Chlorophyll Party

Jul 16, 2019

Chlorophyll Party
by Sara-Lisa Ludvigsson

I used:
Lepidium ‘Green Dragon’™
Rosa ‘Prima Donna’
Dianthus ‘Lege Marrone’
Lilium ‘Apricot Fudge’
Ranunculus Butterfly ‘Helios’
Rodanthe roseum (dried)
2 x half sphere hanging basket forms 35cm
diameter with chain
Zip ties (cable ties)
Floral foam
Waxed paper
Floral foam wreath ring

The winter in Sweden is beautiful and filled with snow, but we have short days, so we really long for the spring. To
make the waiting a little bit shorter and easier to handle I love to surround myself with flowers in fresh and energetic
colours. One of the colours I really miss during the winter is that strong and light green tone seen when the first leaves
burst out on the branches of trees – so full of chlorophyll and so full of energy and new life. For me, that colour is
a symbol of a new start and what is more suitable than to invite people to a Chlorophyll party to celebrate the arrival
of spring! So, let’s gather around the table and soak up the energy from the fresh flowers, the laughter of friends and
before we know it, spring will be here!

To begin, soak the floral foam but don’t over-soak. Cut the waxed paper and line both of the half baskets. If you don’t have
waxed paper, use cellophane or similar. I prefer the paper because it covers the floral foam so that it will not be seen. Fill each
of the half baskets with floral foam. If you are going to make a big globe, you can use OASIS® SEC dry foam in the centre
to make it less heavy. Join the two baskets together and secure them with zip ties (cable ties), making sure that they are used
where the metal is at its strongest because this design gets quite heavy. Before you continue, check that the chains are strong
enough to carry the weight, otherwise change them for a stronger wire.
Place the filled basket on a bucket or vase which is weighted with water or sand to allow you to work on the upper part of the
design. Start placing the Lepidium ‘Green Dragon’ around the sphere. The stem of this variety is strong enough to go through
the paper without cutting it first. It is important to insert it deep into the floral foam so it will hydrate and stay in place. Cover
the whole sphere with Lepidium and create a round, loose outside shape.

After that, place the other flowers around the sphere in a regular rhythm and distance. In this design I wanted the
green colour to be dominant to create a fresh and joyful impression so I used the Lepidium to make a lush foundation.
Lepidium is very easily matched with other flowers, so you can use any flowers of your choice in this design. Make sure
that you place all the other materials a little bit shorter than the Lepidium to get a looser impression.

When you have almost completed the whole design, it is time to hang it. You can do this now and place the last of
the materials to finish the outside shape. This design can be used for both round and square tables.
In this round table set up, the Chlorophyll sphere is complimented with a wreath made of similar flowers with the
Lepidium as the dominant material. The two round designs on a round table create harmony and the character of the
Lepidium is what binds them together and brings that fresh and energetic feeling to the table.

For safety make sure to check that you hang your design from a place that can support the weight and that you also use wire
that is strong enough. Make sure you secure it properly.