When Mana at Birds & Honey says she needs flowers for a shoot, I'm there, since she always brings together the best people. This time, she took inspiration from the art of writing letters. The bouquet especially reflects the sense of old fashioned whimsy I associate with paper correspondence, using peonies ('Sarah Bernhardt' bred in 1906), tiny begonias (popularized in the mid-1800s), and local tulips (lest one forget 1637, the year Dutch tulip mania peaked). I also loved making a simple flower crown, again featuring begonias, ranunculus (admittedly a more modern flower, but with old world charm), and roses in palest pink.

In the winter it can be tough to find any interesting flowers, but begonias are a good choice if you’re in need of some floral cheer. I actually picked these ones up at Rona, which just goes to show you that you can find good floral materials anywhere if you look. While working on this project I discovered how hardy begonias are out of water. They last a surprisingly long time given their delicate look. It’s a shame that more people don’t use either the flowers or the leaves (which can be quite dramatic – google ‘rex begonias’). If you’re a fan of old fashioned begonias, I would be more than happy to make flowers for you! I’m convinced they will make a comeback sometime soon...

You can find more photos and words in Belle Lumiere's journal and on Style Me Pretty.