New Trend? Flowers in large vases

The LAT schools us on a new trend -- flower arrangements in oversized vases.

"THERE has been a very big European trend to have oversized vases and create arrangements inside of them," says Paula Pryke, a London-based authority on all things floral and author of the new book "Table Flowers: Innovative Floral Designs for Entertaining." For a smart, sophisticated and simple-to-make variation on the current trend, Pryke suggests suspending orchids in glass. "You don't need a lot of flowers," she says. "It does last a couple of weeks." All you'll need are two or three stems of cymbidiums (phalaenopsis also will do), a 3-foot glass vase and aluminum floral design wire, available at craft stores. Pryke matches the color of the wire to the nose of the cymbidiums.

But I guess you can thank them for directions on how to do it.

Here are some professional applications of the "new trend."


Above, the table arrangement from my friend Cathy's wedding -- back in June 2006.

Also, another display of - gasp! - four such arrangements at the Glendale Hilton, from November 2006.