Yesterday I made a trip to CMC Wholesale - where all manner of artificial plants can be purchased. Here we are in the wedding month, and the aisle of white is languishing with the absence of weddings. This week, I am creating outside container pot displays for a balcony garden rather than shopping for Fantasy of Trees decorations.
I wanted to work in a real floral shop when I was young. When we moved to Toronto, there were many beautiful floral stores to appreciate their flowers and designs. And this tradition continues each year at the Canada Blooms Show which has extensive floral displays.
But that's a contrast with the artificial flowers which come from China today. They are mass produced in factories in the Pearl River delta of the Guangdong province.
Artificial flowers have been around for a long time. I find that the eoncyclopedia.com tells me that the Italians were making artificial florals in the twelfth century. Even earlier, the Egyptians made floral wreaths from artificial material.
It was the opulence of the Victorian era that brought about lavish floral arrangements of both faux and live flowers. Many were made of silk, but craftsmen used a number of other materials, including satin, velvet, muslin, cambric, crepe and gauze. My sense is that artificial flowers became more accepted with the Victorians and led the way for our mass consumer market of artificial material.
Our modern artificial flowers - plastic and polyester - mimic the real thing rather than being artistic renditions. which was more the case in the Victorian era and before. That's what I was doing, seeking out flowers that would look real in an outdoor balcony container. My vote goes with the succulents. They are perfect mimics. Except for scent - this is the stark contrast of artificial vs real plants.
Today's images are winners in the Betterphoto monthly contest, The first one is a guard rail find - looks like a starched and pressed shirt to me - it was a second place winner, and the painted hostas a finalist.
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