Flower Designs for Fun – May 2024
Photos by Laura Henrich, Leslie Karvan, Diane Macrides, Cindy McGrath & Jane Niemeyer (click on images to enlarge)
Submitted by Laura Henrich
Over the past couple of months, hands-on workshops were presented by The Garden Club of LBI to show and encourage newer, inexperienced members to step out of their comfort zone with the art of flower arranging. Underwater Designs, Cascading Designs and Parallel Designs were the subjects of these workshops.
On Thursday, May 23, 2024, the Garden Club, in conjunction with the Beach Haven Library hosted a Flower Designs for Fun show for these new designers, who all really stepped up to the plate. The event turned out to be a great success, drawing in club members and the general public to view all of the beautiful arrangements completed by the designers.
Congratulations go to all of the designers:
Diana Castle, Penny Clark, Deb Cowles, Betty Dellatorre, Marge Girardo, Rachel Halford, Laura Henrich, Kate Howe, Leslie Karvan, Jane Niemeyer, Joanne Orlandi, Dianne Pleyn, Nancy Sternberger, Carol Stracensky and Lin Volpe.
Special thanks to Debbie Ayres and Laura Henrich, who both co-chaired the event, along with help from Julie Eller and Cindy McGrath.
Elements of Floral Design Demonstration – May 2024
Photos by Diane Macrides (click on images to enlarge)
Deb Ayers, a floral designer from The Garden Club of LBI, emphasizes that the initial step in creating an arrangement involves using an oasis.
Yellow, one of the primary colors, is one of the building blocks for the entire color pigment system.
Submitted by Deb Ayers/Julie Eller
The Beach Haven Library located in Beach Haven, NJ, was bustling with activity on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, as it became the prime spot to be! Twenty guests had the pleasure of delighting in the flower arranging demonstrations skillfully crafted by Deb Ayers, a Member of The Garden Club of Long Beach Island.
While Deb demonstrated several different ways to create an arrangement, she explained some of the elements of floral design. Color, form, line and texture comprise the elements of design. They are the physical features of materials used in floral compositions. This combination is the foundation of floral design. “Flower arranging doesn’t need to be intimidating. Garden Club member, Deb Ayers offered insight to the fundamentals for beautiful flower arrangements for all to create,” said Lois Perry, President, The Garden Club of Long Beach Island.
The basic colors, red, yellow and blue, are the primary colors from which all others are made. They are the building blocks for the entire color pigment system. Nature has provided the special qualities of red which is advancing, exciting and warm; blue which is receding, cool and quieting; and yellow which is brilliant and cheerful.
Black, white and gray are known as neutral colors. They do not appear in the color wheel, but they are used to change the tonal quality of value of a color. White lessons, color value, making it light. Black increases color value making the Hughes darker and adding depth, a white background blind colors reducing their brilliance. Pastel harmonized as well because of the large quality of the white they contain.
All florists work with the color harmonies every day. It is necessary to know the meanings of the basic color combinations as well. They are monochromic color, analogous color, complementary color and triad. The following terms and definitions present the background necessary before color harmony can be clearly understood in used to the best advantage in Florida design. The terminologies are color, harmony, Hugh, chroma, value, tent, shade, and tone.
The principles of floral design are a set of guidelines which help create pleasing and sellable designs. They assist the designer throughout the process of selecting plant material, visualizing a design and constructing it. Each of these principles should be practiced with skill and sensitivity when designing an arrangement. Because many of the principles are interdependent, the improper use of the principal can result in the failure of the design. The principles of floral design are the foundations from which florists work to create beautiful designs.
The event proved to be a resounding success, leaving attendees enriched with a wealth of knowledge on floral designing! Thank you Deb!
For more information about this event, please click here.
*Excerpts taken from Texas State Florists’ Association
Parallel Floral Design Workshop – April 2024
Photos by Joyce Lubach & Debra Resch (click on images to enlarge)
Submitted by Julie Eller & Cindy McGrath
Spring is in the air! On Wednesday, April 24th, over 30 members of The Garden Club of LBI participated in a workshop on Parallel Floral Design at the Lutheran Church in Brant Beach.
Building on the purpose of a garden club, which is to provide education, President of the Club, Lois Perry, worked with committee members who plan the club’s flower shows and house tours, and decided that more demonstrations and hands-on workshops were needed.
Talented club member, Debbie Ayres, led the presentation, demonstrating with large and mini carnations in bright assorted spring colors and leather leaf ferns. The club is preparing for a small flower show at the Beach Haven Public Library next month on May 23rd as well as a Standard Flower Show scheduled for May 2025.
Besides encouraging the many new members to learn the components of floral design concepts, the workshops also honed the skills of more experienced members.
In a parallel floral design, linear plant material is a must. Flowers on long stems with a single output on top, such as carnations, gerbera daisies, and roses are used in many parallel designs to help create a striking and uniform effect. The idea is to keep the same plant material grouped together for a bigger impact and keep the lines stronger.
It is thought that parallel floral designs make great table centerpieces because you see through them easily and they look great from all sides.
As members finished their designs, all that was needed was their smiles to see the thrill and satisfaction of their creations.
This program and the two previous workshops were chaired by Cindy McGrath and Julie Eller.
Learning Elements of Cascade Floral Design – February 2024
Photos by Joyce Lubach, Diane Macrides & Debra Resch (click on images to enlarge)
Submitted by Diane Macrides
“The National Floral Design Day on February 28th recognizes the art and history of floral design. For thousands of years, floral design has been an important cultural art form.” * That’s why The Garden Club of LBI celebrated this special day to honor the intricate art and historical significance of floral design.
Thirty-five club members met for the second of three workshops to learn the techniques of creating a cascade design. Three skilled Club members, Debbie Ayres, Julie Eller and Cindy McGrath, shared insights and showcased various techniques associated with this design style. The arrangements were comprised of mini and large carnations and a blend of various types of eucalyptus and ferns for the greenery.
The knowledge and skills acquired from the workshop will prove beneficial for future flower shows, house tours and various other garden club engagements!
*Shared from nationaldaycalendar.com
Underwater Floral Design Workshop – October 2023
Photos by Theresa Petersen (click on images to enlarge)
Submitted by Gillian Rozicer, Publicity Chair
On Wednesday, October 4, Garden Club members learned the basics of underwater flower arranging. Chairs Julie Eller and CindyMcGrath brought in a wide assortment of flowers and members brought in their own clear glass containers for the project. Debbie Ayers and Bette Della Torre gave a how-to demonstration to start the class, emphasizing how to place a metal frog, wash rocks and choose the right flowers. Finally, water was not to be “splashed in” but poured gently.
Flowers included pink, yellow, red and white roses, baby’s breath, and pink and orange carnations and eucalyptus.
One purpose of the class was to let club members practice flower arranging and learn from the experts before the more formal events throughout the year.
Virtual Floral Design Workshop Video
This video demonstrates a classic vase arrangement in less then 6 minutes! Use flowers and greens from your garden or pick up a bunch from your local market (or a combination of both). We hope this will inspire our Garden Club members to create a fun arrangement at home during these socially-distant times. Please send a picture of your creation via email to marywlevy@gmail.com and your arrangement may be highlighted in an upcoming newsletter or on the website.
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