What a perfect day we had at the Barn & Blooms event I hosted in Rancho Santa Fe benefitting The Country Friends.
Thank you to de bloem co., Passion Growers West, and La Costa Wine Co for sponsoring and donating your time, talents, flowers, and beverages to this intimate gathering where we learned the art of creating a floral centerpiece. You can scroll through images from the day below. The incredible barn at 5631 El Camino Del Norte (on the market!) was not only a beautiful backdrop, but it was the perfect place for us to learn more about REINS equine assisted therapy in Fallbrook. REINS has been a chosen charity by The Country Friends for many years and there wasn’t a dry eye as we heard stories about students there like Miles (you MUST watch this video) who get so much from this program.
Jacque Ford of de bloem co taught us a bunch of useful tips and tricks – here are just a few.
- If your roses are still closed, after you have cleaned and de-thorned them, turn them upside down and spin between your hands by the end of the stem (see video for demonstration) this opens them up!
- Hydrangeas are thirsty! If they get a bit droopy you can dunk the whole flower, yes, the flower itself, in a dish of cold water. Swish it around and then put the stem back in water and it will perk right back up.
- You do not need a fancy vessel to make a fancy arrangement! Jacque used simple white cereal bowls for our class and they were perfect. Something with low sides is actually ideal.
- When putting your arrangement together think in triangles and three’s. Always do three at time and arrange in short, medium, and tall. Once you have filled out your piece you will end up with a whimsical “English Garden” style centerpiece.
Special thank you to all the volunteers and attendees for your support! Being on the board of The Country Friends and working on events like this has been such a privilege and so much fun.
