Fantasy Flowers From Brazil

Spray rose bouquet with a Pantams bow

Another "find" from Market, these fantasy floral creations from Brazil are made from skeletonized leaves and assembled into blossoms. You might have come across such leaves while strolling through a meadow, but they are fragile and best left on the vine to enjoy.

Delicate tracery of complex veins

In nature, insects and larvae consume the chlorophyll flesh of the leaf revealing the complex vein structure. Today, craftsmen gather deciduous leaves and skeletonize them through a process of cooking, washing, drying, and then dyeing to create the "vegetal fabric" for the Pantams.

It is said that craftsmen developed the process of skeletonizing centuries ago during the Ming dynasty. During the Victorian era there was a resurgence of interest in all things natural.  This process was again employed for the leaves used in "Phantom Bouquets". The unique bouquets are reported to have been made to impress the English nobility.

Fantasy blue "rose" with multicolored petals

We think they are enchanting by themselves, tied to a vase, or attached to a bouquet as a memento to keep long after the fresh flowers have faded.

Fantasy Hellebore blossoms

Woodland Flowers For Early Spring Wedding Bouquet

March Wedding Bouquet With Elegant And Unusual Spring Flowers

Last weekend we had the pleasure of bringing some of the more unusual specimens of the earliest spring perennials into the shop. These woodland beauties have a simple elegance in their presentation, adding shape, texture, and color to this bouquet.

Black Hellebore Grows In Woodland Gardens

 The deep purple Hellebores are striking with bright green stamens crowning the center of the "black" purple petals, which are actually sepals. These are long lasting blooms that really do like our cool Midwestern springs.

Spring Tulips and Black Pussy Willow

Parrot Tulips with Garden Roses and Black Pussy Willow

Aptly Named - The Rococo Parrot Tulip

At this time of year we have a riot of tulips in the shop. The varieties we bring in from Holland are amazing in their colorful dress. The French tulips are sleek and elegant blossoms on two foot long stems, with an almost serene quality to them. Parrot tulips are fun and frilly with petals that are lightly stroked with contrasting colors. Some are quite painterly in their effect.
Others sport petals that are curled or feathered, and often they're rather large blooms. Tulips will grow after they have been cut--up to an inch each day--so changing the water often and a snip off the stem will keep them happy for days.

Black Pussy Willow

Another of our perennial favorites are the various pussy willow stems we bring into the shop in the spring. Not surprisingly, the different varieties have their own special qualities. Some have quite large, soft silvery buds while others have tiny knobs in deep crimson red with just a peep of a silver bud. This week we have the exotic looking black pussy willow which is striking paired with red and yellow blooms.

Wedding Flowers In Winter

Brilliant red ranunculus surrounded by spring blossoms

In deep winter it is refreshing to create wedding flowers in a preview of Holland spring bulb blossoms and rich jewel tones. Purple star hyacinth and deep crimson tulips are accompanied by chartreuse green mini dendrobium orchids, periwinkle hydrangea and hot pink spray roses. The feature flower of this bouquet is the splendid red ranunculus with a mass of concentric green petals in the center.

The orchids made another appearance in small glass squares scattered throughout the reception, and again in the centerpieces. The entire collection was lovely in the elegant and historic Bell Event Center in Over The Rhine.

Valentine Flowers - Matters Of The Heart

Fresh Flower Heart

Robin Wood Flowers

Robin Wood Flowers and Valentine's Day. Passion pink, deep amethyst, gentle lavender, bright fuschia . . . we're busy with flower shipments from Holland bursting with gorgeous blooms in all shades and hues of pink, red, and purple. Each time we put together a new portfolio collection we try to add something with a different twist. For Valentine's Day our designers were inspired to make a fresh Valentine flower heart.

Spring Bulbs In Snowfall

Robin Wood Flowers In The Snow

So far, January has been well . . . January.   6 inches of snow, temperatures in the single digits, clouds, and cold feet.

Hyacinth With Pussy Willow In Bloom

Amaryllis "Desire"

Spring, though, has blossomed in the greenhouses of Holland so we’re surrounded by April here in the shop.  Nothing like the smell of a hyacinth when it’s cold and gray outside.  In fact, all of the bulb plants are bursting with color – daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, tiny muscari and enormous amaryllis are in their glory now.

Sentiments of Sympathy

Elegance In Whites

Since Christmas, we have had so many calls for sympathy flowers.  We are frequently asked about ideas for messages on enclosure cards. Some are always appropriate – ‘with deepest sympathy’ or ‘we’re thinking of you and send our love.’ Recently, though, one client provided this sentiment which we found to be memorable:

“A life well lived does not end any more than music ends. It echoes through time with whispers of beauty and grace.”

We’re not sure if this is a noted quotation or just a passing thought, but it made a lasting impression on us.

Winter Ilex Berry With Fantail Pussy Willow

We have often wished for the temperate climate of California with the bounty of gorgeous local flowers that seem to proliferate everywhere you look. Then again, we have certain times of the year that we are ecstatic over the wonderful flora we can find right here in the Midwest. December is one of those months where our cups--or vases--runneth over with intriguing specimens like fantail pussy willow and robust branches of winter ilex berries, otherwise known as holly berry. Our local growers deliver these right to our door and we love the way they spark every arrangement where they make an appearance.

Fantail pussy willows are dry and look lovely for as long as you might care to have them around. Ilex berries prefer cool temperatures and will last for weeks if they're watered from time to time and not overheated.  Nestled in evergeens, magnolia leaves, and pinecones, the berries just sing!

When the season is over, set the berries in your yard as a gift to the birds who love them almost as much as we do.

