Summer Glow

Week 26, as we revisit the 10-year anniversary of the book Slow Flowers

Slow Flowers Book revisited - arrangement for Summer Week 2
I love the tonal floral story, and this 2023 design echoes the theme I followed in my 2013 arrangement.

After the build-up and intensity of the 2023 Slow Flowers Summit, it was pure joy to plan and select the flowers for today’s arrangement that “revisits” my design from one decade ago. After learning from the gifted floral artist and teacher Julio Freitas (The Flower Hat) at this year’s Summit, I tried to emulate his approach to floral design, drawing from his lessons on line, color, form — and negative space! I really love this piece and think it shows how much my DIY floral skills have improved. (Thank you, Julio!).

Summer Week 2 from Slow Flowers book page 46 (2013)
Summer Week 2 from Slow Flowers book page 46 (2013)

The copper planter I originally used has been gifted to another recipient, so I had a bit of a scramble to find a proper replacement vessel. I kept the metallic sheen, but this time it’s more brassy than copper-toned. Such a wide-mouth bowl required mechanics: a vintage metal cage-style frog and chicken wire.

details of foxglov and astilbe
details of stock, yarrow and astilbe (left) and foxglove (right)

The flowers aren’t entirely similar, but my 2013 selections inspired those I procured while shopping yesterday at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market:

Foliage:
>Ninebark from my garden (Physocarpus opulifolius)
>Raspberry foliage and Snowberry Hancock Foliage, both grown by Caitlin Carnahan at Diamond Day Bouquet (a Slow Flowers member)

Flowers:
>Yarrow (in 2013 I used pink Yarrow from Jello Mold Farm). This time, I used peach Yarrow from Diamond Day Bouquet
>Stock (in 2013 I used pale peach stock from Vivian Larson of Everyday Flowers). This time, I was drawn to a dark rosy-colored stock from Free Range Flowers, who are Slow Flowers Members
>Snapdragon (from Everyday Flowers in 2013), which I replaced with apricot Foxglove from Erin McMullen and Aaron Gatsky of Rain Drop Farms, Slow Flowers members.
>Foxtail lily (from Choice Bulb Co. in 2013), replaced with beautifulpink atilbe from Space Lotus Floral Collective.

side number two of Summer Glow arrangement
I rarely do this but I paid attention to “side two” of this arrangement, designing with florals that repeat color and form.

This palette is sultry and sophisticated a wonderful expression of time and place. Glowing!

Debra Prinzing

Debra Prinzing is a Seattle-based writer, speaker and leading advocate for American-grown flowers. Through her many Slow Flowers-branded projects, she has convened a national conversation that encourages consumers and professionals alike to make conscious choices about their floral purchases. Debra is the producer of SlowFlowers.com, the weekly "Slow Flowers Podcast" and the American Flowers Week (June 28-July 4) campaign. Debra is author of 11 books, including Slow Flowers (2013), The 50 Mile Bouquet (2012) and Slow Flowers Journal (2020). She is the co-founder of BLOOM Imprint, the boutique publishing arm of Slow Flowers.

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Slow Flowers Journal is brought to you by SlowFlowers.com. Slow Flowers is an award-winning online directory created to help consumers find florists, studio designers, wedding and event planners, supermarket flower departments and flower farmers that supply American grown flowers. Founded in 2014, the site has grown to 850 members across the U.S.

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For more information, please contact Debra Prinzing
at 206-769-8211 or 844-SLOWFLO (844-756-9356); debra(at)slowflowers.com.