Flowers for Dummies

I am not patient by nature.


Sift flour and baking powder thrice? Sure.

Wait overnight before baking the financier batter? No problem.

If there's something yummy to be had at the end of it all, there's no fuss or tedium that's not worth the while.

But trim, wire and tape stalk after stalk of flowers to stick into a pleasing arrangement? Thanks, but no thanks, it's really not for the impatient likes of me. I love admiring beautiful and intricate floral arrangements as much as the next person. But attempt to do it myself? Drives me to tears. This klutziness with flowers is likely an extension of how plantlife (and guppies for that matter) has a habit of dying around me. Money plants, cacti, ornamental chilli plants, terrariums...You name it, I've somehow caused it to wither. They call me the plant murderer at home.

While many know my grandmother to be an accomplished cook, what few know is that she can out-garden the best of them. I have personally witnessed her green fingers do everything from revive a wizened bonsai to coax stem cuttings into propagating prolifically. It is truly something else, and woefully something I have no knack for.

The solution to my green thumblessness, of course, is to simply pick up the phone and order from my favourite florists. And if for whatever reason I need to do it myself, my idea of flower arranging is to stick a few stems into a jam jar. Literally.

I think it works especially well on the dinner table, where it is unlikely a guest will notice the bare bones lazy girl's approach (or at least I like to imagine).

Between the place settings and the votives, free flowing libations and conversation,

there should be plenty to distract.

Even without the blooms,

I think the pussy willow looks rather fresh, modern and pretty in a spare sort of way.


Some very kind friends gave me a pot of gorgeous orchids - thank you very much A, D, S and S, I adore them. They are apparently very low maintenance plants despite their glamorous, exotic, high maintenance appearance. In short, perfection!

To everyone who is entertaining and celebrating this coming festive season, Happy Lunar New Year!