Holiday Tables

Holiday table with red Amaryllis, dried Lotus pods, Magnolia leaves and green Trachillium

Garnier Thiebault linen napkins

Intimate dinner parties, family gatherings, a feast with friends, and grand celebrations fill the season. We wanted to share a few of our holiday inspired tables with you. Incredible scarlet amaryllis are bold and elegant in a simple basket collared by Lotus pods and Trachillium. Large Magnolia leaves scale up any arrangement with rich green leathery leaves lined with soft amber undersides. Hand written place cards are nested in a miniature mossy terrarium and votive candles glow surrounded by pieces of sea glass.

Vintage table with  centerpiece of Eucharis lilies, Ornithoglium, and Amaryllis in Milk Glass

For a more casual inventive table, vintage containers from you grandmother's cupboard make delightful vessels for fresh flowers and vintage ornaments. We used white Ornithoglium, Eucharis lilies from Holland, red Amaryllis, and sprays of evergreen in a Milk Glass compote. Then we set it atop a pie crust-edged Milk Glass cake plate.

Vintage Bakelite flatware with contemporary Eigen Arts chargers

Bakelite flatware with contemporary Eigen Arts ceramic chargers topped by red and white decal plates make charming place settings. A 1950's Army Navy linen cloth is accented by a homemade red cloth with fat rick rack trim. Browse in the family cupboards of china and linens, then have a little fun with it!

An Evening With Friends RWF Open House Event

2009 Harvest Table Place Setting

We are excited to be holding our Open House Event 2010 on Wednesday, November 3rd and Thursday, November 4th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

It is an evening of beautiful flowers, inspired table settings, seasonal decor, unique gifts and floral demonstrations. Bring a friend and be our guests for wine and hors d'oeuvres. Stroll through our shop and visit the studio of SPACES ~ Interiors, Architecture, Construction.

2009 Harvest Table Centerpiece

Please visit our Web site at http://robinwoodflowers.com or call 513-531-5590 to make reservations. While the evening is free and open to all, we do have a limited amount of space and so must request reservations. Valet Parking.

2009 Holiday Table

We look forward to sharing the evening with you!

Vintage Pottery at Robin Wood Flowers

Browsing through local flea markets, tag sales, and an occasional antique shop turns up some of the loveliest vintage pottery in subtle hues and glazes. We are especially fond of these ceramics for creating flower arrangements, each an original fresh creation. When the blossoms have faded, a very special piece of vintage pottery becomes part of our customer's collections.

Subtle vintage blue and green pottery

Warm and sunny yellow vintage pottery with McCoy dish

Vintage McCoy blue pottery with soft fall blossoms

At our shop we gather our latest discoveries and happily share them with our clients. While many of our pieces hail from regional potters such as McCoy, Weller, Roseville, and more, we collect anything that strikes our fancy. Many of our pieces are marked and date from the 1920's and later and are in excellent condition.

Soft vintage whites in Milk Glass and Ironstone

Wedding Bouquets In Dahlias

We were so taken by the beauty and rich color of these early autumn Dahlias that we wanted to share them with you. Last weekend we had a garden bride with a vision of merlot Dahlias, clear blue Nigella, purple Astrantia and velvety Scabiosa nestled with blue Hydrangea.

For the maid's bouquet, we added antique "You and Me" green Hydrangea. Both bouquets held a collar of Hosta leaves with a chartreuse green ribbon wrap. Yoko Ono Mums made into hanging flower balls for the trellises by the groom's family created a charming backdrop for the wedding.



Stepping into fall with fiery orange Dahlias, deep Callas, and sweet strawberry-like globe Amaranth Gomphrena balls, our French Park bride presented a brilliant statement of color.

The maids carried simple and elegant persimmon orange Calla bouquets collared with green Hypericum berries. Set against a sunny, bright blue sky, the combination of colors was a spark of inspiration.

Summer Farm Flowers

Deep summer with the pitch of cicadas in the hot sunshine and a brilliant parade of farm flowers. . .

The flowers brought to us each week from our friend and farm gardener extraordinaire-- Tammi Stanley--are bigger, brighter, and more robust than any we can find elsewhere.

Each Tuesday the week's pickings arrive at our door fresh from Mockingbird Hill  Farm near Williamsburg, Ohio. Imagine the hubbub as we all gather round to pull our favorites from her buckets, one bloom more beautiful than the next. Check back as we share more of summer's best and early offerings from autumn.

Antique Carnation

At Robin Wood Flowers we have been known to say to customers that we do not use inexpensive "filler" flowers such as carnations--unless of course a customer requests it. Well, we're rethinking the carnation since we have found a unique variety from Holland that has enchanted us.

Our new favorite dianthus, called Antiqua Carnation, is lovely tucked into arrangements. It almost masquerades as a hydrangea with soft variations in hue and tone and a ruffled array of petals. If you take a moment to sniff this blossom you will find it has a light, spicy scent. Look for this variety making appearances in our arrangements this summer.

Spring Hydrangea

Spring hydrangeas are blooming in our gardens. Last year we took home potted plants from the shop that we had used for cuttings and put them in the ground. After wintering in the garden it's looking like a robust harvest of blooms. Not all potted hydrangea plants will thrive and flower in the garden, but the varieties we have at the shop adapt happily. Should you decide to plant some in your own garden, remember to leave the stems long as the buds will grow on old wood each year.

Each week we get a shipment of hydrangeas from Holland surprising us with yet another stunning variety. With more than 50 varieties from which to choose it's a tough decision when we place our order. The spring varieties are vivid and refreshing. Check back in September to see a gallery of the more subtle antique hydrangeas.