November – December ‘18
Together
Iris is holding grey, flocked hogweed. This special flock treatment makes hogweed safe and pleasant to touch.
“Cold, cozy nights, warm blankets & hot chocolate” 2 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Editorial Cover comment: Iris sits in a big sleigh filled with lots of green elements. Everything radiates warmth, cosiness but above all flowers. This image is my vision of this year’s winter. That’s why this picture is the perfect cover for our November – December issue.
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Winter is finally here and the Holiday season will be upon us soon. Unfortunately, this also means complete families in turmoil… where are we going to spend Christmas and what shall we cook for dinner? I rather worry about other things… such as what look will I give my Christmas tree this year, what baubles will go with that look and what ambiance do I want the house to breath? Will I opt for a fake or real tree this year? And yes, I always go with the real deal in the end as there is truly nothing better than the smell of fresh pine. In the lead up to the Holidays, things can become a bit hectic. Therefore, I came up with four beautiful Christmas themes, each telling their own story. The beauty of these packages is that they look stunning even after the Holidays. I see mad, colourful arrangements but also fresh and calm designs. These are versatile products, which is good. It means that there is an exciting pick for everyone. Did you know that there is more than Christmas baubles, pots, vases and baskets? Look out for the wonderful small sundries and table decorations. These small items also make great gifts for Christmas or birthdays this time of year. After all, the winter season is about being together and doing things together. I would like to wish you Happy Holidays and a joyful and healthy 2019. The next time we speak again will be in January!
Flynt
Love
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pinterest.com/flowertales0343 Rediscovering 3
The theme for Vero vito last autumn was influenced by fiery, LatinAmerican elements. A continent that is celebrated for its passion. Vero vito is moving towards the country side this winter but the passion remains and can be found in the colours and materials. Even though we see a lot of natural products this edition, there is also an abundance of gloss and shine. This take on country style is anything but mundane and far from boring. Vero vito thanks its fire to the mixture of colours, from purple to red and pink to emerald green and indigo.
Perhaps I have given you the impression that this a bold theme due to all the different colours and materials. It’s quite the opposite actually. The simplicity of this package is still clearly visible and gives it balance, thanks to the solid coloured pots in simple design. Flowers that match in colour also bring balance to the overall look.
4 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
‘Simplicity reveals the pure beauty of life’
Anemone Galil Purper Rediscovering 5
Hippeastrum The Hippeastrum or amaryllis bulb is not your run-off-the-mill flower bulb. Remove it from the soil and it will still come into bloom. All the nutrition, which the amaryllis needs to flower, is stored inside the bulb itself. Therefore, the bulb can grow and come into bloom without the help of external nutrition. The amaryllis does this at its own speed, which I completely understand. Things you have to do on your own takes a lot of strength and energy! It’s a process you see more often in life. When the nutrition (the support of family or friends) is taken from you and you have to do things by yourself, you must trust that everything you need is already inside you and that you have the power to succeed. The amaryllis can go through this process three times after you have brought it back home. If a simple flower bulb is able to start over three times, imagine all the incredible things you can achieve…
FLOWERS IN VERO VITO The flowers bring colour to this package. Where the colour of the hardware is predominantly natural, the flowers excite with passionate tones of reds and purples. They show us Vero vito’s heritage. Red does not always have to be traditional Christmas red. Opt for a different shade and repeat it in the choice of plants and sundries.
6 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Hardware Have you missed the Hardware issue? Than this will be your first introduction to Fidrio in FlowerTales. I’m very proud of the handblown glass, which is now also available to you! The products from the exclusive Fidrio collection are blown into wooden molds. The glassblowers create different shapes, colours and sizes making each item a unique piece of art.
Each package includes a matching series of Fidrio glassware. Look at this beautiful image: the multi-coloured vases connect all the different shades of this package. Bold patterns become serene and harmonious! The rattan tiered stand is a real eye-pleaser, even after the Holidays! I can see it dressed with green plants, trailing and wrapped around the four legs.
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Time to Winter
MORE NOVEMBER ‘18
skimmia
‘Rubella’
All Saints All Saints is grandiosely celebrated in many different countries. It is a Catholic holiday for the holy and martyrs. Some saints received their own special day in the year but the number of them became kept increasing. That’s why the church decided to create one annual moment for the occasion: 1 November.
1 All Saints FLOWER OF THE MONTH The flowers of this month just shout: time to winter. In the spotlights are Hippeastrum, Cymbidium and Skimmia. Can you find them in the packages? It’s also time to stock up on seasonal foliage and Christmas wreaths..
PLANT OF THE MONTH The plant of the month… or should we say plants of the month! Why should only one type of plant be the perfect companion for the month? The Schlumbergera, also known as Christmas cacti, is one of our favourites. A gem to have at home before, during and after the Holidays.
