Say it with flowers

Vegetables and fruits used to make floral arrangements

Danish florist Maryann Kristensen at Al Worood, Spinneys, has a flair for making her flower arrangements look more than a bunch of roses. She is the senior florist and what is different is that she mixes various kinds of vegetables, fruits and fabric and gives a unique touch to it.

Kristensen has been in Dubai for the past two years. She has come to understand the needs of her customers and makes arrangements according to their tastes.

"Young Arab couples like modern arrangements or something with a design. Like in a cylinder vase with one-flower and coloured stones or a rose covered with tissue fabric and pearls. The Asian community prefers the ready bouquets with roses and chrysanthemums, and the Europeans like the three-flower arrangements," explains Kristensen.

The three-flower arrangement is a simple setting of three flowers accessorised with several leaves and fabric, making it look extremely elegant. Kristensen has decorated these arrangements using feathers, cellophane, pearls, beads, coloured and glass stones.

"I like to so something extraordinary and creative," comments Kirstensen. With Ramadan approaching, what is popular is an arrangement with several fruits and one flower or vegetables and flowers.

This kind of display lasts up to 10 days, without the flower wilting, and they look very special and exclusive when presented.

The flowers are imported from Holland, and the greens from Sri Lanka as it is quite close to UAE. Kristensen makes her array of flowers look extraordinary.

She does not like to see soil in her vases so she covers them tastefully with coloured moss or seashells. She improvises on designs she sees in magazines and often creates something unique spontaneously.

"I feel you either have it in you or you don't," adds Kristensen. She recommends the cactus makes a great indoor plant and is very popular to give as gifts. However, the more classic flowers like roses, lillies, orchids, green callalilly, willows and anthurians are the flowers for this season. They are delicate and beautiful.