Sunflowers, Great to grow and then cut to put around your home. Just watch out for the pollen. If anything I'm helping the bees out right?

These guys are quite tall. Look at my privacy fence and my neighbors house! Happy summer!!!

Sunflowers, how can you not smile when you look at them ? My dad always planted them for me and this is my result a couple years ago. My neighbor actually took me into her home for the first time to have me look at her sunflower decor and also look out her kitchen window to see my enormous sunflowers growing right outside the window. She thought I knew she loved sunflowers. What a coincidence? So I'm trying it again this year. A couple of varieties.Wont' she be surprised.

Time to plant..... My garden, one of them is filled with sweet potato vine. I love it's bright lime green color. I also have kale, inpatients and coleus. I change my color scheme every year, but usually it's monochromatic for the most part. Which is unlike me, considering I spend all day mixing colors and  flowers and textures. This picture is from a few years ago, I will post this years when things fill in a little more. 

The beautiful and unique phalaenopsis   orchid. Just look at it's detail and color, as if it was painted by hand. Orchids amaze me. This one is growing in my kitchen. There are so many species and there petals serve as attracting insects for pollination. phalaenopsis is one of the most popular orchids for selling potted. In nature they are typically in warm temps but are adaptable to conditions more comfortable for human habitation.

Pink and lime green, gotta love it! It's become so popular. With those beautiful Esperance roses and hydrangea, heather and a touch of bear grass and don't let me forget one of my favorites.... viburnum.

This design is stunning. Filled with mokara orchids, cymbidium orchids, roses, sorbonne lilies, hyacinth and many others. This arrangement costs a pretty penny. I'm sure the lady who received it just loved it. I did.

Simple and tiny but extravagant ! Orchids and baby pink tulips in a mound  on top of a glass cube with beautiful celery colored satin ribbon. Great for a new mom or grandma.

This rose is soooo pretty I just had to show another picture of it! David Austin Roses. Beautiful garden rose, which opens fast, comes in many colors and is quite fragrant.

Happy Memorial weekend ! This was the only red, white and blue arrangement I was asked to make. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was actually pretty. I've been sooooo busy and haven't been posting, but I've got a lot of pictures for future postings. I made an arrangement for the actress Anne Heche a couple days ago. It was her Birthday and someone in LA ordered it. We Were surprised  they gave out her name being that it went to a very nice hotel in the area. I wish I would of taken a picture of it. It was mostly white with a touch of color.  Anyway Happy birthday Anne Heche, your a great actress and I was honored  to make your Birthday flowers!

More pictures of the David Austin rose. I just can't resist. I took like seven pictures!!! I just popped them in a rose bowl with some seeded euc and just beautiful!

Look at this rose.... Isn't it amazing? Its this new variety by a  company called David Austin. It opens like a big garden rose. Comes in many colors and very fragrant. My sister in law was sneezing so terribly while she was cleaning them and preparing them for Mother's day. I brought a few home  for my bathroom, they were just beautiful.

I was asked to make an arrangement for a little shop called Heartwear designs, which carries unique contemporary jewelry by Marcy Feldman. It was for a pre Royal Wedding celebration. Where many shops were  involved. You can look them up at www.heartweardesigns.com/ . I made the centerpiece and other shops such as bakery's and things were asked to provide other items. Not knowing what Kate's flowers would be the next day walking down that long red carpet, I kept it simple and soft looking. I had did some research on her floral designer and found that he was very green and liked to use flowers and branches which he grew himself and was just overall organic. My arrangement includes azalea, viburnum, lisianthus, hydrangea, roses and stock with a touch of fresh myrtle, which has meaning with the royalty.

The sympathy arrangements..... meaning casket covers. I'm starting with my Father's, who passed away about 18 months ago. It was very important for me to do his flowers, even though he would of said don't do anything for me. That's how he was, but I hope he appreciated my effort anyway. This cover was beautiful. As beautiful as a masculine cover could be. And for whatever reason it came out perfect, it didn't fight me like some arrangements do. I had pine, holly, pheasant feathers, euc. Pine cones, ilex berries, mokara orchids, cymbidium orchids, dried material such as mushrooms, pods and wheat, cat tails. Also bear grass, green roses, willow, cedar. And I went across the street and purchased artichokes and a type of broccoli which was unusual. This was one of the last things I could do for my dad who I love and miss very much. xxoo

MR.HAGOPIAN'S casket cover, yes the owner of Hagopian rugs. I have to say it's one of my favorite funeral pieces, and I spent so much time with Mrs. Hagopian and there 2 daughters which were all so very sweet. It was hard during this consultation since the 3 of them all had a different vision. But we made it work. All orchids, very very classy. When Mrs. Hagopian was leaving she hugged and kissed me on the cheek and re named me " Lisa Mokara " since she had asked me the name of the rust orchid shown in the cover so many times that she ended up writing it down on paper.

A lady came in to order this who was very specific and really wanted her sympathy flowers to be something everyone would talk about, she never mentioned a budget. This is the casket cover and there were two side pieces which I think I deleted, they were in large cream Hagar ceramic urns. I was quite happy when I finished her order. It's not often I feel pressure but I can say I did feel a little that day. It ended up being beautiful when standing before it.

