Australian_House_&_Garden_2017_02

HGBOTANICA

194 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN

Valentine’s Day is here again and roses are taking their rightful

place as the hero of this most romantic of dates.

Heart & soul

W

hat heart would not skip a beat upon

receiving the sublime arrangement shown

here? It’s the creation of one of Sydney’s

top florists, Jai Winnell of Hermetica Flowers: a

bouquet of voluptuous red and unscented local

roses (fragrant roses don’t last as long) accented

with textural radiator plant (Peperomia) leaves and

wrapped in the company’s signature light-grey

paper, which is custom made in Japan.

Jai favours wild garden roses for his creations. When

it comes to Valentine’s Day, about half the orders are

for red ones – the traditional colour for love, passion

and desire – “but there aresome amazing rosegrowers

in Sydney producing blooms in the most incredible

colours and our favourite bouquets are the ones that

are bursting with colour”.

With proper care, a bouquet like this one will last

seven days. “Cut the stems and immediately place in

fresh water with a few drops of bleach added, making

sure to clean off all greenery below the water line,” says

Jai. “Roses that flop at the neck have an air blockage

and need recutting.” #

Hermetica Flowers,Darlinghurst, NSW;

(02) 9380 4725 or hermeticaflowers.com.au.

Text by John McDonald. Photograph by Barnaby Wilshier.