Tiger Lilies

Tiger Lilies

I got a stem of tiger lilies at the supermarket checkout yesterday. It was really a spur of the moment thing as I was already juggling a big bag of grocery, my handbag plus dry clean. It was one amazing feat to get the flower home. I piled everything on one arm in order to free my other hand to hold it. With stone on one arm and feather on the other, I waddled lopsidedly home.

I was so proud the flower was intact when I dropped everything on the dining table. I already had a visual picture of the lilies with its long stem standing in a tall vase. I went in search of the vase all the while thinking how elegant the lilies would look. Hugging the vase, I went back to the kitchen.

I tried to ease the stem out of the plastic wrapping but it would not budge. They did a real good job making sure the flower stayed in place with mounds of tape. After futile attempts to push the stem out, scissors were called in for the job. Just when I was cutting around the tape, lo and behold the stem broke!! I stood rooted in the kitchen like an idiot holding the lilies I had protected all the way home with the lower stem dangling in the plastic wrapping.

Aghast at what had happened I consoled myself at least I had half the length left. I put the broken stem on the kitchen counter in search of another vase but I guess the stem was just too fragile. When I took the flower out, the stem broke again with only one fifth of its original length left. The stem was so short by now I could only put it in the tiniest vase.

Talk about all the effort to get the lilies home. It is a lesson well learnt, impulse buying is never a good idea.

Here is a shot of the tiger lilies with a treasured antique opera glass.

Valentine New Year

Valentine's Day happened to fall on Chinese New Year this year. It's supposed to occur every thirty eight years. As opposed to the usual bouquet of cut flowers, I received a big vase of orchids arranged with a mass twirl of silvery buds. It felt more celebratory than romantic, so I guess New Year's won out as the decoration theme this Valentine's.

I could not resist getting sweet peas when I chanced upon them and they had fondly become everyday flowers around the house. I thought I had seen the lots, but during the frequent, albeit brief sojourn on my desk, I still marvelled at their variations. I was thrilled the paler buds all bloomed from the two latest stems. To keep the older blossoms just a few days longer, the stems were cut to an inch leaving the freshest part in water.

The free flowing sweet peas were the Midas touch, adding sweetness and romance to the otherwise austere Valentine orchids.

Sweet Peas

Champagne color Sweet Peas


A perennial favorite
Sweet peas have an air of nonchalance with their crinkled petals and rowdy blossoms. Why conform when there are so many possibilities? Exactly what nature intended.

Chrysanthemums and Azaleas

Variegated Chrysanthemums


White Azaleas

This is a pot a white azaleas I got before X'mas. The buds are too numerous to count and the circle of flowers just gets wider by the day. Finding a new blossom is a joy in itself. At times when I want to empty my mind, I'd sit by the window to gaze at it.

The chrysanthemums are actually two stems of cut flowers. I like the wayward arrangement of the bouquet and the irregular form of the petals. They look like wild flowers picked up on a country side walk.

Thanksgiving

Rust color Chrysanthemums and Velvet variegated Carnations

Happy Thanksgiving!! These are two mini vases of Chrysanthemums and Carnations I have arranged today. The vases look filled to the brim, but each one has only two stems of flowers. I have cut them really short to fill the 3" and 4" glass containers.

I have chosen 2 matching dark brown glass vases of different heights to complement the wintry hues of rust and velvety purple. The colors of the flowers have such a presence about them, I think this simple arrangement befits them most.

Although a wreath would be nice, I think this frugal arrangement also has its appeal. Happy thanksgiving!!

Flower Shoot

Red Roses Dome Posy


White and Pale Green and Sweet Peas Posy


Petit Sweet Pea Posy for Flower Girls


Mid-size Red Rose Posy for bridesmaids


Red and Green make a nice contrast

During the last week of October, we had a flower shoot done by Terry Bear. We were worried about the weather because the whole week had been cloudy and murky. We wanted the flowers shot under natural light and we were so thankful on the day of the shoot, the weather was fine and there was abundant lighting.

After a couple of test shots, Terry decided against the commercial style shooting, where the bouquets were upright and shot rigid as a statue. I was thrilled with the resulting photos. The lighting highlighted the layers and textures of the posies. The greatest part was the composition of the photos. They were artful, but at the same time Terry created a laid back, non structured ambience.

I hope in the coming days, more flowers and posies will be featured here.
(All Photos by Terry Bear, a very big thank you to YY)

With new eyes

The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ~ Marcel Proust


Sprig of flower by Terry Bear

Ivy by Terry Bear

Heart by Terry Bear

Mandarin duck by Terry Bear

Silhouette by Terry Bear

I never would have guessed these photos were taken in the local park I used to frequent years ago. Terry is a moderator at a listed company and photography is a hobby. I used to work with his girlfriend in the same company and when she knew I was looking for a photographer to take photos for my portfolio, she offered to help.

After looking at the Terry's work, I know my portfolio will be really nice. We have scheduled to do a trial shoot for two posies next week. I have a feeling I will find "the" photo at the trial.

(All photos my Terry Bear)