Blog
VaseOff! Challenge: Mother’s Day Flowers
by Chelle Gerhardt
It isn’t easy for mom to find time to herself, and it’s even harder for her to get a chance to relax and unwind. This inspired me to bring a piece of tranquility in the midst of her busy lifestyle. The soothing shades of greens to the calming hues of lavender, you can’t help but get a sense of serenity. The peaceful motion of the woven grasses, the binding of branches, and the fragrance of the flowers all work together to allow mom’s mind to drift into her happy place.
Flowers and materials featured: Dendrobium orchid blossoms, cymbidium orchids, anthuriums, allium, miniature calla lilies, roses, lily grass, monstera leaf, calathea foliage, succulents, Midollino sticks and tree branch
About the Florist: Chelle Gerhardt
Chelle is lead floral designer and manager at Shirley’s Flowers and Gifts, Inc., in Rogers, Ark. She specializes in weddings and events, and Chelle’s floral designs have appeared in such magazines as At Home in Arkansas, Celebrate Arkansas Magazine, Northwest Arkansas CitiScapes and Arkansas Bride. Chelle won the 2012 Ozark Florist Association’s Design Competition and the 2011 Arkansas Florists Association’s (AFA’s) Design Contest, and she placed third in the AFA’s 2012 Mid America Invitational Cup Competition. She is an accredited Arkansas Master Florist.
by Rowena Johnson
The word “mother†makes me think of Mother Nature and how all mothers are connected, although we all have our own stories. Flowers emulate life — a seed is planted, it’s nurtured, grows, blooms and reseeds so life goes on. My arrangement is natural and garden looking with a tree of life in the center. The life tree celebrates motherhood. With the help of our customers, we received photos of mothers with their children. I shaped them into leaves for the tree of life.
Flowers and materials featured: Corkscrew willow, gerber daisies, Atlantis white daisies, dianthus, delphinium, Star of Bethlehem, hydrangea, stock, campanula, thistle, polka dot plants, pencil cactus, radishes, broccoli, permanent mushrooms, distressed wood, two clay pots, sheet moss, arrowhead leaves, Roosevelt Fern, squirrel tail sprengeri, salal, baker fern, variegated pittosporum and a saucer
About the Florist: Rowena Johnson
Ro is lead designer of Rochette’s Florist in Farmville, Va. Her floral design career was inspired while living on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The high school was having its prom and had no florist on base. With no experience, she began creating flowers, realizing and nurturing her floral skills. Upon return to the U.S., she began taking classes at Virginia Beach Vo Tech and gaining experience working with local florists. Her 30 plus year career has included work for Bob Timberlake, Inc., Sandals Resorts and Mays Wholesale to name a few. Designing on a competitive level is new for Ro and she already has a few awards with the Virginia Professional Florist Association.
by Beth McCampbell
The job of a mother requires a certain gentleness, kindness and softness of heart that no one else can imitate. Mothers give so much of their time and energy to others that by the end of the day there is nothing left to give. I wanted to embody that feminine side of a woman by focusing on soft and delicate garden flowers with touches of lace and pearls. My hope is a mother would feel appreciated when receiving these flowers and then pause, light the candles around a bubble bath and just relax.
Flowers and materials featured: Serving dish, votive candles, footed hurricane vase, lace, pearl beads, silver wire collar, purple Midollino sticks, succulent, rose petals, boronia, hydrangea, waxflower, freesia, garden roses, stock, and sword fern
About the Florist: Beth McCampbell
Beth is lead designer and a bridal consultant for Bloomtastic Florist in Columbus, Ohio, and earned a marketing degree from Ohio State University in 2011. Beth’s floral career began in high school when she took part in a mentorship program where she learned the basics of floral design. In college, Beth sought out an internship with a flower shop. That position turned into a part-time job. Now it is a full-time career, and customers call in requesting Beth’s floral designs.
by Tom Kenison
Today’s super mom does what she does, not for want of fame, money or power, but for unconditional love. Mom surrounds her children with love, and in appreciation, the children radiate love back to their mom. A true miraculous wonder of life. Calla lilies encircle the grapevine wreath, deep blue Vanda orchids draw your eyes to the center of the arrangement, and flax leaves radiate from the center to balance the composition.
Flowers and materials featured: Calla lilies, Vanda orchids, flax leaves, grapevine and ceramic bowl
About the Florist: Tom Kenison
For 25 years Tom has owned and operated Crossroads Florist in Mahwah N.J., and has been in the flower business for nearly 40 years. Since his first job in a flower shop at the age of 15, Tom knew he had a passion for flowers and design. His specialties are weddings and events, visual display and product promotion. Tom is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers.
“Like” your Favorite!
They work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You may mistake them for superheroes, but we just call them mom. For this Mother’s Day VaseOff! Challenge, we’ve asked our florist contestants to create arrangements designed to celebrate and pamper the busy on-the-go mom. “Like” your favorite!
Help us reach 5,000 “Likes” by May 6th and we’ll deliver flowers to patients and their moms at four participating hospitals: Shriners Hospitals for Children – Philadelphia, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Tampa, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Your “Like” will help bring a bit of bloom to moms with the toughest job of all – caring for a sick child.
