You know, I would like nothing better than to fill one or five beautiful vessels with fresh flowers on a daily basis.  This idea was especially tempting when we lived in New York, and I could grab some for my desk every day on the way to work at one of a gillion flower stands.  I told myself I could afford it, but I couldn’t.  And I had my favorite vase, a little square glass one, with rounded corners that I’d kept from a wedding reception.  Using it reminded me of the arrangement from that December wedding–fresh pine greenery, and those deep red roses that look like velvet, and just the right touch of baby’s breath.  Stunning.  It’s perfectly fine for me to recreate that, or some other equally deserving arrangement once in awhile, but my budget just won’t handle a daily visitation of fresh roses, much less other varieties.

So I’m going to confess.  I try not to use words like “fake” or even “synthetic.” But yes, I have gone into Michael’s and purchased flowers that are not real.  There.  I’ve said it. David Hicks is probably spinning in his grave. But it has to be done, this use of silk flowers.  Granted, some of them are quite hideous.  But I love the white ones I chose for the special blue vase I kept from my anniversary a few years back.  My husband chose a beautiful arrangement of white roses and lilies of the valley that year.  The card brought me to tears: “I can’t give you the moon and the stars just yet, so these will have to do for now.”  I loved that the arrangement was elegant and unexpected.  I think the silk ones I chose are a lovely homage, even just the two of them.

The question of silk vs. real seems to be a bigger deal in terms of bridal arrangements than anything for the home.  There is also the issue of price, and when we’re talking about bridal bouquets, some silk arrangements can apparently be a lot more expensive.

But I’ve already been a bride (mine were real, by the way), and I’m not above using other types of silk in my home–even a well-made silk tree (not for Christmas!). So to the flower snobs out there who have the money to invest and the time to spend keeping up with the proverbial Jones’s, I say more power to you.  I’ll be in the silk aisle at the craft store.

Last 5 posts by KellyThacher

• O Tannenbaum . . . - December 23rd, 2009
• Lighting a Candle - December 22nd, 2009
• All For Show - December 21st, 2009
• Color Clinic - December 19th, 2009
• Walking the Plank with Team Projects - December 18th, 2009

Author: Kelly Thacher

Kelly has been a writer since she was in grade school where she received early recognition for her Young Author's project. Magazines like Home Entertainment, Luxury Consumer Electronics, Vertical Living, Luxury Home and the Robb Report were happy to have Kelly's editing talents on various projects. A series of career twists and turns has offered her invaluable experience in journalism, magazine and book publishing, and fiction writing.

Kelly Thacher has written 30 articles for us.