌼
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