Monday, March 27, 2006

A Bouquet of Flames

The Commonwealth Games have ended but the fiery image of John Jones’  flowers won’t be extinguished.

The victory bouquet

presented at the Commonwealth Games

Melbourne, Australia,

March 2006

Photo: Melbourne 2006

The Olympics begin when the ceremonial torch enters the stadium and lights a towering bonfire – to burn for the duration of the games.

The recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne stole some of that Olympic fire for its marvelous victory bouquets. Thank you, Bron, our new correspondent in Australia, for this hot tip!

Bron sent along this story from Melbourne’s The Age, about Australian florist John Jones’ spectacular design. Its combination of Australian natives like billy buttons, speargrass and emu grass with other tropicals provides every medalist with a torch—scorching yellows and reds, with licking dark green flames.

Winners of the rhythmic gymnastics event (l-r):

Kimberly Mason (bronze) of Australia,

Alexandra Michel Orlando (gold) of Canada,

Durratun Nashihin Rosli (silver) of Malaysia

Photo: David Callow, for Reuters

“South Australian florist Dennis Radford helped adapt Mr. Jones’ design to Games specifications, which included a ban on sharp edges and noxious plants.

“‘They reduced it — as if it was too big and cumbersome it might knock somebody out when they throw it into the crowd,’ Mr. Jones said.”

Perhaps a new audience-participation sport should be added to the competition!

Florist Emma McIntyre brandishes a victory bouquet at Interflora

headquarters in Prahran, Australia.

Photo: Ken Irwin, for The Age

Interflora provided the flowers for the Commonwealth Games, and 35 florists from all over Australia put together the 1500 bouquets, each arrangement requiring an hour’s labor. The bouquets, as well as honoring the winning athletes, draw attention to Australian floral aesthetics—bold and, as the Age puts it, “funky.” They also introduce the non-tropical world to such wonders as craspedia (a.k.a. “chicken balls”) and heliconia, the botanical “torch” of Venezuela and Honduras.

“Whether foreign athletes can take (their flowers) home will depend on varying quarantine regulations. Some bouquets will need to have fumigation and irradiation treatments.”

Again, our appreciation to Bron. The games closed Sunday, but you’ve opened our eyes to Australian floral design.