Frericksen sees people with very modern and contemporary home interiors still pining for the traditional “holly and ivy.” Frericksen, who has almost 30 years of floral design background and has worked in California’s upscale Beverly Hills and Malibu says Calgary is starting to follow trends closely from NYC and Europe. “In fact, we’re closing the gap when it comes to what’s trendy and hot on the floral scene,” he notes.

“Although there is a predisposition to go to the wines, plums and burgundies this year, the traditional red and green colours are always popular,” says Rosalind Christian, owner of the Eden Lilly Flowers and Gifts in Edmonton. The shift towards organic  and eco-friendly materials such as birch bark, moss, berries and twigs are natural elements that will always have a place in holiday decor. Other organic products being incorporated into wreaths and garlands are pine and cedar, which are chosen for their rustic appeal and heavy aromatic scent. “Christmas greens have intense longevity. They can last the length of the holiday season,” says Christian.

According to Frericksen, the choice of colours to use for the holidays is still very much a divided industry. Frericksen travels across Europe and to New York to see trends and bring them to Calgary.  “I noticed in the last two years that there’s been a lot of the taupe, sands, beiges, browns and coppers. These types of colours are very close and can be used as a theme for the tree, the wreath and the mantelpiece.”

Frericksen says for the holidays he will use a variety of flowers and leaves to incorporate into his holiday designs. “For instance, I could use huge monstera or aralia leaves to which I can add pine or cedar.” Stylized designs with a lot of depth and height are also coming into play, thus making for more architectural arrangements. “It’s not at all undefined and it’s definitely not the posy style,” says Frericksen.

Meanwhile, the “sugar plum fairy” feeling is one of the styles being adapted by Edmonton’s Eden Lilly Flowers and Gifts. “We use a lot of ornaments and greens on our table centrepieces because they last longer,” says Christian, adding she also uses a lot of purple and wine-coloured hues in her arrangements, depending on the palette a customer is working with.

Christian, who also spends plenty of time browsing flower shops in New York City and other floral destinations to get a feel for what people are looking for and for her own inspiration, agrees that this year people will opt for very grand, lush arrangements with a lot of height and a very organic feel, but says that unpredictable forms as well as architectural styles will both make their mark on the holiday scene.

Christian has happily observed, when it comes to flowers and styles, what you get in the Big Apple  can also be sourced locally and arrangements can definitely be adapted to what people want for the holidays.  However, making them last the whole length of the season is another issue. “When it comes to cut flowers you’re going to get an average of one to two weeks,” she says. “We always suggest that clients consider using a mix of Christmas greens or ornaments and then just  switch the flowers every two weeks. Using orchids is another way to have an arrangement that can last throughout the season.”

Frericksen, whose clientele include oil and gas corporations decorating their offices, says that of the things to remember is that Calgary has one of the driest climates in the world, so greenery can dry up really fast.  “We don’t have the ocean climate like in B.C. or Europe, where we can put up fresh garlands and boughs two to three weeks ahead. So If you want a fresh arrangement in your home, you can do so three to four days before Christmas Day,” says Frericksen.

But timing for bringing out the festive foliage is not cut and dry­—if you really want to, it’s OK to do a little decorating early in the season. One very popular style Frericksen suggests is the use of orchids like cymbidiums, which has very large blooms that fare well in the winter and boast shades reflective of the holidays. “People do pay a little more for cymbidiums, but if you have a beautiful silver dish to put on the dining table and you have several of these orchids, you can then pair it with big decorative candles and greenery. Now that is very simple, yet elegant, holiday decor.”  NL