Let the Sunshine In

Big, bold sunflowers are a happy symbol that cooler temperatures may be on their way, popping up in Arkansas fields during late summer and early fall. Thanks to their plentiful nature and festive appearance, floral designer Chris Norwood of Tipton Hurst in Little Rock often chooses them for casual gatherings with an outdoorsy atmosphere. “Sunflowers' golds, browns and spice tones are perfect for this time of year,” he says. “And they have a bit of a Tuscan feel, which is wonderful for less formal entertaining, like a family-style outdoor dinner party. They're more often found in unstructured growing environments, so they really have a comfortable feel.”
   
For these arrangements, Norwood primarily used Arkansas-grown sunflowers, including the smaller blossoms and those with varied colors, combining them with bright yellow Sunbrights from the west coast. “I love to mix in flowers from local growers whenever possible,” he says. He combined them with other botanicals with a rustic feel, like millet grass, Chinaberry and acacia greenery.
   
To create the structure for the three arrangements, Norwood used chicken-wire frames inside terra-cotta pots filled with water, rather than floral foam. “They like a lot of hydration,” he says. “So they aren't as long-lasting in foam.” He created three distinct, yet equally versatile looks, working with only sunflowers in one, clustering sunflowers, millet and China berry into contrasting bands in another, and finally mixing all the elements together.
   
With plenty of water to drink, sunflowers should last a while inside, but Norwood also adds that they dry beautifully. “Whether you like the dried petals, or just the center of the blooms, they make a striking dried flowers, as do the other elements in these arrangements,” he says.