Hitomi’s Lecture One Notes
Compiled by Hitomi Gilliam | Photographs by Colin Gilliam
Reference Books:
WORLD OF COLOUR ACCORDING TO PER BENJAMIN – Per Benjamin
FRESH LOOK AT JUDGING FLORAL DESIGN – Hitomi Gilliam
Recommended Reading:
COLOR ‘A Natural History of the Palette’ by Victoria Finlay
TRUE COLORS ‘World Masters of Natural Dyes & Pigments
BLOOM Issue #24 ‘Earth Matters’- Li Edelkoort
Hitomi’s Design Review
HAND-TIED BOUQUET (Achromatic Harmony)
BOTANICAL LIST: Hellebores niger ‘Winter Bells’; Ranunculus asiaticus; Chrysanthemum (disbuds); Brunia albiflora; Tillandsia xerographica; Seeded Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus cinerea); Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); White painted Plumosa Fern (Asparagus setaceus)
SUPPLY LIST: Tapestry Stick, White Midollino & wire vine (Yarn; Midolllino; Aluminum wire; Bullion wire; UGlu dashes); Bongo Ties; Chickenwire pillow
Prepare the chickenwire pillow and attach tapestry stick and yarn-covered midollino and wire vine with bindwire to create a dimensional structure. This structure makes it easy to build a hand-tied bouquet with good depth and size, with good economy of means.
Order of flowering:
Begin with sprigs of Douglas Fir used backside up (grey matte green) inserted into the bottom side of the chickenwire pillow to add structure inside the pillow, and to start making the mechanics of the chickenwire disappear.
Add seeded Eucalyptus for an attractive draping effect in grey.
All the white flowers follow… Disbud mums, Hellebores, Ranunculus and Brunia
Add Tillandsia xerographica leaflets to add curvilinear grey flow and the white painted Plumosa fern to add light lacy texture.
Tie the bouquet quickly and easily with Bongo Tie.
WINTER MOMENT (Achromatic Harmony)
BOTANICAL LIST: Pussy Willow (Salix discolor); Chrysanthemum (disbud); Mini Calla (Zantedeschia elliottiana); Brunia albiflora; White Plumosa fern (Asparagus setaceus); Lichen branches
SUPPLY LIST: White ceramic planter (glossy); Black River pebbles; Yarn-wrapped Bamboo skewers; Bullion wire; UGlu dashes; Hot glue; Bindwire; Silk cocoons
White yarn-wrapped bamboo skewers are glued together hot glue to build a horizontal structure to create a grid for flowering in the ceramic container.
Fill the bottom half of the container with black river pebbles and push down the structure into the container and fill it with water.
Order of flowering:
Place several pussy willow whips horizontally in the structure and bindwire to secure.
Follow by layering in the lichen branches to add the variation of greys to the structure.
Insert the Douglas Fir sprigs, followed by Brunia and Chrysanthemum.
Add in the linear flow of Mini Callas.
All the placements are random, natural, in an asymmetrical mind-set.
VERI PERI GARDEN CENTERPIECE (Monochromatic – Violet or Analogous – Blue Violet to Red Violet)
2020 Color of the Year according to Pantone Institute is ‘VERI PERI’ described as rich shade of PERIWINKLE. Violet blue encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet possesses a violet red undertone and warmth. A promise of optimism.
BOTANICAL LIST: Anemone coronaria; Mini calla (Zantedeschia elliottiana); Statice (Limonium sinuatum); Stocks (Matthiola incana); Hydrangea macrophylla; Rose ‘Tiara’; Spray Rose ‘Silver Mikado’; Trachelium caeruleum; Confederate Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides); Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
SUPPLY LIST: White ceramic bowl; Chickenwire roll; Bongo Ties; Yarn-covered Tapestry Sticks, Midollino extenders, Midollino & wire vine, Wire vine (Yarn, Midollino, Aluminum wire, Metallic wire, Bindwire, UGlu dashes, Bullion wire); Clear Glass rods
Combination of Tapestry sticks, Midollino extenders and yarn covered wires are bindwired in ‘Art Nouveau’ inspired structure in Veri Peri color blend. The spirit of this color is based on violet blue, but it carries violet red undertone as well. I selected flowers ranging from violet blue to violet red in tints and tones to render this interpretation florally. The use of the understructure with yarn color closest to Veri Peri help unite the range of violets.
The chickenwire roll filled with Boxwood twigs is bindwired to the underside of the structure kept straight and rigid with 2 lengths of clear glass rods.
Order of Flowering:
Violet Blue insertions first.
Hydrangea is split into small floret clusters and are spiked into the structure in watertubes.
Followed by horizontal placement of Statice.
Then Trachelium and Anemone.
Stocks are inserted horizontally, followed by ‘Tiara’ Roses, accented with ‘Silver Mikado’ Spray Roses.
An overlay of light floating yarn covered wire vine sets up the structure to float the Confederate Jasmine vine for a lush garden romance look.