A Spring Florals Celebration

Spring is finally here in Toronto! To celebrate the arrival of Spring in the City, the Gardiner Museum had a special exhibit last weekend only from May 3 to 5 titled Spring Awakening: Gardiner In Bloom. The Top 10 Floral Designers in the City were invited to create their special floral creations inspired by the Ceramic Collections in the Museum. The Gardiner Museum is the only Museum in Canada dedicated to the exhibition of Ceramics from all over the World. They have ceramic collections there from the Aztec, England, European,  Ancient Chinese and Japanese among others. On a lovely, sunny and warm Saturday morning, we ventured over to the Museum to view these spectacular floral  installations alongside Ceramic Art objects from the Museum.  

1. Ball and Wedge by Bruno Duarte
Fresh Florals Creations

A ball of carnations inspired by the Art Balls on the main entrance of the Museum.

Inspiration is around us at all times, even in the simplest of ways. 
We just need to open ourselves to it.
- Bruno Duarte

2. Exotic orchids designed by Bella Jackson from Floral Fetish was inspired by the Aztec statues displayed in the Museum. 

3. Margaret Taylor and Sue Clarkson from the The Garden Club of Toronto were inspired by this ceramic object titled Septet 4. Their floral design used calla lillies, Carnations, orchids and Baby's Breath. 

4. This is a mother and daughter team: Phyllis Lill & Marilyn Lill  from the Lilium Floral Studio. 

Their Floral Creation was titled Temptation with Fruit & Flowers inspired by this Ceramic plate depicting Adam & Eve with the Temptation Tree. They used green apples, Yellow chrysanthemums and yellow roses to complete their creation. 

5. This piece was titled The Tree of Life by Michael Renaud from Horticultural Design Inc. He used exotic orchids here in purple which he formed into balls with the smiling Buddha in the middle.

Michael was inspired by the Oriental Jar with flower pom poms in purple, red and orange in this Floral creation.

6. Rosemary Little Jeffares of Quince Flowers called her floral creation Paper Cup Tower For a Spring Tea Party which was inspired by the colours  of the Meissen Tea and Coffee Service above.

7. Lidia Tacconelli from Fiori Floral Design called her Floral creation Optimism which was inspired by an English porcelain vase with yellow, white, brown and gold colours depicting a Pastoral scene.

 The wonderful yellows reflect the yellows that are prominent in the English Gardens during spring. 
Yellow being a symbol of enlightenment, happiness and promise of a positive future. 
- Lidia Tacconelli

8. Bert Browne from EarthWork Floral Design created these Floral Arrangements located in the Rotunda surrounded by the display of Harlequin ceramic statues.

The Harlequin ceramic statue circa 1770-1780 was created by William Duesbury. Bert was inspired by the colourful costume of the Harlequin and its comedic pose to create these Floral Arrangements.

9. Lastly, Joseph Delarge of Ecostems, proudly calls itself Toronto's only environmentally and socially sustainable Flower Shop created this floral masterpiece. This piece was inspired by the White Ceramic nest (above) created by Cheryl Ann Thomas.  As you can see from the photo above, the nest was filled with hydrangeas and freesias.
 
Joseph's Flower Shop sell all of these flowers and floral arrangements grown locally and organically from Toronto. In this piece, he used hydrangeas, freesias, orchids, branches, dead wood, barks and vines. Only when broken apart that we see its true beauty.

Joseph Delarge described this piece and Spring in Toronto the best:
Gatherings of spring flowers that represent the colourful eggs of spring 
that can be found in the nests of wild birds all over Toronto this time of year.

Thank you for joining me on this Floral Spring Tour in our City of Toronto.

Here in North America, we are celebrating Mother's Day this weekend!


Happy Mother's Day to all the dearest Mums!