Mitch Albom's wife's flowers. They were spectacular. When the housekeeper took them inside the home, I was told this couple attends many large special events and has never seen anything like my arrangement and that I must be an exceptional Designer, that was quite the compliment since I was having a bad day. Roses, hydrangea, snaps, iris, pussy willow, and quince from the yard gave it that gardeny feel.

This bridal bouquet was made last weekend and traveled up to Traverse City. I really liked it once it was put together. This picture shows it placed in a vase while i worked on the bridesmaids bouquets. The bride works for a small company who films videos at local shops around town and are then placed on some public TV stations, she interviewed us for a utube video. She is quite good at what she does. I hope she had a beautiful wedding. I know the weather was good.

This bouquet is full of green hydrangea, pink roses, red roses, red aster, blupernum, green roses, hypericum and hanging ameranthus. With wired pistachio dendrobium orchids hanging down.

This may be a better picture than the one below. I had two small weddings on the same day. The other wedding ( not shown ) the bride wore a orchid corsage, no bouquet, can you  believe it?

Just red and white roses hand tied with ribbon. Not really my favorite thing to do. This couple had already got married then had a marriage ceremony at there home, and no one knew they were already married. Hope that went over well with the family!

Ti's the season for weddings. I have a few under my belt, I used to take pictures years ago, then stopped. A few of my bouquets were published in a magazine a couple years ago. Maybe I can get my Husband to get those pics on this blog. There quite interesting. This Bride brought me these beautiful hand beaded leaves. And I do mean someone sat there and beaded every piece by hand. They were stunning ! This bouquet is all roses with a border of feathers and if you look closely u may be able to see the rhinestones I added. She was married close to Halloween at Henry Ford Museum, I remember since I was there with my family the same night for there Halloween event.

I look at this arrangement and I see Happy Birthday or ice cream. I'm not sure which.Either way I didn't like the container until I designed in it. The finished result is very impressive.I have been using a lot of dusty miller which most people grow in there flower gardens, it actually holds up very well.On the other side of this design is pale pinks, with tulips and roses.Hot pink side has mini gerbera daises and roses.This design sells for about $69.95 but will last since the stems are short in oasis which I talk about a few posts down.    

Here is another example of this container all done up in green, with a couple things I'm sure you have not heard of like.. trachillium and brazilla. More commonly roses, glads, button pomps and of course hydrangea. Yes roses come in green. I had them in my wedding flowers. Glads look great cut down, since I always hear it's a FUNERAL flower. I like glads, I think there quite interesting and have a tropical feel. Try them sometime. Just put a bunch ( which is how there sold ) in a vase and you can tear off the blossoms as they wilt as others begin to open. There are more and more green flowers popping up all the time, those growers are creating some beautiful specimens!!! 

My theme of the day is paved roses. They can be made with a few roses or several. I really like the clean look of these designs and you can still add a touch of other flowers for accent. This is 9 roses like the next 2 pics I show. One great thing about paving is the flowers last alot longer. The reason for this is not nearly as much water is drawn from the stem to reach the head of the flower. The shorter the rose stem, the longer it seems to last. These also go together quite fast.

Again we see another version of roses, 3 lavender, 3 white and 3 pink. Arrangement in a low black square container, with a Row of green Pitt on each end, touch of pink azalea and a little ribbon. So adorable !

Five inch cube,holds about 9 roses. Can be designed with any color scheme.Framed with babies breath. The modern way to purchase and give roses.

A large vased arrangement with a variety of flowers is always a nice conversation piece in your home or at the office. This piece has snapdragons, gerbera daises, Asiatic lilies, rover, bells of Ireland, stock, broom corn, long stem red roses, sunflowers, and the focal point is a huge kale I grew myself. Oh and I almost forgot one of my favorites.... ameranthus (the green hanging down) and willow. I love it!! 

Happy Monday !! I wish I had a vase of Hyacinth here with me right now, although I may be coming down with a cold and they do have a strong but wonderful fragrance, it would be worth it to be surrounded by that beautiful scent. Soon the bulbs will be blooming.  I like seeing just a little above ground or in dutch gardens, it just makes me happy, I love the colors of flowers that start coming in right about now through mother's day. All the pastels and theres just certain times of the year when the quality is just better. So get out to your local Florist and pick up some planted bulbs, they last quite a while !

I like tulips by themselves but they work with everything, there a great pick me up ! Come in many colors and are inexpensive, unless you get into the French, Parrot or Van Dyke varieties. Anyway you can buy them buy the bunch and throw them in your own vase.

Still waiting on SPRING ! Where is it ? I know it's March and all but I'm getting antsy like I'm sure as many others are. Last year I was in Frankenmuth on the 4th of April and it was beautiful. So I'm looking at this picture with tulips, sunflowers, of course hydrangea and stunning green cymbidium orchids and wishing it was a little warmer out and that the snow would stop coming. I've got my Welcome Spring kitchen rug out and the St. Patrick's Day stuff is up. Come on Spring !!!!!

