Tuesday 12 April 2011

Fresh is Best

The other day we had a lady in the store ask us for some fake flowers.  I had to bite my lip and very kindly advise her that we only use fresh flowers.  I don't go for anything fake.  I'm a real or nothing girl in all aspects of my life.  If I can't have real flowers then I would prefer to go without.  Today I brought into the shop some of the succulent pots I have been potting up at home which I placed onto a tray on one of the coffee tables.  They look great mixed with the fresh lemons in the clam shell.  It just goes to show that fresh really is best.
at

44 comments:

  1. The Decorator12 April 2011 at 21:37

    I whole heartedly agree that fresh is best!

    I like to use flowering bromiliads as an economic alternative to cut flowers. They look great just left in their plastic pots and slipped into a beautiful vase.

    And of course succulents are also a wonderful choice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kylie Tyrrell12 April 2011 at 21:49

    totally agree Anna, real is the ONLY way to go!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mahala12 April 2011 at 21:52

    Confession time: I use fake flowers. I have an absolutely black thumb. I can keep only succulents alive as they thrive on my inattentive neglect. I have a small tabletop garden in my dining room and I mix excellent quality fake orchids with succulents and it looks charming. I am a total gardening impostor!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nichole Loiacono12 April 2011 at 22:03

    I totally looove fresh flowers (who doesn't.) And, I agree with the philosophy that fresh is best. I just wish I could have them in the house because I have kitties who looooove them some fresh flowers. They will climb the highest mountain to get to them, and within hours the vase is either dumped, or the flowers are chewed off. Therfore, no fresh flowers for me. I hate it but, in my house, it faux or none.

    ReplyDelete
  5. FABRICOTTI notperfectbutnice12 April 2011 at 22:14

    You are so right! I guess that goes the same for diamonds heh,heh :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Luciane at HomeBunch.com12 April 2011 at 22:26

    Oh, I grew up with fake flowers!!!! LOL It's just sooooo bad! I hate it now! LOL

    My grandma had the most beautiful garden in Brazil, filled with gorgeous tropical flowers... you can imagine how colorful it can be, but inside the house, she would have some fake flowers on the coffee table. I never understood that! :-)

    I know that fresh flowers can be expensive to buy it all the time, but if you can't use something else, like your idea, lemons, shells and I think you should buy some fresh flowers just for yourself at least 1x a month... bring some happiness inside! Don't you think YOU deserve it?

    Have a great day!

    xo

    Luciane at HomeBunch.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Georgia12 April 2011 at 22:30

    I would never have thought of doing that. It looks amazing, so beautiful and fresh.

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. I Dream Of12 April 2011 at 23:03

    I couldn't agree more! Fake flowers aren't my style. Love the lemons in the clam shell. I'll have to give that a try. Thanks for the lovely inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Natasha @ Northern Light Design12 April 2011 at 23:04

    Agree!!

    Northern Light :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Under a Green Roof12 April 2011 at 23:24

    Let me say, I completely agree with you! Fresh flowers are the best. Period. However, I just moved into a new office and, due to the allergies of several co-workers in the immediate area, there is a strick "no fragrance" policy (e.g., no flowers, or smelly dried flowers of any kind). Sad! I love having fresh flowers in my office, so I am now trying to find a new idea. I have a few green hydrangea stems in my old fresh flower vase. Any other ideas when fresh flowers are banned?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Chimmy13 April 2011 at 00:07

    I put the question out there to my friends on Facebook --- and it was split, but not an even split. Most agreed that fresh is best :)

    I don't have a garden, so I have to buy fresh, which means that my house goes without flowers a lot :)

    I've been thinking of succulents, and I love the arrangement you have displayed here!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Chimmy13 April 2011 at 00:09

    Also, I can't wait until the black + spiro is back online!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown13 April 2011 at 00:19

    Here here!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. designchic13 April 2011 at 00:20

    I totally agree...so happy for Spring and fresh flowers in my yard right now. The lemons look gorgeous ...

