Photograph by Shari Kaplan

The Chinese pistache has recently become a popular street tree.

Flower arranging class supports a good cause

By Tony Tomeo

Not many colleagues with whom I studied horticulture back at Cal Poly would admit to actually enjoying the brief floral design class we were all required to take. It was important because many of us would go on to careers in cut flower production. Cut flower growers have a better idea of how to grow their crops if they know how the flowers are likely to be used. I have not grown many cut flowers in my career, but I do get a few from the garden, as well as from the nursery. Although my design style is still limited to what we studied in the 1980s, I often enjoy working with flowers--just don't tell anyone I said that.

Say it With Flowers is a fundraising and public awareness event sponsored by the ALS Association (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and highlighted by a holiday floral design class and caregiver recognition luncheon. The class will be taught by "America's Flower Man," Dale Rohman. Other design techniques will be demonstrated by local floral designers Charlotte Mayfield, Beniot Ballon and Kim Haworth. Participants will compose their own centerpiece suitable for a Thanksgiving table and learn techniques for transforming it to suit Christmas decor.

Tickets for the class, including design materials and luncheon, may be purchased for $100 per person, or $60 for the luncheon without the class. Those interested in attending may call the ALS Association at 415.392.2572. The class will be conducted in the California West and Colonial Rooms of the Westin Saint Francis, 335 Powell St. in San Francisco on Nov. 21. The floral design class begins at 10:30 a.m., with lunch at noon.

The luncheon is designed to increase public awareness of ALS and to thank ALS caregivers. Proceeds support the work of the ALS Association, Bay Area Chapter. This is the only organization dedicated to the support of ALS patients, their caregivers and families and to find a cause, a cure and better treatments for the disease. Two members of our community honored as "Caregiver of the Year" at this event are Lucy Wedemeyer of Los Gatos (1997) and George Sisemore of Campbell (1999).

From my floral design class back in college, I remember how to use various nonfloral materials in floral design. Although there are many plant species that bloom in autumn and winter, there are usually not as many flowers in our gardens this time of year. Cool season bloomers are usually not as profuse and grow slower in cooler weather. Slow growth limits the rate at which new blooms may replace those that are cut. Therefore, showy fruit or vegetative plant parts are often useful for floral design.

Berries, such as those produced by pyracantha (firethorn), toyon or the various hollies, ripen to a bright red. Some rare pyracantha and holly cultivars may also produce orange or even yellow berries. Such berries have always been a classic feature for cool season floral design. Pink "berries" may also be obtained from California pepper trees and sometimes from Chinese pistache trees.

Interesting foliage may be obtained from some rather unconventional sources. Fir and cedar have always been popular, but pine, yew, spruce and even juniper may be useful. Nandina, which colors in cold weather, may also provide attractive foliage. For larger compositions, southern magnolia foliage is glossy green with velvety rusty brown undersides. Stems from spent blooms, such as those from New Zealand flax and lily of the Nile, may be dried and substituted for flowers. Items such as these are not often considered to be suitable for floral design because they are so common in landscapes.

There are no rules governing what can be cut and used in floral design.

Tree of the Week: Chinese pistache

The Chinese pistache, Pistacia chinensis, has recently become a popular street tree. It is very reliable and tough, but low-branched and awkwardly structured when young. As young street trees, they require regular pruning to encourage canopy growth above traffic. Otherwise, they develop a "Kenworth kut" appearance as they are "Peterbilt pruned."

At maturity, they are usually well-structured and as tall as 50 feet. The pinnately compound foliage exhibits excellent autumn color. Pink or red berry clusters eventually turn navy blue and may be messy under larger trees. Chinese pistaches tolerate a wide range of soil types and variable irrigation. Because of their recent popularity, they are available in most nurseries.

Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574.

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