Easter at Home
““But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen. When the cold rains kept on and killed the spring, it was as though a young person had died for no reason.
In those days, though, the spring always came finally but it was frightening that it had nearly failed.””
Exactly one week before Easter Sunday, the ground was covered with freshly fallen snow. With Easter 2019 falling almost as late in April as possible, snow the week before, well into the season of spring, can be discouraging. But in a fortunate turn of weather events, not uncommon in Michigan, Easter Sunday was a lovely day.
As I shared in a previous blog post, Anthophobia, I’ve been making an effort to both live with flowers at home and embrace the limitations of fresh flowers. In that post, I specially mentioned my resolve to have flowers at home for no special occasion, simply to enjoy, observe, and learn. On this occasion, Easter Sunday, I had a very specific reason to fill the house with flowers: family. Adam, Elizabeth, and I have the pleasure of hosting our family gathering for Easter each year.
I took the opportunity to gain some familiarity with blooms I normally would not have on hand to see them to the end of their life cycle: Coral Charm peonies, parrot tulips, stems of cymbidium orchids, Juliet David Austin roses, and Catalina Yellow garden roses.
Compote centerpiece for the dining table. Flowers featured include Coral Charm peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, cymbidium orchids, and pale yellow stock.
Compote for the redwood table. This focal point of the seating area featured white parrot tulips, Coral Charm peonies, cymbidium orchids, ranunculus, garden roses, and stock.
A family keepsake crystal vase filled with fresh-cut flowers set on a family heirloom piano.
I particularly enjoyed designing the fireplace mantel floral piece. Here I feel the season of spring is really captured. The Juneberry and the Cornelian cherry dogwood provided a more distinct seasonal vibe. The Coral Charms really stood out in this piece. I was curious how well the peonies would hold up in floral foam. They did exceedingly well. I added no water after I designed the piece on Saturday, and they didn’t start to shatter until the following Friday.
The most remarkable thing about the Coral Charms was the color transformation they when through over the course of their vase life. The peonies arrived the Monday before Easter Sunday in the typical ball bulb form. They were a dark pink on arrival. Over the next two weeks, they went from dark pink to pink to coral to white. Beautiful.
Mantel floral piece with spring branches, Coral Charm peonies, garden roses, orchids, and stock.
Overall, I was surprised at the longevity of all the fresh-cut flowers that I used in these designs. The Coral Charm peonies were gorgeous. Fresh flowers continue to amaze. These peonies were flown across the ocean in a dry box and over the course of two weeks made an insane transformation. It was a joy to spend time with these remarkable blooms.
Tablescape with floral centerpiece and napkin rings tied with a cymbidium orchid bloom. 12x12 square table, Venice gold chairs, and linens by Event Theory.
Jennifer Schuitema
Co-Owner of Wyoming Stuyvesant Floral, Wyoming, Michigan
Third-generation florist working in the same location established by her grandparents. She’s worked in flower shops most of her life but only in earnest since 1998, when she graduated from Western Michigan University with a BBA. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
