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Florists share expertise
By Sean Barron
CANFIELD
Nearly everyone knows that reaching 50 years of marriage is a special milestone, but what might not be so obvious is that the special occasion also can be celebrated on the decorative side.
That’s where Rodd Coonce comes in.
“Hydrangeas absorb water, not only through their stems, but through their petals,” said Coonce, a 40-year professional florist and owner of Youngstown-based Full Circle Florist.
Coonce was explaining to nearly 200 people at Tuesday’s second annual Five Fantastic Floral Artists show a creative way to make a centerpiece to accent one’s golden anniversary.
He was one of five florists giving demonstrations during the two-hour gathering at St. Michael Family Life Center, 300 N. Broad St. Hosting the event was St. Michael Garden Guild.
The other four demonstrators were Jenny Wehr, owner of The Willows by Wehr in Columbiana; Wendy McDowall-Noble, who works at Wild Flower Cove of Boardman; Diane Durrant, an employee with Michael’s Craft Store in Boardman; and Anna Howells, co-owner of Canfield-based Something New Florist.
Coonce, who managed a floral shop in downtown Youngstown at age 20, used a coffee can, two acrylic trays that resembled large Frisbees, small
anchors and a fern, along with white mums, roses and hydrangeas, to create the centerpiece idea.
“It’s all about tradition,” Wehr, a 33-year florist, explained as she prepared a piece intended to accent an autumn wedding.
Materials she used for her arrangement included coxcomb, peach roses and a variety of other flowers, eucalyptus, pheasant feathers, artichokes and asparagus. One of her creations was a wooden box complemented with fall colors.
McDowall-Noble’s focus was on Halloween ideas that included creating a typical pumpkin pattern from a lemon leaf, a carnation and numerous orange flowers.
“It’s something you can do at home if you have a party or small get-together,” she said, referring to several other Halloween-related ideas she brought to the show.
A fall harvest theme was behind Durrant’s creations, which featured a folded burlap piece for silverware with an 18- to 20-inch ribbon. She also assembled an accented floral arrangement to fit on a door that was bathed in reds, oranges and yellows.
Howells used a light-green strip, a bow, silk flowers with their stems removed and ornaments while demonstrating a few ideas for making garland for one’s tablecloth in keeping with her Christmas theme. In addition, she presented a few ideas for decorating candlesticks for the holidays.
Howells also pointed to the fact that many people enjoy making their own Christmas decorations – something that leaves plenty of room for creativity, imagination and improvisation.
“There is no right or wrong; it’s just whatever you want to do,” she added.