Toluca Lake Magazine

Home & Garden

Brilliant Blooms

Welcome spring with floral inspiration from a pro.

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Photo by Daniel Deitch
Photo by Daniel Deitch

After a cold and dreary winter, spring is the time to embrace all things bright and cheerful, and what better way than with a bountiful bouquet that showcases the best the season has to offer? “I am most inspired by spring flowers — the stunning colors and incredible fragrances that come from them,” says Kim Williams of The Enchanted Florist in Burbank, who offered us a behind-the-scenes look at how she puts that inspiration into action by assembling a showstopping seasonal display using some of the most in-demand spring blooms.

SPECTRUM FOR THE SENSES To gather an assortment that screams spring, Williams selected flowers known for their fragrance, like freesia, peonies and sweet peas, as well as a range of colors from pastel to bright — including a couple of blue-tinted orchids for an element of surprise, a funky style she says is becoming increasingly popular. “The addition of unusual stem-dyed colors is really fun and exciting,” she says. Photo by Daniel Deitch.
TAKING SHAPE In addition to scent and color, visual variety is another important floral design consideration. Williams says using dried, preserved and freeze-dried flowers and foliage is trending as a way to bring in unexpected textures. “A great assortment leaves you with more to look at and enjoy!” she adds. Photo by Daniel Deitch.

While Williams is a pro with more than 26 years of experience in crafting floral arrangements for movies and TV shows, corporate events, weddings and even the Tournament of Roses Royal Court, she believes that it’s a creative pursuit everyone should be able to enjoy. “I so often hear, ‘I can’t arrange flowers, I am so terrible at it,’” she says. “Something I wish everyone knew about flower arranging is that it’s just practice; anyone can do it!” She offers some insight into the process on the following pages, but encourages those who want to try their hand at floral design to “simply choose what you like. There are no rules. Enjoy your creations. It’s nature and can’t be wrong.” After all, she adds, “It’s a scientific fact that flowers are uplifting, healing and bring joy and happiness. It is incredible to me that such beauty simply rises up from soil. If you love them like I do, simply surround yourself with them and they will make you happy.”

Lasting Loveliness

“Fresh flowers and plants are more often a luxury item these days,” Williams notes, so whether you purchase an arrangement from an expert or try your hand at assembling your own, you’ll want those blossoms to stay vibrant for as long as possible. Always be sure to cut the bottom of the stems before placing them in water — “yes, even if you bought them five minutes ago,” she advises. Change the water every day, keep the water level high and be sure to display your bouquet in a cool location, as “a warm home or office is brutal on fresh flowers.”

MAKING ARRANGEMENTS Incorporating further elements including poppies, tulips, hyacinths, hellebores, umbrella ferns and thistles, the finished product has a dynamic design that creates a natural feeling of spring bursting forth with wild energy. To achieve the effect you want in your own bouquets, “just play with it,” Williams counsels. “We rearrange things all the time.” And remember, it’s all about enjoyment: “The ideal floral arrangement is whatever makes you happy when you see it.” Photo by Daniel Deitch.

About Jenna Anderson

Jenna Anderson is the managing editor for Toluca Lake Magazine.