A Wedding and A Floral Demo- "Flower Power"- Sofitel Hotel - Sir Francis Drake hotel SF

Jane Nahass first previewed my work at the "Bouquets to Arts" back in 2010.  Soon after she had contacted me and readily booked me for her daughter's wedding a year and half early. A few months later she emailed me  and asked if i were interested to do a floral demo for the Salvation Army's yearly fund raiser called "Flower Power" to benefit the underprivileged youths with school supplies. How can I say no. It just so happens that the demo was to be 3 days after her event , hectic week?  YES but gratifying just the same. I thought I would share  images from these two events in one blog:

pipe and draping by Classic Party Rentals

Table Florals

 Detail

 Head Table Embellishments

FLOWER POWER

SIR FRANCIS DRAKE HOTEL, SAN FRANCISCO

 Frantic prep work

Last minute look 

 "I think it's okay"

Photo op for press release

with Ignacio Harburu, kind enough to assist.

 one of my demo pieces - 

In the Space arrangement

 with Ignacio Harburu

 with Caroline Johnson of channel 7 news anchoring the show

 Leslie Bauer, Ignacio Harburu, and Caroline Johnson

 My "Flora Lamps"

Met up with good friend Alfredo Angeles after show.

CLASSIC WHITES AT VILLA MONTALVO

Al Schumann of 4 Season's catering is someone I have always worked with since I started my floral design business some 15- 17 years ago. Last  year, he called and asked me to  be part of  a very important event  in his only child's wedding, Sabrina, 

Sabrina is an out of state bride so after meeting with her once to discuss color  preference and overall look, it was me and Roberta, MOTB (Mother of the bride) who did the go-sees and made decisions  for additional accoutrement to give her a day to remember her lifetime. 

In spite of the heat and some hydrangeas wilting on us, we were able to replaced and fixed any problem to still deliver spectacular ceremony and reception floral pieces. YAY

ROSES PART II

"The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose." - Kahlil Gibran

To continue my love affair with roses, I have gathered  a few more of my favorites. These are just a few of my "go to " roses whenever  and each time I plan for a wedding or an event. A rose "softens"an arrangement gives it a touch of sophisticaiton with its elegant form and delicate texture that  IS velvety to the touch.

"MON CHER" - PURPLE SPRAY ROSES, I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ROSE OMG!!

"ESPERANZA"- A BIG TWO TONE ECUADORIAN PINK ROSE

SAHARA- A SAND LIKE/LATTE COLORED ROSE- VARIES FROM LATTE BEIGE TO COPPERY BEIGE

SUPER NOVA - A DEEP HOT PINK SPRAY ROSE- ONE OF MY FAVES

PINK FINESSE,

 COLD BE PEACHY AT TIMES OUTER PINK AND A DOUBLE DIMPLE PEACHY  CENTER,

OTHERS  DESCRIBE THIS AS "SALMON PINK" 

SORBET AVALANCE

SUPER GREEN- GORGEOUS

A PRODUCT OF TRENDS.( well everything is) SOME 5-7  YEARS BACK WHEN  THE COLOR 'GREEN" WAS SO IN, SAME TIME GREEN CYMBIDIUMS WERE IN SUCH HIGH DEMAND CAME THE GREEN ROSES. (green tea, jade and the latest Super green, the greenish of them all) WHILE OTHERS TURN YELLOW THESE ROSES STAY GREEN MUCH MUCH LONGER
.

RASBERRY ICE- TWO TONE RED ORANGE ( RASPBERRY) ECUADORIAN ROSE

ORANGE SPLASH-

WITH A NICE "REDDISH SPLASH PATTERN" OB BEIGE CREAMY PETALS

FILOLI 2012 SPRING SHOW "SECRET GARDEN"

"One evening, I drifted into a place where birds of the tropics

frolic with Robins, Swans and Unicorns...

Where trees grow orbs of blooms in bright oranges

and the warmest of pinks...

When, at the break of dawn ,

scintillating aroma of Peonies, Sampaguita and Roses fill

the crisp morning air...
and

When, in solitude, surrounded with the gifts from the

heavens, there is calm and content..

This,  is my Secret Garden..."

pico soriano

This year's theme for the Filoli Spring show is "Secret Garden" . I thought of doing a vegetative design with  succulents and lemon geraniums BUT I realized I had done that last year.. hmmm

Then there was this bird bath idea , you know garden, bird baths, I even drove to Half Moon bay and purchased one. The idea was to make an overflowing floral arrangement a top the bath with garden roses, viburnums, dahlias and hanging amaranthus for that droopy water like feel.

But then the the BB weighed a ton, well not exactly but very HEAVY and I was afraid that it might

be too much for the table in the Ladies' Cloak room where my piece would be, I was starting to get anxious.. hmmmm

But, as in the previous years, things came together just about 4 days to a week prior to GALA night.

This year was no different...

Topiary!!! yes blooming Topiary, Well, don't you want to see that in your own secret garden , where everything is possible and fantasies are seemingly real. As I have written above, this is how I visualize for my secret garden to be..

First year Classic has done Filoli and they asked me if I could embellish their table..

and I willingly, absolutely said YES!!!

CLASSIC PARTY RENTAL TABLE WITH MY FLORALS

THE GROUNDS 2012

FRIENDS

JUST GETTING THAT "SECRET GARDEN" MAGIC GOING WITH COLORS

WITH GOOD FRIEND, DONNEL VICENTE

\

AND ANOTHER BUDDY KYLER SCHRODER

IN OUR BEST M I B IMPERSONATION!!