150th Jubilee Floral Installation

This past weekend was a special time in the history of Brunswick Enviroschool. 150 years of providing rural education to students from many walks of life, not just the immediate area farm kids, but also townies and those seeking an education for their kids that embraces the school values of Grit, Respect, Ownership and Wonderings. As the current school principal described it, Brunswick school is a place “where kids still climb trees, tend to gardens, play bullrush and run cross-country down gullies and over neighbouring farmland”.

I ws thrilled and somewhat nervous to be able to contribute to the celebration of this weekend through a sustainable floral installation, which set the tone for past students and family members to reminisce, become reaquainted and feel the nostalgia of those blissful primary school days at Brunswick.

I had no brief, aside from what I had to work with - a quaint old community hall, a handmade taonga from a parent (the live edge wooden bench donanated to the school to raise funds) to highlight and my own preference for all things a bit wild, sustainable and no-waste. Add to that, I was a week out from my roses blooming and the end of my spring bulbs….nothing like a bit of scarcity to promote creative thinking!

To that end, I worked on two wall installations, a standing half arch and a whimsical floor arrangement. I thought you might like to see some of my happy snaps!? Please excuse my photography - it is not my area of expertise!

I received wonderful feedback from folk who (thankfully) appreciated my informal approach and respect for the setting. Honestly, the best part of this was knowing I helped provide a platform to set the scene for a special weekend.

The photo backdrop used Kowhai, Leptospermum, Sachys (which I placed into moist sphagnum moss at the back to “keep nice”) and various Pittosporum variety foliage.