COMING INTO BLOOM
A major flower show is on the cards to usher in summer. Until then, here are some winter flower tips
The Highveld winter is synonymous with cool days, dry grasses, bare tree branches and a landscape that changes from vibrant greens to a more muted palate of greens, browns and reds. Celebrity florist, motivational speaker and teacher Jill Manson finds her inspiration in nature to create floral designs that embody the beauty of our local winters.
Jill is collaborating with the Johannesburg International Flower Show, which takes place later this year, and her floral design TV show, Fresh Cut, captures an audience of more than 1.7-million viewers. The Jill Manson Floral Design School is the leading school of floral design in SA and Jill has created floral designs and floral décor for hundreds of prestigious events over the past 18 years.
What inspires you?
All the creative inspirations you need can be found in natural elements like bark on trees, flowers and their forms, moss and the colour palettes nature produces. From wintery bushveld landscapes and the colours of savannah grasslands, all the shades of amber, the red sand and the green acacias with their white thorns, to the seaside landscapes of green and blue, pinks and corals, it’s hard not to be inspired.
What trends are we seeing locally with regards to floral design?
Being brave and bold with flowers! It’s all about floral art and creating structures and installations to create a big impression with masses of flowers. Flower walls, hanging stages of flowers, floral curtains and backdrops using all sorts of infrastructure are very much in demand. The traditional florist is also using different elements, things like acacia branches, mimosa and cotton. Roses and pampas grass have shown their faces this winter as trending botanicals.
What flowers are en vogue?
Peonies will never go out of fashion. Trending alongside them are dahlias, garden roses, cotton plant, hibiscus leaves, broom corn and chocolate lace flower.
What flowers are in season in SA during the winter months?
Iris, sweetpeas, tulips and delphiniums are some of the special winter blooms.
What is your favourite flower?
A poppy!
How would you use a floral arrangement to brighten up a home this winter?
Big and bold is how I do my winter flowers. Large-faced blooms accentuated with wintery elements like berries, willow branches and leafy foliage like peppercorns and acacia make a gorgeous wintery design. I love to get creative with my containers and cover them with willow branches. Flowers like roses are great to use in the wintery months giving a much longer window for enjoyment away from the summer heat. Just make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight.
With the Johannesburg International Flower Show later this year, what are you most excited to see?
Bringing all the talent in the industry together in the Grand Flower Pavilion delights me as we have never done it before. We will have the flower clubs and associations, floral designers that are world accredited, the self-taughts, the event floral stylists, the ikebana professionals, all together under one roof.
Who is your floral mentor?
Most recently the friendship formed with the late Georgie Currie, our South African doyenne of floristry, who was a kindred spirit and a giant in the floral design world. Pieter de Bruin in Cape Town is also someone I take advice from and value so greatly with his enormous talent. Lyn Abdinor from Bunches in Parktown North has also been a mentor to me for many years. Internationally, I am a huge fan of Catherine Muller whose French flair and free form inspire me. From October 30 to November3, Waterfall City will host the Johannesburg International Flower Show. Visit johannesburgflowershow.com for tickets. Included in your ticket price is a threemonth e-subscription to The Sunday Times. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and #ibringjoytojozi and win tickets to the Johannesburg International Flower Show.