Spray Of Sunshine

Freshly picked South Australian flowers woven into a spring-fresh arrangement.

The rolling landscape of the Adelaide Hills is a patchwork of sun-kissed colours in November. To capture the mood, local floral designer Evie Harrison has created this luscious display using armfuls of seasonal blooms sourced from the gardens of friends and family members. “I foraged, picked and gathered all of my ingredients over a few days, from the south coast of Adelaide to the hills, and this colour combo was everywhere I went,” she says.

And what a combo it is. The palette of sweet apricot and peachy tones, with splashes of maroon and deep burgundy, is pure sunshine. Evie has used a diverse array of flowers and foliage to give texture and tonal depth to her display: orange bougainvillea, creamy and apricot-toned David Austin roses (‘Evelyn’ and ‘Brother Cadfael’), burgundy-hued floribunda roses, smoke bush, foxgloves, Asiatic lilies, unripe plums, sweet peas and clematis are all part of an ebullient gathering that spills into a sprawling, asymmetrical display.

“It’s a wild, rambling rendition of a warm spring afternoon,” says Evie, who has displayed the arrangement in a wooden vase, a gift from her grandmother. “Keep your eyes and mind open to all the textures, shapes and colours around you. Use a flower you haven’t used before. Treat it with the same love and respect you do your favourite flower and you’ll find it has a place in your arrangement.” #

Evie Harrison; @eve.bud or evebudblooms@gmail.com

Throughout 2018, H&G’s 70th-anniversary year, leading florists have been invited to create special pieces for every issue. Don’t miss the floral artistry each month.