Our first full day in Holland had me doing something I vowed I would never do, I started the process of learning to design with a knife. With the careful instruction of the world famous designer Rob Plattel, I took the leap. I will also say I was cautioned by my husband to not play with knifes while I was gone, which is probably the real reason why I tried. I have to admit I am a bit of a klutz so the knife thing, with babies all over the house has always seemed like a big no, no. However I of course do know that it’s what professional designers usually prefer to use. When Rob mentioned that it truly pained him to see flowers smashed when designers cut with scissors, I knew I had to try for my new friend and teacher.

Our design class took place at the historic Aalsmeer auction house, this is the original auction area. This place is now a museum and educational facility, it’s also a hospital of sorts for the original varieties of particular flowers. We designed in a class room that was actually part greenhouse.

Rob began by creating a natural structure. He explained that there are really two styles of floral design, vegetative or decorative. In a decorative floral design the designer bends, pushes, pulls, and places the flowers in an artistic or decorative way, rather than in a natural loose style which Rob calls vegetative. He also explained vegetative as how flowers would grow in the garden.

Rob also discussed his particular style of floral design and many of the principles he follow. Like designing with a knife.

I hate this picture of me, but I had to post it because it clearly shows the confusion and apprehension I was feeling at trying something new. When my husband Evan saw the picture he said it looked like I was in pain. In truth I was scared to death but I wanted to try. Learning new techniques was one of the purposes of this trip. Rob was a gentle and encouraging teacher.

My new Canadian friend Gigi even had a little mishap with the knife. Unfortunately I can see this type of incident in my future as well and it scares the heck out of me. As I continue the learning process of designing with a knife I am seeing lots of opportunities to hurt myself or someone else. I am famous for dropping my tools any and everywhere. As I mentioned before leaving knives laying around when you have a house full of little people is not wise. I also find myself carrying the knife like an extension of my hand and I forget I am carrying a dangerous weapon. There are times when I brush hair out of my face or pet the dog and I realize I am holding a knife. Another thing I am afraid of is dropping the knife into my apron and stabbing myself. One of the designers shared yesterday that this is also a hazard and happened to one of her friends. Nothing like gutting yourself.

In spite of my fear I was able to create this beauty in our class. I loved the way this design came together and I loved the concept. The flowers were placed in the design the way they would grow in nature. Each bloom is placed reaching towards the sun.

Next we ate a lovely catered lunch and we actually sat in the bidding boxes of the old auction room.

After lunch Rob helped us with a decorative design. I learned so many fabulous techniques in this class. I was so thrilled with all I learned.

As we worked on the designs we had time to take our “hat of the day” photo. This is designer Laura Zaharias from Colorado.

This is my completed design and I loved how this turned out. My only regret is that a lot of this material is not available in the United States. I used the bark of a eucalyptus tree and dried banana leaves in this design and I simply have never seen that here.

After our group finished designing we did a tour of the museum and the nursery. We were going to take a canal ride but the weather did not participate. Thankfully this was the only weather cancellation we had on our entire trip.  So the old auction house is surrounded with canals. The flowers were moved in and out of the auction by canal or up and down the property by canals. The farm and the greenhouses were quite extensive.

The canal runs along the left side of the nursery and the boats were used to move product into the greenhouses or up to the auction room.

The greenhouses hold a collection of particular rose varieties or of flowers that the museum is protecting from extinction. These plants are the original plant variety.

Our handsome guide has worked at this museum or original auction since he was a child.

This cherry tree was of special interest. Each wooden post marks the graft of another variety of cherry. So this is a cherry tree with 8 different cherry trees growing from the center of one tree.

Even lilacs were resting in greenhouses.

Potting shed

This was an amazing place, rich with the history of the Holland flower market.