Gotta Get A Gerbera

As a child, I loved pink: hot pink, Pepto Bismol pink, ballerina pink and most of all Schiaparelli pink. Pink was sassy, girly and fun. I wasn't fussy, I loved every shade of pink and everything I had was pink, except for my glasses - the frames were green but that's a whole other story.  I can't quite pin-point when my tastes changed.

I became drawn to shades of orange: Smartie, Pumpkin, Terracotta, Hermes; I have names for them all. Wondering why I was addicted, I looked up the healing properties of orange: apart from being cheery and non-constricting, it has healing powers allowing one to think creatively, it urges a sense of freedom. It ignites a fierce fire within me demanding I celebrate life. That sounds about right.

So you can imagine how excited I was to see the all the flowers arrive. The bellies of the Gerbera petals were an orange-y brick tinged with saffon at the tips, they begged to be stroked like the underside of a child's chin. Softly. The  pointed green suit of armour overlapped and standing guard.

The tulips, so tightly closed, looked like they were holding in the cusp of their petals, a dying ball of fire.

Until I die, I shall call this brain coral but it's name is elosia Cristata

Stocks

Peony

Dahlia

Anthurium

Raspberry Ripple Rose

Astilbe

Greeneria Exotica

Mark Rose is a wonderful friend and incredible event designer and florist. When he was younger Joanne, his mom, would send him out into the garden to pick flowers. He would come back with an armful. As she did not know all the names, she'd make up something fantastical. I love her all the more for doing that!

I have no idea what the above greenery is. Amanda found it in her garden. But henceforth, I shall always know it as Greeneria Exotica. 

Euphorbia

Oncidium Orchid

Let It Snow

“La neige. C’est fantastique” 

translation: Snow – It’s fantastic

Such was the Facebook post from a friend earlier this week. I was jealous. He was skiing in France (and clearly rubbing it in). It made me think of how Christmas in Bermuda is so very different. On Christmas Day, I go to the beach - ideally before noon but I am happy to make it by 2.00pm. The pups romp around and I enjoy the soft December sun on my face and seeing friends it feels like I have not seen forever. All of us with toes buried in the sand, a glass of champagne in hand and laughter in the air. 

The only thing white that nature provides at the beach on Christmas Day is the sand and the ocean surf; certainly not snow. So I loved that when we were ordering flowers last week, it looked more like a list to Santa than a floral order.  Yesterday, I hovered around the boxes as they were being unpacked, eager to see whether or not our wishes had come true. As lid after lid came off, it felt, as it always does, like presents being unwrapped: but in seeing the flowers, it seemed that snow had come to us after all: a symphony of white flowers. Amanda selected her favourites to photograph, each flower quietly carrying their own message...

White Lilac - First love

White Sweet pea - Thank you for a lovely time and blissful pleasure

White Delphinium - Boldness

Anenome - Forsaken

Olive - Peace

White French tulips - Forgiveness

Jonquils - Love me and affection returned

As always, the subject of love was one close to our hearts...

Each week, on the petals website, we feature the flowers that have just arrived in the design studio. Always exquisite, always in limited quantities. And always so beautifully photographed by Amanda. 

Create your own message with flowers from Petals...
...njb