The Inspiration
“For the how-to arrangement I wanted to explore colors that one might not necessarily consider using together. Texture helps bring the palette together along with the green elements.” — Kirk Whitfield of K & Co Flowers
Find Kirk’s step-by-step tutorial for the arrangement above at the end of this post.
The Floral Designs
Materials List
- Variegated sweet peas
- Hydrangea
- Clematis
Materials List
- Hyacinth
- Ranunculus
- Hellebores
Materials List
Kirk Whitfield’s Floral Tutorial
How-To Materials List
- ‘Butterfly’ double ranunculus
- Peonies
- Tweedia
- Asclepia (milkweed)
- Lysimachia (gooseneck loosestrife)
Step 1
Make a grid on the top of the container using clear tape, which is easier to hide than green florist tape. Then add a line of tape around the top edge to make it more secure, and add water.
Step 2
Strip the bottom leaves from the ‘Butterfly’ ranunculus, and fill the arrangement with the stems, creating a base with their foliage.
Step 3
Trim the peonies and place them throughout the whole arrangement. I used about 20 stems.
Step 4
I love the baby-blue shade of tweedia with its touch of pink that plays well with the peonies. Place 10 stems throughout the container.
Step 5
Now for the final touches. I added asclepia (milkweed) for texture and to help bridge the colors.
Step 6
Then I finished with some lysimachia (gooseneck loosestrife) for their shape and “pokey” quality.
Produced by Alice Welsh Doyle | Photography by Laurey Glenn | Floral design by Kirk Whitfield of K & Co Flowers kandcoflowers.com
This story appears in Flower magazine’s Jan/Feb 2021 issue. Subscribe to the magazine or sign up for our free e-newsletter.

On the Cover, Jan/Feb 2021: Blue accents, including a vinyl wallpaper and a light-reflecting ceiling, bring color to the kitchen in an “estate condition” New York apartment designed by Phillip Thomas. Photographed by Michael Mundy. See story.