We as florists - we killed the carnation - not the professional, educated, trained, retail florist, but the hobbiest, the amateur, the little old lady who likes to 'do flowers' for her garden club and thinks - I'll open a shop and do these pretty little things. Gathered into a vase with leatherleaf, babys breath, and a big bow....or scads of them in a whitewash basket......with tons of babys breath and leather.
Carnations, Babys breath, Gladiola - three flowers that have dual looks - when arranged by the hobbiest or the untrained amateur - look old-fashioned, poorly done, gobs of babys breath to hide mistakes........vice versa......in the hands of a properly educated, trained, professional floral designer......those basic flowers can be transformed into works of ethereal grace and beauty
The arrangement shown by Randy in JB's post - well-designed, classic good looks, and as Shannon notes - styled in a classic, been done forever styling. People see that and think of their grandma. Is there anything technically wrong with the design........no.
In order to recapture the grace, beauty, and charm that is the carnation......we need to use them in exciting, unique, and different ways.
A good example-I wish I had a picture, but a very good friend of mine - Ed Fisher AIFD works for the Charleston Place hotel ( this is a 5 star hotel ) - In their main dining room, he did a huge pave sphere of all red carnations atop a pedestal........and drew rave reviews. ( It should be noted that the executive chef hates carnations.....He was quoted as saying, that design was breathtaking......who would have ever thought simple carnations could look like that.
Shannon - if your boss will allow you......create one new design each week for the cooler display - using only carnations......but really stretch your creativity to the max and see what happens. You might be surprised. [EDIT: If you have trouble getting past a mental block associated with carnations, then look at them from the pattern standpoint - you are working with with a round mass flower pattern )
One of the most beautiful stage designs I ever saw was done in DC for symposium by Talmadge McLaurin AIFD using nothing but carnations and pixie carnations - He took various sized plexiglass risers and trays.....filled the trays with chopped up green stems of carnations, and had arranged different size spheres of florigene carnations......the shades of rich purple against the vibrant green was totally gorgeous.