    ReplyDelete
  15. melifaif13 April 2011 at 01:06

    I would have to agree. And what a lovely set up....great display!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lacquered Life13 April 2011 at 01:11

    Those succulents look beautiful! I never think to use them, but with this arrangement they don't have the "desert" look which I always associate! Great idea for an NY apt where everything always dries out!

    ReplyDelete
  17. annie@mostlovelythings13 April 2011 at 02:46

    This looks gorgeous! I never go for fake...it's real or nothing.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dianne13 April 2011 at 04:44

    Fresh is best! When I don't have flowers or cannot get them I turn to fruit. It is just as pretty in any room.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kate Lewis13 April 2011 at 05:22

    completely agree! i love the combo of plants and fruit.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Unknown13 April 2011 at 06:13

    I totally agree! That little tablescape is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Katerina Winters13 April 2011 at 06:16

    ahh to have a budget that allows you such luxuries. Sounds divine.

    - SweetDeesignz.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. cynthia13 April 2011 at 06:53

    Anna Love that coffe table,do you sell somenthing like taht? thanks..xox Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
  23. Unknown13 April 2011 at 09:47

    I agree, beautiful colourful display.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Cornflakes and Honey13 April 2011 at 10:30

    I couldn't agree more Anna...except I saw some lovely fake (eek) hydrangeas the other week and they brighten a little corner quite well. Not the same obviously but good when time does not permit a visit to the florist! :-)

    That inlay table is divine.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Peta Rudd13 April 2011 at 11:12

    Gorgeous photo, Anna!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Susan13 April 2011 at 12:11

    Hello Anna...I like "real" and "fresh" flowers, too. But I have to admit, there are silks that are drop dead gorgeous. Sometimes I mix fakes with the real and it's a lovely combination. Susan

    ReplyDelete
  27. Jenny M13 April 2011 at 14:45

    Definitely agree with you. Love your little pots of succulents.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nat @ dear little house13 April 2011 at 14:51

    I so agree that fresh is best! I always have a bunch of fresh flowers in my home. It's one of those little luxuries that I like to indulge in. If you buy locally grown, fresh flowers they last for ages too!

    ReplyDelete
  29. pve design13 April 2011 at 15:14

    I adore fresh flowers too, but I have to admit to falling for some faux flowers from the ladies at Diane James Home. Your jaw would drop!
    Take a look at the site, Diane James Home.
    The ladies are so talented and you would love them.
    pve

    ReplyDelete
  30. Alex W1213 April 2011 at 19:08

    I understand the "fresh is best" philosophy, but you clearly live in a tropical climate!

    Whereas here in London the price of fresh flowers and plants is astronomical; if you lived here you simply couldn't afford to condescend (if only inwardly) to your customer!

    Last week I spent £50 on potted hydrangeas, and they're already on their way out because of the unseasonal warmth during the day and the unexpected chill at night. Meanwhile my £3.99 faux orchid from Sainsbury's is still flourishing.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Jenny Quld13 April 2011 at 20:34

    Anna, I am back living in Brisbane and can not believe the astronomical price of flowers in this sub-tropical city. I absolutely agree with you that fresh is best and now go with out rather than pay the ridiculous price here in Brisbane. I am just pleased that my years of living on the equator in Jakarta allowed me the luxury of huge bouquets of tropical blooms every 5 days. Even in Sydney fresh flowers are so much more affordable than in Brisbane.....but still, you can not compare the prices we pay in Australia to Europe or the UK for all goods, fresh or not. Alexander (commenter 13.4.11 7.08pm)....it would be triple the price here so really your comparison is irrelevant.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anna Spiro13 April 2011 at 20:41

    I accidently deleted this comment below fromm Terramia. My apologies Terramia if I offended you in any way. That certainly was not my intention. I have formally apologised to you and anyone else who might have taken the post the wrong way today in my post.

