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House Beautiful, December 2005
"How to Decorate with Plants"
Designer Markham Roberts says winter is the best time to really appreciate indoor plants and flowers
The Real Thing
Avoid using fake plants and flowers - there's a real risk they'll look cheesy. Always use a healthy plant or beautiful cut flowers.
Choices
There are countless varieties of plants suited to indoor environments. I often use different types of ferns: Rabbit's Foot, Mother, and Maidenhair varieties are all lush and green with a soft, natural beauty.
Common Scents
Flowering plants like stephanotis or jasmine can fill a room with a beautiful scent - as will a floating gardenia bloom. Some orchids are scented, too. My favorite is the Zygopetalum orchid. Also, orchids are easy to care for and their blooms can last weeks.
Sculpture Garden
Bonsai trees make interesting houseplants. With a little care to make sure they don't dry out, they can live and grow into beautifully manicured shapes. It's fun and creative to prune and sculpt them.
Big and Small
Don't be afraid of big, exotic plants or potted trees. They add a sculptural quality to a room and they improve air quality. Conversely, don't forget how beautiful a single flower can be, but remember to make the vase suit the bloom. The Japanese are masters of this technique.
Flower Power
Spend time at a flower market looking at all the different flowers and remember that with cut flowers, there are no rules. Mix different flowers and colors in an arrangement, or stick to one type. And always think about what will suit a room best.
Holiday Gift
I often send boxwood topiaries to friends at Christmas. They dry out beautifully for those who may have a greenly challenged thumb.
Where to Shop
If you don't have access to a good nursery or flower market, do some research online and learn about services that can ship fresh plants or flowers directly to you. A few well-known sites are: www.orchids.com; www.marthasflowers.com;
www.smith-hawken.com.
"How to Decorate with Plants"
Designer Markham Roberts says winter is the best time to really appreciate indoor plants and flowers
The Real Thing
Avoid using fake plants and flowers - there's a real risk they'll look cheesy. Always use a healthy plant or beautiful cut flowers.
Choices
There are countless varieties of plants suited to indoor environments. I often use different types of ferns: Rabbit's Foot, Mother, and Maidenhair varieties are all lush and green with a soft, natural beauty.
Common Scents
Flowering plants like stephanotis or jasmine can fill a room with a beautiful scent - as will a floating gardenia bloom. Some orchids are scented, too. My favorite is the Zygopetalum orchid. Also, orchids are easy to care for and their blooms can last weeks.
Sculpture Garden
Bonsai trees make interesting houseplants. With a little care to make sure they don't dry out, they can live and grow into beautifully manicured shapes. It's fun and creative to prune and sculpt them.
Big and Small
Don't be afraid of big, exotic plants or potted trees. They add a sculptural quality to a room and they improve air quality. Conversely, don't forget how beautiful a single flower can be, but remember to make the vase suit the bloom. The Japanese are masters of this technique.
Flower Power
Spend time at a flower market looking at all the different flowers and remember that with cut flowers, there are no rules. Mix different flowers and colors in an arrangement, or stick to one type. And always think about what will suit a room best.
Holiday Gift
I often send boxwood topiaries to friends at Christmas. They dry out beautifully for those who may have a greenly challenged thumb.
Where to Shop
If you don't have access to a good nursery or flower market, do some research online and learn about services that can ship fresh plants or flowers directly to you. A few well-known sites are: www.orchids.com; www.marthasflowers.com;
www.smith-hawken.com.