Flower Arranging | Abstract Design | Floral Art Competition

"Design where the emphasis is on plant material used in a non naturalistic manner. Strong pattern and dramatic simplicity is a feature of this design" Floral Art Show Guide, Part 1 Western style designs, RHS of NSW Inc.

The "Abstract" theme means that the design of this floral arrangement must emphasize the plant material being used in a non natural way. The features of the design are dramatic simplicity and strong pattern. On this day of competition we were only able to use Australian Natives in the design. This was also the day of judging for cuts of Australian Natives - the specimen flowers and foliage of each variety

As we grow Australian Natives for the cut flower market here, it is always my busiest day of competition as I have to stage both the cuts and the floral art work - usually about 17 displays - so I was very happy to have the Abstract theme on this day as it meant a good simple design.

I had, in my treasure chest of "might use one day" items, an unusual (and empty) beer bottle. In some of my other work for this day of competition I was using curled bark so I just added some native grass and let the floral material decide on the arrangement.

The method of putting it together was as simple as you can get. Stick one piece of bark into the neck of the bottle, place a ring of small banksia cones around the top and balance a smaller hollow piece of curled bark at rightangles to the first piece.

Bind a handful of native grass at both ends into a tight bundle and place one end in the neck of the bottle and the other in the lower end of the top piece of bark. Bind another handful of native grass at one end and place this is the top end of the curled bark, letting the unbound end fall naturally.

That's it!