Adventures with Michelle, The Flower Recipe Book

I like to consider myself the Mistress of Mediocrity. I do many, many things pretty well – I don’t do anything particularly well enough to be considered a Master of the subject. One thing I’ve always known that I am absolutely terrible at is floral design. Yea, I know…but I love my flowers and gardening, etc. And, oh yes there’s that extensive pottery collection of, you guessed it, flower vases and pots! Ahhh, to have one of those ‘still-life’ looking artsy arrangements. Oh, no, if I bring home flowers from the store they end up looking about like this.

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Just tossed in a vase. Or trimmed and trimmed like the proverbial ‘haricut’ ending in stubby stems and looking for a much shorter vase. Ugh – I quit. If it didn’t fit in my Rose Bowl, I didn’t bring it home. One day, not long ago, while reading a cooking magazine (yes, cooking), I spotted a new book coming out called The Flower Recipe Book.

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Really? I can follow a recipe. So, they had a pre-order special with Amazon and I went for it. Besides, I had the Jubilee Luncheon to decorate for (a good excuse). I’m so glad I did. Turns out, in addition to doing it poorly, I’ve been doing it backwards all these years ! It was fun to just read thru it.

OK, so here’s the odd part, I bought a couple of grocery store bouquets for the bridal luncheon and was all set to make little arrangements. Then the weather and other events put me so far behind the 8 ball that they never got done. -sigh- They were sitting lonely in the corner when Kathy pointed them out to me and I knew they’d be wasted. Noooo. Afterward, (like 4 days later) I got out my new book and was determined to make them lovely. I think I did ok for a beginner. Here’s what I did.

I’d planned to put flowers in my Mother-in-Laws old silver service, and it was all polished and ready to go. I also gathered my old favorite rose bowl. This was a $5 flea market item of depression glass. If you see one, buy it. They’re a easy way to display roses, and other flowers, that have short stems. Which are what you’ll find in most landscapes. They’re small and look sweet on a small table or night stand.

The book is written by some nice ladies that have a fabulous floral design shop in San Francisco. That means they have access to unbelievable fresh stems! I don’t…or do I? The bunches I’d picked up were the standard roses and alstroemeria, along with a mixed bouquet of whites. What I needed was something of interest. I walk by interesting flowers every day and never paid attention! That honeysuckle that I planted to greet my visitors with smiling blooms and wonderful scents, has tendrils extending out calling to be loved.

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

The hedges, as I forget, are loropetalums, that have burgundy leaves with sweet fuchsia blooms and they need trimming anyway…get a basket and the scissors.

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

I give The Flower Recipe Book 5 stars! The book explains what they use and why (maybe other books do too, and I just wasn’t paying attention). Then gives you a simple recipe to follow. Three styles for each flower they selected to showcase. It talks about using tape to hold stems upright – a lightbulb idea (why didn’t I ever think of that!).

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

That’s really all I used, along with my clippers. I made 7 arrangements that morning and the flowers lasted another few days. There were roses at my bedside, flowers in the kitchen, and more for my desk. I also got one of those ‘still-life’ artsy groupings I’d always admired…it won’t make a Hermitage exhibit, but least it’s artsy to me.

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Adventures with Michelle, Flower Recipe Book

Michelle at Badzoot.com

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