‘Everybody is a GENIUS but if you JUDGE A FISH by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life BELIEVING it is stupid.’ – Albert Einstein
10 World Science Day
‘The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you’ 8 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
November is a delightful autumn month, one that we secretly long for. The gorgeous oranges and reds is all around in nature’s beautiful scenery this time of year. I personally get very excited about these warm colours, despite the typical cold in November. Perhaps we will see a mild and comfortable winter in Europe this year. Mother Nature is far from predictable so we will just have to wait and see. Every day will be a new surprise.
9 World Freedom Day 16 World Philosophy Day 17 World Students’ Day 19 International Men’s Day 21 World Television Day SHOP TILL YOU DROP! This American holiday is becoming more and more international and is being copied by many other countries nowadays. Holiday season is coming and this is the official kick-off. Many companies come up with spectacular offers on this day. What will you be offering on Black Friday? Share your thoughts with me on info@Flowertales.com or send me a message on Instagram
23 Black Friday
‘Be the
cherry on top’
d e r y r r e h C
Colour of the month Red is one of the key colours for the Holidays. Especially in America where Christmas is almost completely celebrated in red. Cherry red is a warmer alternative. Both cherry and other shades of red tell a story. Get snug under a blanket, pour in a good glass of red wine and warm yourself on the next page.
loyal
loving
d e r y r r e h C ASSERTIVE
passionate BRAVE
Red is associated with many different things; with love and sex, with fire and hate. It’s a colour that has to suit you, it can be very intense. However, I believe that there is a shade of red for everyone. Perhaps you like it around the house, on your lips, in a pair of shoes or nail polish… I can continue forever. What I’m trying to say, is that the colour red is hidden inside each of us.
The history of red The Egyptians used red wax on linen fabrics for mummification. For the Chinese, red with black is a symbol for death and is therefore often seen on tombstones. Later, the symbolism of it changed and red became the colour for one of the five elements. The Chinese saw red as the colour of fire, summer but also happiness! Therefore, it is nowadays seen in weddings and on other joyous occasions. Red is also connected with lust and aggression. Therefore, the devil has always been depicted in red since the history of mankind. In the west, the link between red and sex dates all the way back to the middle ages. Hence, its association with prostitutes. Women have a stormy relationship with this colour. Due to the different, powerful and statement symbolisms, it can be daring to wear this colour, even for a company or brand. However, it is about what shade you are using and what you want to achieve with it. At the end of the day, it is still nice to know that giving red roses means that you are giving your love to the person, who is receiving them…
10 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
kill
stronger’
HOGWEED
‘What doesn’t you makes you
In summer, this is one of the most dangerous plants and it’s better to stay miles away from it. When it is dried and touchable thanks to a layer of colour, they demand to be touched! Not always available but extra special when you can get your hands on one. Traditional Christmas flowers and branches, such as hibiscus and ilex blend exceptionally well with less conventional products, such as dyed Banksia and gold sprayed rosehips.
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Nibbledydee, nibbledyday, who’s nibbling at my house today? This theme is not made of candy but is very playful and sweet almost. Again extremely colourful without going over the top. It is a flamboyant theme that incorporates lots of classic Christmas materials. Traditional is something that returns in every household every now and again. Something which children love and that is exactly what Impero verde is all about. As you grow up, you slowly forget about your care-free childhood life you had. This theme takes you back to your childhood and the glory of that time. Impero verde overwhelms you and lets you forget about your sorrows for a little while. No better time than the end of the year, as the Holiday season should be a happy and care-free time.
12 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
seed is less beautiful than the flower?
Who says the
Hibiscus Rediscovering 13
We see a lot of animal ornaments in this theme, such as little foxes and reindeers in the picture to the left. These animal details are also seen in the flower selection, the hogweed for example. This plant grows excessively along waters and is extremely dangerous causing blisters and burns. However, when the flowers of the hogweed start to bloom, they look soft like a woollen pompoms. The hogweed from this package is stripped from its dangerous foliage. The flower is covered by a flock layer giving the hogweed an icy yet touchable look. I think it looks stunning and playful!
14 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Germini Pomponi Woollen pompoms, everyone has made them at least once in their childhood. Wrapping the cardboard discs with wool until you can barely cut through it. I used to make tons of these colourful pompoms and turned them into keychains or cat toys. You could have decorated a tree with them, the amount of pompoms I made as an eleven yearold!
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never be younger than you are at this very moment.’ ‘You’ll
16 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Rediscovering 17
Eucharis Grandiflora 18 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
A precious gift
December is all about giving and receiving gifts. It’s a way to show your love to another person telling them how much they mean to you. In the next couple of months, FlowerTales will show you many beautiful ideas for gift wrapping flowers and plants, which can also be used for wrapping up exclusive Christmas baubles. Not only is a hatbox a stunning way to present flowers, it also allows you to actually make the arrangement inside the box! Use it as your base in that case.
