Sorry, guys.

Literally, apologies to any males reading this. But bouquets definitely fall into the category of horticultural design, so bear with me. Brides have come so far from traditional roses, and being that I have a bit of an obsession with uncommon plants, I’m fascinated by non-traditional wedding bouquets. There are thousands out there, so I can’t promise I won’t post more in the future, but I’ll at least try to space them out. Agreed? Below are a few featuring selections from the somewhat edgy to the downright unusual (cabbage and apples, anyone?). Ladies, what would be in your dream wedding bouquet?

Left: Protea, thistle, kangaroo paw, cockscomb celosia.  Right: Cabbage.
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When it comes to design, drawing parallels between cables and vines seems only logical (see Florafil’s cable cover). And that’s exactly what Lufdesign has done with their Leaf Tie cable organizers. Operating just like zip ties, these simple devices bring a bit of nature to something that is often so overwhelmingly common in today’s technological society as to be exasperating (that is, cables all over the place). What’s even better is that these guys aren’t just conceptual – you can actually purchase a pack of 12 Leaf Ties for just $7.00. And in any of six different colors, too! You can’t beat beautiful, functional and affordable, too!

Photos © Lufdesign

For more information and images, visit the product page.
To purchase, visit the Lufdesign store.

Photographer Matthias Schade was born, studied, lives and works in Berlin, Germany. His ‘Flowers’ series presents plants suspended in midair, bereft of soil, exposing their unique and alien form. The work reminds me of others I have shared here before, including Diana Scherer and Clinton Friedman, photographers who have also explored the shape of plants and their exposed roots. I love that these artists have moved beyond simply taking pictures of flowers to actually setting up experiments to capture them in a new light, turning photographers into conceptual and installation artists who capture their pieces in time. (Side note: coincidentally, all of the species photographed are epiphytes, or “air plants”, with the exception of the camellia.)

Visit Schade’s portfolio for more flowers.

Photos © Matthias Schade

According to designer Nao Tamura, her piece ‘Seasons’ is “an interpretation of functional kitchen and serving ware, inspired by nature and technology, through the cultural lens of Japan.” Each leaf is made of flexible silicone that is oven-safe and can be easily wiped clean. In their open state, they nest together neatly, or can be rolled up for storage. Of her inspiration for the project, Tamura says:

In the land where I grew up, spring is a time when Japanese sweets come wrapped in cherry leaves. In summer, a fiery ripe tomato is carved out for use as a serving container. In autumn, fallen foliage from maple trees decorates the dinner table. And, the aroma of bamboo create the setting for winter. Just as winter is followed by spring, there are things that wither and are those born anew. Both truisms run deep and are able to move us from our core. Is this the cycle that dictates life on Earth? In design, a brand new object with nary a scratch, and an object weathered and distilled by sustained use, both have their place. An object which has ceased to be useful can be recycled to begin life anew, in a fresh form. We must remain conscious of this cycle that exists in nature, just as we are conscious of the cycle of seasons.

Photos © Nao Tamura

These photos are of the home belonging to Maurizio Zucchi, of Italian home goods company Zucchi. I couldn’t find any information behind his inspiration, but his dedication is evident in the sleek, spare metal structures that seem to have been constructed specifically to support and highlight various towering cacti and euphorbia. I love the combination of fine, geometric black metal, natural wood, blank white walls and the aggressive green form of different succulents. This is one of the best examples of plants as pieces of furniture or art within the home that I have ever come across, and it delights me to see that not only are the plants showcased prominently, they appear very healthy and well cared for. This probably isn’t a great look for families with children or pets, though.

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