Floral Counsel – Priscilla Schaefer
One of our New Year’s resolutions is to up our flower game. By a lot. But first, we had to acknowledge that sometimes (see: always) we get overwhelmed in the flower shop, lose our vision, and leave, dejected, clutching the same boring bouquet of lilies that we always get. First step: admitting you have a problem.
Next, we had to find some help. So, we reached out to Glorimundi owner, event designer, and total mastermind Priscilla Schaefer. The events she’s festooned with floral-creations include parties for New York’s chicest socialites, to a 3000-guest wedding for a Saudi Arabian princess. She’s known for wild color combinations, textural variety, and using unique florals and fauna, which she and her husband grow in their own greenhouses in upstate New York.
We asked Priscilla how to translate some of what she’s learned in the biz to at-home flower design, how to make arrangements that will make our dinner parties feel just a bit more special.
We won’t be stingy. We’ll share the valuable advice we got from this flower virtuoso, starting with how she would brighten her table, mantle, or living room on a cold wintery night.
Priscilla says:
The bold and graphic anemone is the perfect fall, winter, and early spring flower. It’s got a simple, striking bud that comes in a range of colors: wintery whites, dark aubergines (a Fete-a-Tete fave), shades of rouge and lavender. They’re also super reasonably priced.
Priscilla’s Tips:
- 1. Keep it simple.
- 2. Place them alone or in small bunches in mini vases or containers throughout the table or buffet, along with simple tea candles. They have straight, strong stems that can stand up on their own, and the graphic nature of the bright, beautiful petals combined with the black center or pistil (Heyo, flower term!) are sophisticated and interesting without a lot of other flowers in the mix.
- 3. If pairing the anemone, go with a simple garden rose. Garden roses and anemones have a great textural difference that allows them to combine into a seemingly larger, more full bouquet, that’s actually quite simple and straightforward to make. The great variety of color options with roses makes it easy to find one that complements your anemones perfectly.
• Cut straight to desired length
• Store in plenty of water – this will help them last 5-7 days
• Regularly check water and add more
• Never put into floral foam – they won’t receive enough water and will wilt!
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