MATERIALS Moss or Sphagnum Sophora pros. Little baby Floral foam Hatbox FLOWERS Taxus Orange Glow Dadeltakken Vanda Nitaya Salmon Euphorbia fulgens zalm Diverse Kaaps groen soorten Paphiopedilum King Arthur Anigonzanthos oranje Hypericum oranje
1 Place a wet piece of flower foam in the
hatbox. Fill the gaps along the sides with a bit of moss or sphagnum.
2 Make a base with the Taxus, Cape greenery
and Sophora. Cut the date branch into smaller pieces and stick them along the sides of the hatbox.
3 Use up the rest of the products except for the Paphiopedilum and Vanda.
4 Finish with the Paphiopedilum and Vanda so you can put them in the arrangement where they will draw the most attention.
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The always sweet Sensum has lost its cuteness. It far from honey-sweet and more than just feminine. It is also masculine and rustic. This collection only features rustic, unpolished bouquets with an edge and is completely different than previous series. They include less flowers and a lot more foliage bringing balance to a theme that had always seemed sweeter than sweet. Sensum has grown up and become a beautiful closing of the year. The balance in this theme is the main feature of Sensum. It is represented in the vivid green tones of the flowers and plants, which are mixed together with the soft colour palette of the pots and vases.
20 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Thlaspi Green Bell ‘Jingle bell time, is a swell time’ Rediscovering 21
FLOWERS IN SENSUM A powerful combination: lots of green products alternated with white flowers. The Eryngium, Brassica and santini give it the overall look a rustic appeal.
22 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Yin and Yang are, just like Sensum, in balance. The outer circle of the Yin-Yang sign represents everything in the universe as well as the universe itself. Therefore, the overall theme is the outer circle. The inner sections represent the belief that everything in the universe consists of two forces that are opposing but complementary. They create balance. In this theme, that would be the hardware and the fresh products. The energy, which they create together, is what you feel when you enter a house. The feeling that you get when coming home after a long journey or when you buy a plant that fits the energy of a house.
Sensum has a modern, Scandinavian feel to it this edition yet it sticks to a personal twist. This twist can be found in these waxed apples for example, they almost look artificial! As they are waxed in aqua and lead tones, these waxed apples are neither oldfashioned nor kitschy but fit right in with the current trend.
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‘The fondest memories are made gathered around the table’
24 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Rediscovering 25
Hellebore ‘Queens red’ 26 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
MORE DECEMBER ‘18 FLOWER OF THE MONTH The flowers of the month are the Vanda and the Hellebore. The Vanda is featured in the packages Moesson and Vero vito.
December is the time year we go over our lives and rethink the things that make us happy or unhappy and the status quo. It is a time of selfreflection. I think we do this because the arrival of a new year symbolises new opportunities and chances, and we always want to do better. My new year’s resolution is to tell more of my story and to be approachable to anyone.
‘The most
New Year’s Eve is party time! Where I come from, it is celebrated with ‘oliebollen’, traditional Dutch doughnuts, and Champagne. You can go as wild with the decorations as you would like, although most of us are usually done with all the glitter and glamour after Christmas and tend to keep things simple. The gincko leaves symbolise a healthy new year and in a glass of alcohol-free bubbles, it sends out an even stronger message!
wonderful time of the year’
13 International Chocolate Day
1 World Aids Day 11 International Mountain Day
ADVENT – THE LEAD UP TO CHRISTMAS De advent wreath is a key December product in many countries. In the wreath are four candles and one candle is lit on each Sunday. On Christmas Day, all four candles will be lit and the season of light (Christmas) begins.
PLANT OF THE MONTH The plant of the month is – just like the flower of the month – the amaryllis. Read more about this power-house on page 6.
9 Worldwide Candle 25 Christmas Day Lighting Day
DIY CHRISTMAS BAUBLES If you spend a lot of time on Pinterest, you must have seen them in your feed: Christmas baubles, which you can fill and customise to taste are the latest trend. There is a gin bauble for example, a bauble filled with gin but also Christmas baubles filled with glitter, feathers or beads. I prefer something more natural myself, such as fresh flowers and foliage! See below my own take on the hype.
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The mystique of Moesson is expressed in a luxurious theme that features lots of shine and shadows in colour. Lots of golden details and velvet fabrics. It is quite the opposite of downto-earth products, such as cotton stems. This theme is therefore not only lush but also very eco. It makes Moesson approachable and palpable to anyone. Where the last few months were dominated by spirituality, Moesson tells a completely different story now.