    Kind regards,
    Anna


    terramia has left a new comment on your post "Fresh is Best":

    I understand the need for fake flowers. When you live someone where freshness is rare and bouquets of flowers are *never* available (like on Baffin Island in frozen barren Nunavut, Northern Canada where I live) faux accessories like flowers and fruit are the next best thing to the real thing (the only alternative, actually) to provide colour, beauty, inspiration and visual delight one so desires. We don't have a choice... we are grateful to occasionally get fruit and vegetables not canned or frozen! Succulents, cacti and other tropical flora are completely out of the question. The insulting, absurd rule "real or nothing" is impossible to apply to me and others around the world so I ask you to please be mindful of others and refrain from judging our lifestyle choices... not everyone lives like you and has the luxury of residing in a region lush with fresh greenery, available anytime! I ask you to imagine what you would do if you had to live in an area where pots of succulents and fresh lemons were never available and you craved ripe, flourishing seasonal displays and vivid, vibrant vignettes in your home? I bet any money you would bite your lip when it comes to your bemused, heedless, narrow-minded "rules" and creatively use whatever you can that is regionally accessible and available... fake or faux.

    Publish
    Delete
    Mark as spam

    Moderate comments for this blog.

    Posted by terramia to absolutely beautiful things at 13 April 2011 12:33 PM

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anna Spiro13 April 2011 at 20:52

    Hi JenJen,

    Thanks for your commment...have you tried buying fresh flowers at the farmers markets here in Brisbane on a Sunday. I have been picking up fresh flowers at the Chandler markets for $4-$7 per bunch...I know what you mean about Brisbane flower prices.
    xx
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wendy C13 April 2011 at 22:34

    Well your post got me thinking because I lean to the fake phalenopis (sp?) orchids as I have no success with them!
    I did like your solution of succulents but, like you , was thinking this was a brilliant solution in Brizzie.
    It is a dilemma & I feel for folks in colder climes where there are no options.
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  35. Wendy C13 April 2011 at 22:36

    p.s. I am enamoured of the gorgeous tray the succulents are on!
    Wendy

    ReplyDelete
  36. Barbara Jordan Dettweiler13 April 2011 at 23:39

    There are so many alternatives to fake I don't see many reason to use fake...like you have here the succulents, twigs, and other things from nature can be free and add so much life you just can't get from fake stuff. I LOVE your tablescape btw and the table design just pops! Beautiful.
    http://bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  37. Allison {Live Love Small}14 April 2011 at 03:53

    completely agree... fresh flowers are the best! they are a luxury and i feel lucky to be able to have them.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Tessa White15 April 2011 at 07:55

    I love fresh flowers but can't always afford them so as I love just viewing flowers full stop I do have some faux.. I buy little ones that you would find in nature on a walk as then no one ever looks at them and says OMG those are amazing they just say how cute and never look closer x

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous17 April 2011 at 11:01

    I absolutely agree with you Anna! I find when I stay at people's places that have fake flowers I soon wander out into their garden and pick something - (anything!) and arrange it in a vessel of some sort...the response is always the same - a sigh, and "that is so beautiful"!! Green leaves will even brighten up a room - as you often show us.
    Nothing makes me happier than fresh flowers by the kitchen sink.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Angela20 April 2011 at 01:43

    I totally agree! Fresh flowers are beautiful and smell wonderful! :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. Laur21 April 2011 at 22:43

    Couldnt agree with you more!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Anonymous22 April 2011 at 23:11

    Sheesh.. That was a little harsh ladies! I LOVE fresh flowers but i don't mind fauz ones though.. Like beautiful cherry blossoms or the faux succulant ones.. I'm sure Anna was blogging her personal opinion which is safe to as it's her blog..I live in QLD like Anna and although i feel the prices are resionable, we are on one wage due to a baby and can't affors fresh flowers very week, but of coarse i would prefer fresh ones.. Blogs are for spilling beans and sharing thoughts not a forum to rip shreds of people for having their own say.. Let's be nice and enjoy all the beautiful things that are shared on these fabulous blogs! x

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown27 April 2011 at 02:56

    I agree, fresh is best, but a nice alternative to the typical fake stuff are paper flowers. I have some parchment paper hydrangeas that are beautiful, and they look real until you look close up!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Sleepyhead Designs Studio29 April 2011 at 02:08

    So glad I've discovered your blog. Love your inspirations! I've nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. Check out my post at http://sleepyheaddesignsstudio.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-first-award.html

    ReplyDelete