Sunday, February 28, 2010

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games

One of our last jobs at these fantastic Winter Olympic Games is the decor of the private VIP suite for tonight's closing ceremonies. ..
(and same as the opening ceremony, we had police escorts to bring the flowers in....what a scream!)

When you hear that having the Olympics in your hometown is a "once in a lifetime" opportunity, it really is true! Thank you to the International Olympic Committee, VANOC, Shaw, Visa, The Vancouver Club, The Olympic Club, and all of our fabulous clients who have kept us so busy the last 3 weeks...

I loved every second of it!
I wouldn't have missed it for the world....
Love H.
Go Canada! This is why Canadians have such a vested interest in Hockey!
(My sister & I playing back yard hockey circa 1974)
And why Winter sports mean so much to us here
in the True North Strong & Free...
(My brother & I circa 1966)
Thank you to all the athletes and visitors from Canada & around the world who have made this last 2 weeks the best party ever in Vancouver! I hope you all had a fantastic time in Vancouver & Whistler and will come back again to share our beautiful city.

So proud...of Vancouver, of Canada, and of our world class athletes who really do own the damn podium!
(negative press can go to h-e-double hockey sticks)
(you know who you are...)
H.

Friday, February 26, 2010

A Sushi party... Red Gingers and Orchids...
Chartreuse Anthuriums, and chartreuse Cymbidium Orchids with red throats, all in a bed of Green Trick Dianthus...
I love love love the crazy new gold bar at The Vancouver Club!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Olympic Hospitality Suite...
Snowball Vibernum, Bells of Ireland, and green Jade Trachellium

A little vignette.
A series of vases run the length of the table.
OK, gotta run, we are whipping some Russian ass in hockey right now. Like any good Canadian, I need to watch the game!
GO CANADA!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Olympic ClubThe closing week of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics...
An Olympic ring of white Roses embracing a mass of locally grown Cymbidium Orchids
Locally grown Cymbidium Orchids & Willow.
A close-up...
A series of centrepieces line the table.
God is in the details...
Hilary posing with the Orchids... Snowball Mums & natural stones line the meeting tables.
A repetition of Snowball Mums
Snowball Mums on the casual dining tables...
Chartreuse Cymbudium Orchids....
And then, after the immediate mayhem had subdued...
It was the birthday of Louise!
(Coconut cake by Clare at Indulgence)
Michelle, Jehna, El, Twiggy kissing Louise, and Lydia
Hilary taking photo, Lola asleep at home.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Hilary Miles Flowers
some "behind the scenes" photos...Hilary at the Opening Ceremony
2 hours early

Hilary and Oscar (my buyer, accountant, delivery guru, friend, and Lola's Dad) and Diane (Who is kind enough to store my Orchid plants in her ideal conditions until they are ready for sale) at the Opening Ceremony of The Olympics!

Hilary & Jehna working on the first "Entrance" Arrangement..... Jehna & El working on an Orchid planter for a private client...
(too big to make in store)Valentine's Day fell right in the middle of the Olympics... El (Mother of Twiggy the Whippet) prepping incredibly huge, sexy, Versillia Roses for delivery....
Jehna gracefully displays a beautiful soft bouquet of Amaryllis, Vibernum, Cymbidium Orchids, and Roses for Valentine's Day delivery....
My friend Louise Boutin has made "Special Guest Star" appearances over the last few weeks...
Long time clients will remember Louise from the early to mid 1990's at my store....
So many thanks, Louise!!!!
My hero, Lydia.
She manages my store, helps take care of our clients, daily orders, special orders, & special events, and just simply makes my life a whole lot easier.
Lola and I love you all from the bottom of our hearts....

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Hot Pink Mokara Orchids en masse... This is our "Week Two" concept for one of our corporate client hospitality suites during the three weeks of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. Last week was spheres & mounds of hot colour Carnations.
(I know it sounds awful, but scroll back a few days & you'll see it's fantastic)
This week... Masses of hot pink Mokara Orchids arranged in tall & graceful clear glass vases...
On site, dozens of these will be displayed on white light boxes which illuminate the water & flower stems...all accompanied by a birds eye view of
The Olympic Flame.
LOVE LOVE THIS.
so much going on...keep checking in.

H.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Another Beautiful Event At The Olympic Club A Victory Wreath surrounds a bust of Pierre De Coubertin, founder of The Olympics.
James Storeii & Rena Yip orchids with red Rose & fresh Moss cuffs.
(In Martha Sturdy white marble resin vases)
Gracing the Entrance
A beautiful mass of James Storeii & Rena Yip Orchids
A grand mix of Rena Yip Orchids and Vampire Cymbidium Orchids in a silver urn with a lush & perfect fresh green moss cuff...
Close up...
The table is set for breakfast.
Close up detail of locally grown Lisa Rose Cymbidium Orchids mixed with lipstick red Rena Yip Orchids from Malaysia
A lush combination of Lisa Rose & Vampire Cymbidium Orchids grown in Chilliwack, detailed with tropical greens from Malaysia...
Red roses...
Historical and current at the same time...
Timeless.
Simply beautiful.

Monday, February 15, 2010

This is why Chartreuse is my very favourite colour....
Today we are recovering from Valenine's Day & are in full prep mode for our next two events tomorrow & wednesday...we are also working on several private homes & smaller dinner parties.
This entrance table arrangement is composed of Snowball Vibernum, Bells of Ireland, Green Jade Trachellium, and Green Tea Roses. The three centre pieces are a mix of Snowball Vibernum and Green Trick Dianthus, with a variegated Calathea leaf wrap.
LOVE LOVE CHARTREUSE!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games
A little window into some of the parties & events we have been working on over the last few days...
Winter White Roses & Pierre de CoubertinLocally Grown...
Chartreuse Snowball Vibernum

Winter White Cymbidium Orchids & Roses, Trachellium & Echeveria
Magnolia & Cymbidium Orchids in Celery Green & Winter WhiteA luxurious mix of Snowball Vibernum, Winter White Roses. Cymbidium Orchids, and Jade Green Trachellium.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Great Balls of Fire....
(Carnations) Lola Watches over the store...
Michelle peeking through the flowers..
Lydia having a good time... Chartreuse Carnations & white Tulips in Wall Vases...
This is "part 1" of a project I am working on for one of my corporate sponsor clients of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics...
Dozens of fantastic & whimsical mounds & spheres of hot pink, orange & chartreuse Carnations all displayed in or on white glass...
TOTALLY FANTASTIC.