CREATE YOUR OWN DUTCH-INSPIRED BOUQUET
Floral arrangements inspired by great Dutch paintings are trending now more than ever. Could it be because they’re fantastical, moody, and dreamy all at once? Of course. Are they exceptionally charming because they contain all sorts of flowers (some that aren’t even in season when they were painted)? Absolutely. Floral arranging should be carefree and relaxing; it should be something wild and organic. Take your favourite flowers and create a flowing cascade of blossoms, rather than a constricted form that looks contrived or uptight. The beauty of flowers is that they don’t last but, with a few tips from Chelsea Flowers, your cut bouquet can look fresh for as long as possible.
“The Dutch and Flemish masters of the 16th and 17th centuries revolutionized the art of flower painting, transforming it from a mere decorative element into a highly detailed and symbolic genre. Artists like Jan Brueghel the Elder, Ambrosius Bosschaert, and Rachel Ruysch meticulously depicted flowers with scientific accuracy, often arranging them in lush bouquets or still lifes that showcased their beauty and variety.” These works included whatever was blooming as well as some exotic species that weren’t necessarily native to the Netherlands. This is where the artistic imagination came into play. This is a great indicator to pick out flowers you love, no matter how long they last in a vase. If they look lush and abundant at a farmer’s market, or in nature where you can pick a lot, do so. Creating a work of art is in the doing. The journey of creating is just as important as the finished outcome. For inspiration, think of “flamboyant and unruly, frequently asymmetrical and often seemingly unbalanced” as adjectives to form a shape in your mind. “Bosomy roses” paired with “homely perennials, sturdy wildflowers, and rugged weeds” in a haphazard arrangement can appear to actually float when designed correctly. For this effect, you’ll want to choose a vessel that looks vintage (perhaps a cachepot or terracotta vase) and is relatively shallow. “Arrange your flowers in low footed urns as the arrangements in the works of art tend to be in lower and smaller vessels, often made of gold, brass, or other metal. The lower position of the vase helps add intrigue as larger vines and blossoms cover parts of it, making the entire arrangement appear mystical and full of movement.” White and blue china is also reminiscent of this era.
Peony enthusiasts will be glad to know that there are ways to make your peonies last longer. When picking a bunch to purchase, make sure they’re in bud form, akin to golf balls or even scoops of ice cream, and are sort of squishy to the touch. This will ensure that they open fully when placed in water. Peonies can also live for up to two weeks when stored in the fridge. “The popularity of the Dutch still life for flower arranging also points to new trends in natural and organic shapes, products, and experiences. A lot of the aesthetic and air also has to do with lighting, again indicating that this is a lived experience.” Don’t neglect imperfect flowers. Some of the most popular tulips that started ‘tulip mania’ in Holland during the 17th century had a blight that made the blossom appear split in two. This created the craze for a hybrid striped tulip we still cultivate today.
A popular hack for getting tulip buds to live up to their full potential in water—to open quickly—is to stick a pin just beneath the petals straight through the stem. You can also manually pull back petals to force them to unfurl. For lilacs—or any woody stem—you’ll want to use either gardening shears or even a vegetable peeler to cut the bottom of the stem and remove some bark, revealing the green underneath. This will make it easier for the lilacs to draw water, resulting in a longer vase life. Another trick is to place the stems in boiling water for just a few seconds at first (before cold water) to create a pathway of air in the stem. This way, your flowers can drink more water. Don’t forget to remove superfluous leaves below the water’s surface, cut the stems at an angle, and even add ice cubes to the water.
“In the 1730s, a speculative trade in hyacinths threatened (not unlike the ‘tulip mania’ of the previous century) but was fortunately short-lived. Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of French King Louis XV was a keen devotee of these fragrant blooms and her influence as a trendsetter did much to ensure their popularity.” While hyacinths as notorious for their gorgeous blue colour and intoxicating fragrance, they don’t last very long when cut. Pompadour “ordered the gardens at Versailles to be planted with hundreds of Dutch hyacinths, and in the winter had them forced on glasses to fill the palace with their sweet scent.” Hyacinths tend to thrive better in pots or when planted in the ground. For the sake of choosing a hardy bouquet, we recommend leaving hyacinths in soil.
For all your floral needs, check out what Chelsea Flowers has to offer. From color schemes to specific requirements, let Chelsea Flowers do the arranging for you for any occasion big, or small.
For more on Dutch flower paintings and gardens, explore the links below:
https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/karen-blixen-garden-rungstedlund-copenhagen
https://cypaint.com/article/how-did-most-of-the-dutch-and-flemish-paint-flowers