Alex the Amateur Flower Arranger

 

Hosta 'Invincible' & Rosa 'Sombreul' 18 August 2022

Lauren & Rebecca 18 September 2008

Rosa 'Leander' & Clematis heracleifolia 'New Love' & Hosta 'Autumn Frost' 30 August 2022

When I first started scanning the plants in my garden in the summer of 2001 my primary purpose was to accurately show our flowers at 100& size, correct colour and the date.

But since I am a photographer who sometimes thinks he is an artist I would arrange these plants to what was my idea on how they would look at their best.

Now 22 years later I have to admit that I now approach my scans like a photograph and really important for me with the idea that I am taking a portrait even if the plant in question is not sentient. 

 

Hosta 'Invincible' 18 August 2022

 

Because I live alone with my two cats and at this late summer few will come to see my garden I have no compunction in cutting my roses, hosta flowers, hosta leaves and any other perennial that my Rosemary loved. 

Hosta leaves & Eryngium zabelli 'Neptune's Gold' 30 August 2022

 

Before, one or two scans of a flower would suffice. Now I arrange, play and re-arrange. This is fun.

After the scanning I am left with all these cut plants and flowers. What can I do with them?

Easy, I make my flower arrangements and put them in my dining room just for me.

Since I began this a few months ago I have noticed which plants have a cut life span in a vase and which ones do not. I have further discovered that hosta leaves and hosta flowers can be displayed for at least a week.

At one time about the only flower display I would have was to put the cut roses in a shallow bowl of water. It would seem that I have progressed.