Another exciting breeding breakthrough at Ball SB produces a hybrid Delphinium with small orchid-like blooms—and an unusual pale-yellow hue.
This month, we showcase another exciting product from the cut-flower-breeding geniuses at Ball SB! In our October issue, we introduced you to “Sunshine” Delphinium, a new spray-type of Delphinium grandiflorum. In this issue, we present Ball’s Delphinium ‘Trick’, an interspecific crossing with D. grandiflorum.
This beautiful new hybrid, available at wholesalers nationwide, comes in three colors—lavender, pink and pale yellow—an unusual hue for Delphinium. The “trick” could be that the captivating blooms resemble small wild orchids, with pale yellow centers. And with stem lengths topping out at about 24 inches (60 cm), one “treat” is that Delphinium ‘Trick’ is an ideal size for all manner of floral designs, from bouquets and centerpieces to everyday arrangements. Even the unique blooms, when used individually, can provide a distinctive new look to corsages, boutonnières, headpieces and other floral wearables.
On these pages (and in two YouTube videos, see sidebar on Page 14), celebrity floral designer Sarah Campbell, of Intrigue Design & Décor and Intrigue Teaches in Annapolis, Md. (you might recognize her from Netflix’s The Big Flower Fight), features Delphinium ‘Trick’ in three simple yet elegant chair designs created especially for weddings and other ceremonial events. Enjoy her easy, inspirational and profitable ideas!
1. Securely wire a round floral-foam cage to the front upper edge of a rattan peacock chair (in the 1 o’clock or 2 o’clock position) with paper-covered wire.
2. Arrange shorter stems of crape myrtle, Elaeagnus and Nandina into the fl oral-foam cage, in a curved line to follow the curvilinear back of the peacock chair. Next, wire longer branches of Elaeagnus in several places to the edge of the chair back with paper-covered wire, to extend the curved line of foliage. Finally, arrange a few stems of Western sword fern into the floral-foam cage, to add more dimension, line and texture in the center of the design.
3. Arrange stems of Delphinium ‘Trick’ into the floral-foam cage, following the curved line established by the foliages. If desired, arrange additional stems of Delphinium ‘Trick’ among the longer branches of Elaeagnus, with or without water tubes, wiring them to the chair frame with paper-covered wire, to extend the curvilinear line of blooms.
TIP: Make sure none of the flowers or foliage protrude too far forward, preventing comfortable seating in the chair.
1. Attach a long pliable branch of Elaeagnus to the back of one of the chair’s rear legs and stiles, starting just below the seat of the chair, securing the branch to the chair with paper-covered wire and/or self-fusing floral binding tape. Bend the branch in an arched manner over the top rail of the chair—still on the backside of the chair—with more paper-covered wire and/or self-fusing floral binding tape.
2. Arrange stems of Delphinium ‘Trick’, weaving and winding the stems among the leaves of the Elaeagnus branch, following the line created with the foliage. Attach the Delphinium stems to the Elaeagnus branch, where necessary, with paper-covered wire or self-fusing floral binding tape.
NOTE: Only four stems of Delphinium ‘Trick’ and one branch of Elaeagnus are used in this design.
1. Arrange six stems of Delphinium ‘Trick’, at varying heights, in your hand, to create a small hand-tied “bouquet.” Bind the stems together, just below the blooms, with self-fusing floral binding tape (or stem wrap, if preferred).
2. Attach the Delphinium ‘Trick’ bouquet to the side of chairback frame
(stile) with paper-covered wire and/or self-fusing floral binding tape.
Secure the bouquet to the chair in two places: at the stem binding point and near the top of one or two of the Delphinium stems (to prevent the bouquet from tilting to one side).
3. Tie a simple two-loop “shoestring” bow, with No. 9 double-faced satin ribbon, to camouflage the stem binding point, where the bouquet is bound to the chair.
PEACOCK CHAIR
Hybrid Delphinium x grandiflorum ‘Trick’
from Ball SB
Elaeagnus angustifolia (oleaster, wild olive, Russian olive, silver berry)
Lagerstroemia indica (crape myrtle)
Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo,
sacred bamboo)
Polystichum munitum (Western sword fern)
HARD GOODS
OASIS ® IGLU ® Grande Holder or OASIS ® Grande Wedding Belle ® Holder and OASISTM Bind Wire (Pink) from Smithers-Oasis North America Grand Peacock Chair in Rattan from Kouboo.
BOTANICALS
Hybrid Delphinium x grandiflorum ‘Trick’
from Ball SB
Elaeagnus angustifolia (oleaster, wild olive, Russian olive, silver berry) OR Smilax maritima/S. lanceolata/S. smallii (Southern smilax, Jacksonbrier, Jacksonvine)
HARD GOODS
OASISTM Bind Wire (Brown) and/or OASISTM BIND-ITTM Tape (Clear) from Smithers-Oasis North America
BOTANICALS
Hybrid Delphinium x grandiflorum ‘Trick’
from Ball SB
HARD GOODS
OASISTM Bind Wire (Brown) and/or OASISTM
BIND-ITTM Tape (Clear) from Smithers-Oasis
North America