28 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
‘Seeing the small things that nobody else notice’
Cognac Baron Rediscovering 29
PAPHIOPEDILUM KING ARTHUR The legend of King Arthur is a story well-known to many of us, whether it was read from the book or seen in the movie. It all started with a story from the British author Geoffrey van Monmouth. He wrote about the life of a legendary king and the conquest of Great Britain. In his book (or story?) he described famous characters, such Merlin the Wizard and Arthur’s father: Uther Pendragon. Different authors have given their own plot to the story since. The version that is most told nowadays is the one by the author Thomas Malory. However, the key element, which returns in all the different versions is that of a brave, elegant (not gallant?) man. We also see wealth; wealth in love, money and power.
The orchid represents masculinity, elegance and wealth. Exactly those elements that are featured in all the stories of King Arthur. Whether King Arthur was real or has never existed, the orchid variety King Arthur is as real as it can be. This orchid makes wealth and bravery palpable to anyone and a beautiful product to have at home.
30 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
FLOWERS IN MOESSON Ilex Ouddijk’s orange and Euphorbia fulgens Cognac Baron have a beautiful, natural golden hue. We also see blue Eryngium, grey Kochia and Taxus orange glow this season.
In these months, Moesson is letting flowers to be just flowers. They look the prettiest in their natural form as the hardware already demands enough attention. But see what happens: thanks to a powerful combination between colours and patterns, the flowers almost radiate as much as the shiny pots and sundries. What a natural power!
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plant can be totem pole
Even a a
Products that are anything but everyday
32 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Umami 1.Noun. Umami with the emphasis on the a Umami is Japanese for savouriness or hearty. It is one of the five basic tastes alongside sweet, sour, bitter and salty. It says something about the trend, which I would you to discover. A different theme with a mixture of products that haven’t been used together before. Umami is our fifth taste in trends. A delightful mix, which is brought to us by the colours and materials. It almost feels scientific! Despite that the word Umami and its meaning find their origin in Asia, this trend has very little to do with this continent. The ambiance it breaths can be described as miraculous.
COLOUR PALETTE DRY CLAY
TERRESTRIAL BROWN
january - february ANCIENT SIENNA
LUMINATED SKIN
BLACK HOLE
PURPLE ELIXER
MYSTICAL RADIANCE
SMUDGE CORAL
MUSKMELON GREEN
SLATE BLUE
ENCHANTING HAZE
ANCIENT SIENNA
SLATE BLUE
march - april PURPLE ELIXER
may - june
MUSKMELON GREEN
juy - august
SMUDGE CORAL
PERSONA An individualist, who likes to be surrounded by a small circle of people, which she feels very loyal to. She is very self-willed and selective. She likes to discover new things and has a fine tasting palette. She is crazy about the latest technology and gadgets. Sometimes she finds it hard to detach herself from being available 24/7. On such moments, it is nice to be on the road or submerge oneself in non-explainable matters that inspire and intrigue.
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colours
The look as if they are in continuous
Bubbles, spheres and cell-like textures
motion
34 FlowerTales September – October ‘18
Bright Vivid; 1.Light and lively – Light due to its frankness, care-free and therefore light in weight. Live-ly; Adjective. Adverb Loud, powerful and clear.
Bright vivid is frank and care-free but also powerful and clear. It is a mix between a playful, child-like character and the character of a grown up. It doesn’t bear any influences from specific cultures or countries. It is a bit of a mishmash but with structure. Materials vary from authentic to plastic making it a quirky combination. A great example is the plastic arm chair in baroque style. Mad yet completely modern and playful.
COLOUR PALETTE january - february
CURIOUS PEACH
GLOWING LIME
SEASONED PLUM
ADAM’S GREEN
FADING FLOWER
FADING FLOWER
DIGITAL SKY
HALLUCINATING
BOTANICAL BLUE
POISENED PINK
ADAM’S GREEN
march - april
INFECTED GREEN
FUNGUS BROWN
BOTANICAL BLUE
may - june POISENED PINK
juy - august DIGITAL SKY
PERSONA A sporty person, who is extravagant, outspoken, crossing borders and limitless even at times. Someone who likes different styles from retro to rock but also mixes bright colours with different materials and fabrics. Someone who finds it hard to sit still yet is very conscious of everything that is happening.
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Colophon
REALISATION AND EDITORS: The FlowerTales team (Jojanneke Vellekoop, ManĂ´u ten Asbroek, Diana van Zwieten, Romy van Kleef and Nancy van Kleef) SPECIAL THANKS TO: The models, all our colleagues at FleuraMetz HQ
Ordering or want to become a customer? Send it to info@flowertales.com or download the FleuraMetz App
Aalsmeer and Honselersdijk, the purchasing team for flowers and plants, our heroes from hard goods and decorations and all the colleagues, who translated this issue into other languages (Eric MĂŠgel, Vanessa Beysson, Hillmee Shek and Sara Hildebrandt)
Reactions: info@flowertales.com