"Are silk flowers still trendy?!" cried the voice at the other end of the line. I have to tell you that I was a bit surprised by the question and concerned about the panicky tone of the voice. "What do you mean?" I asked. My customer proceeded to tell me that HGTV had declared silk flowers to be at the top of a list of decorating mistakes. Just like that. This time it was my befuddled tone that followed with a loud "WHAAAT??"

What came next was sort of traumatic, as my silk life flashed right before my very own eyes...remembering the moment I first saw a high quality artificial flower and admired the painstaking process that went into making it--from research and design to production. I was awestruck at how beautifully nature had been replicated--like a work of art. I loved real flowers (and still do), but I realized that there was a place for this type of permanence. More than 20 years later, I am still awestruck by the beauty of this craft, and flutter around with excitement when new merchandise arrives. I was also thankful for the food this industry had put not only on my table but that of my team's.

So I had to see what they were talking about. What I found was, well...a bit ridiculous: an image of a frayed brown flower, accompanied by dried out baby's breath, circa 1970. I will tell you that a thought crossed my mind: maybe this arrangement and the designer responsible for this declaration had both been in a time capsule...although, that couldn't be true. They obviously hadn't done their homework as they misrepresented an entire industry.

But then I thought of the implications of the statement. HGVT has the ears of many people and as such, they may influence the buying habits of their audience. Should they assume the responsibility, especially in this rebuilding economy, for discrediting an industry that has grown hand-in-hand with all the others that have helped make a house a home? There would be a difference between "don't use too many pillows" and "pillows should be banned from decorating." So HGTV might have said "you may want to update your 1970s silk floral" rather than "fake flowers (and plants) are a mistake and a decorating crime." I really wanted to leave a reply, make a case for "fake" flowers...but I couldn't find a place to do it.

So I do take this opportunity to speak for the silk flower industry. It has given opportunities and opened doors to many people worldwide, including everyone at Flowers By Design. It has been a constant reminder of the beauty of flowers and the magnificence of nature. I personally have taken on the responsibility to educate people on the subject of silk flowers, its history and uses, because after the day is done, it is still a joy and privilege to work in this wonderful industry.

                                             Dana

Did you know...

that topiarius was the name given to ornamental gardeners in Ancient Rome? Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) a Roman naturalist and philosopher is credited with investigating and recording the foundation of botany as we know it today. Pliny died during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

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