Cute and sweet. Tropicals don't have to be tall and top heavy, they can also be used for little spaces, like a powder room or a desk. A nice little token of appreciation that will last too! This floral design has antherium, ginger, orchids, willow ( my fave ) and fancy leaves with a touch of acacia, which ( I also love ) and it smells wonderful! Unfortunately I don't get to work with it much. If I did I wouldn't appreciate it.

Exotics are extraordinary flowers, they may be a little costly but there worth it in the sense that they do last longer than the average flower. They can be simple in a vase with some ornamental grass or made into a arrangement like this one, which I made for Macy's department store for Black History month. My design has ginger, lucidendrum, cymbidium orchids, mokara orchids, banksia, antherium and miscellaneous grasses and foliage.

Tropicals are a wonderful and unusual flower to have for any occasion. This one was a Valentines gift, I hope that person enjoyed it! Here I used birds of paradise, pink mink protea, kangaroo paw ( such a cool flower ) and the rest of the flowers were kinda fill ins such as liatris. Bells of Ireland, forsythia and hydrangea, heather, genestra and some Lily and bear grass.

Is this flan yummy looking or what ? Here's my birthday cake from my boss. To bad an employee and friend of mine called in. we missed her today. Yes today is my Birthday. See post below...Happy Birthday to anybody else who's Birthday's today Feb. 22

Happy Birthday to me!!!! I know this is a Floral Blog, but today is my BIRTHDAY. Here's the cake my child made for me with a little help. Chocolate with butter cream frosting. 

Just started seeing forsythia about 3 weeks ago. I'm working with stems almost as tall as I am, I never liked forsythia. My mom at one point planted it all around the fence in the backyard at the home I grew up in. I guess she was trying to have a beautiful privacy fence of sunshine to look at. But as a kid I didn't like how it looked when it wasn't in bloom and why was I worrying about forsythia blooming when i was supposed to be playing with my friends? Who knew I'd end up being a floral designer. Anyway I have great appreciation for this flower, and what a statement it makes. It does make me feel good when I look at it, it's like the sun shining bright.

Lovely in lavender. Check out the mirrored 4 inch glass cube ! I gotta get me one of those. So I'm not big on the color purple, but lately I'm liking it. Monochromatic is nice, I should do more of it. For Valentines day I made up 3 small cylinder arrangements, which are the same look and feel as the cube, anyway they were going to an office of 3 girls from there boss, well I made 1 in pinks,1 in purples, and 1 in greens. One of the girls didn't like the green floral design. How can you not like green ?? It's like the  hottest color right now!!! everybody loves it. Just look and see there is probably green in most of my work.

Soooo  pretty & sweet with tulips, wax flower, orchids, hyacinth, hydrangea and roses. With a touch of ribbon. Did you know that you can purchase cut single stems of  hyacinth without buying the whole plant ? well you can.

2 and a half dozen roses in a tight mound in 6 inch glass cube, wrapped with a ti leaf. Just the most simple, beautiful thing ever !! Remember I can make these in silk too! Some lucky lady got this sent to her on Valentines day. 

Just had to mention this sensational rose, it's a two-tone colored rose with pink and cream and a touch of green. Opens huge and is called Esperance. If you don't See it at your local florist ask them if they can order it for you. The only thing about this rose is one of its qualities is it does open fast and some people think the rose isn't going to last or is poor quality, but some roses have different characteristics, this one just happens to open quickly. I sent a dozen to my mother and mother n law and they really thought they were beautiful.  

Spring is on it's way!!!! Just look at this beauty doesn't it have spring written all over it ? I thought it was appropriate with the weather in Michigan the last two days. It's been a quiet week since valentine's day. This flower arrangement was made a little closer to spring and was made  for St. John boutique at Somerset Collection. It was ordered for a fragrance launch and I was to pick up the notes in the fragrance with theses flowers shown... like jasmine, orange blossom, roses, freesia and marigolds.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ! MY BIGGEST WORK HOLIDAY SO NO BLOG TODAY BUT HERE IS WHAT IVE BEEN WORKING ON ALL WEEKEND HAVE A GREAT VALENTINES!                                                                                                        

CUTE!

AWWWWWWW!

BEAUTIFUL!

BE MINE !                  

My tribute arrangement to my Dad  was supposed to be a conversation piece. I hope he thought it was funny! It's a real duck my boss gave me from his warehouse. Dried hydrangea from flower troughs, some feathers, beautiful antique gold ribbon and some artificial deer antlers, since my Dad was a hunter and fisherman. When he got older he just liked to watch the animals from the window, he had a great appreciation for them later in his life. It just goes to show you can put many personal items together and create wonderful, sentimental gifts.

This arrangement is shown later on and I explain how I came to create it. This is made fresh,  You can see the strange type of broccoli there in the center. When you see this picture in a later post it's over a year old.

The rustic look. That wreath is actually a artificial Christmas wreath that in the right space can be left out year round. Covered in dried materials like pods, pine cones, branches etc. Raffia and birds with houses and of course a touch of feathers. This all ties in with the mini pine trees underneath and old gas can, fishing items. Also a small silk on mantle is very versatile.