February 2012 

On the Cover
A terra-cotta pot, like Teleflora’s Flower Garden Watering Can, harmonizes nicely with the tints and tones of orange that are predicted to be popular in 2012—even in spring. For more designs by Sharon McGukin AIFD, AAF, PFCI, see “Spring à la Mode” in this issue.

Inside: the design features excerpted below, plus:   

• Stylish, high-impact Secretaries’ Day designs.
• The second installment of our new monthly department, Design $avvy—all about making floral design both beautiful and profitable.
• Fresh Focus on anemones, the classic spring flower that comes in jewel tones rather than pastels. 
• Beautiful displays and shop layout photos, featured in a profile of Alamo Plants and Petals in San Antonio.  
• Hitomi Gilliam’s Creative Edge, Rich Salvaggio’s Focus on Design, and other departments.

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Spring à la Mode
Fashion hues and simple stylings bring the season into focus.
Floral design by Sharon McGukin AIFD, AAF, PFCI
Photography by Ron Derhacopian 
 

Wool jacket  

The handcrafted look is popular in many markets, says Sharon—and this clever idea for dressing up a clear glass cylinder is easy and quick. Sharon prepared the cylinder in advance by positioning UGlu adhesive strips along the sides and around the top. Then she added the wool fabric, which comes in a roll half as wide as the jacket is tall. Sharon used two strips, one above the other, to achieve the look; the “belt” of wired wool hides the seam. She made the buttons and hooks by winding the wired wool into tight spirals and attaching them to the fabric with UGlu Dashes. Finally, Sharon placed foam in the cylinder, filled the cylinder with flower-food solution, inserted the double daffodils, and topped the foam with moss.

Flowering cross

Blooming branches are classic symbols of spring, as are bulb flowers—including star of Bethlehem, certainly appropriate for an Easter design. Anthony fashioned this cross by first making a sturdy base with thick stems of red dogwood. He combined horizontal and vertical stems with anchor tape, then added the forsythia on top, binding it to the dogwood at the center of the cross and at the ends of the arms. The forsythia branches were flexible enough to bend at the center, so that Anthony could bring the arms out to the sides; all of the cut stem ends are at the bottom, where they can drink. He made the whole cross before anchoring it in floral foam.