Mar 23 - Pretoria

In a field of flowers, which one would you pick? I have not
just one favourite flower, but four. I absolutely love a dahlia,
old fashioned garden roses, ranunculus (the buttercup) and
agrostemma (better known as the ocean pearl). These are by
far my top four flowers. I think each one is very strong in its
simplicity, offering such a beautiful focal and texture.
Which flower will always be in fashion? For me, an oldfashioned
garden rose is the definition of timeless. For so
long it’s been a favourite for many, and probably the most
used and best-known flower at weddings.
If not in the garden, where can you be found? I really
like spending time in the bushveld with my camera,
photographing African wildlife. There is no better way for
me to just relax. Even just visiting the farm in the heart of
the bushveld and smelling the boma fire does it for me.
Sometimes I might just sketch the African wildlife scenery
and do artwork with dry, natural materials – hence my side
business, Stofpad Fine Arts. Lastly, I really like to play piano
when I get the opportunity.
My floral arrangement style is fine art.
Sophisticated, with the finest detail in
simplicity, and a touch of drama.
What’s your gran like? My grandmother, Esme Claassens, is
an ordinary, humble ‘boere tannie’ who doesn’t stand back
for anything. She is an incredibly artistic person and can
make anything creative with just her hands. She is obsessed
with flowers and plants and so it goes without saying that
she’s had a beautiful garden all these years. It was always so
impressive to me as a little boy, always thinking ‘how can she
be so good at what she does?’. It was magic to me! In my
eyes, no one could ever compete with my gran – she’s just
the very best.
What inspires you? I am certainly inspired by our exquisite
African bushveld, and incredibly fond of our continent’s
landscapes, shapes, colours and textures.
Competition highlights? My favourite part was the team
challenge, which was actually something I was not looking
forward to. I am not a person who likes to work in teams. I
prefer to work alone because I have a very strong personality
in the sense that I know exactly what I want something to
look like. It can be difficult for me to make someone else’s
visions a part of mine. Ironically enough, I can say with 100
per cent certainty that the team challenge was the most
enjoyable one. It definitely changed my misperception of
team work.
What did you learn from The Greenest Fingers? The
biggest lesson I took home is the fact that I should not
underestimate myself and my work. I need to believe in
myself and my talents. I also shouldn’t be afraid to work under
pressure because that’s exactly where, I realised, I excel. It’s
important to hold on, push through, give your best and never
give up. Oh, and have fun! The rest will take care of itself.
Details: Follow Black Tulip Floral & Décor Styling on Facebook and
black_tulip_styling on Insta.
Must-know floral arranging tips:
• Always cut your solid, woody flower stems - such as roses
at a 45 deg angle. • Cut your pipe shaped stems (such as
daffodils) with a straight angle. • Choose flower colours
that harmonise and complement each other. • Put flowers
in fresh cold tap water. No ice. • Make use of repetition,
rhythm, shapes and textures to keep it interesting. • Do not
shift flowers too much from cool to hot areas, as they will
start getting droopy and damaged. • If your hydrangeas
gets droopy, cut the stems at a 45 deg angle and
submerge them completely in water for two to three hours.
They will be as good as new.
How to make your bouquet last longer:
• Remove any excess leaves. • Refill with fresh water every
two to three days. • Cut stem at a 45 deg angle every two to
three days. • Woody stemmed flowers such as roses prefer
a deep drink. Fill the vase with up to two thirds of water. •
Softer stems such as tulips and Ranunculus are happier with
a shallow drink, so fill the vase just under halfway. • Always
put flowers in a cool area. No direct sunlight!
How to choose flowers for your next occasion:
• Once you know the type of occasion it will be, determine
the colour pallet and style of the event. • Choose flowers in
different sizes and textures within your colour pallet.
• Local seasonal flowers are much cheaper than imported
flowers. • Choose the correct colour flowers with the
correct meanings for the occasion (red = love, yellow =
happiness, pink = romantic, white = purity, etc.)
March 23 Get It Magazine 21