Caring for your Bespoke Structure

Keep this arrangement somewhere cool and out of direct sun, as the peony and delphinium both fade faster in warmth and the orchid prefers steady, gentle conditions. The hydrangea drinks through its petals as much as its stem, so a light mist over the bloom on warmer days keeps its head from wilting prematurely. The delphinium's hollow, brittle stems bruise easily — handle them gently and recut on a sharp angle so they draw water cleanly. Watch the water level closely, since the thirsty hydrangea and full-headed peonies drink quickly, and top up before the orchid's slender stem is left sitting dry.

A note on your specific blooms

  • Delphinium — Keep the tall stems in deep, fresh water and out of draughts, as Delphinium drinks heavily and wilts quickly if the vase runs low.
  • Hydrangea — Hydrangea takes up water through its petals — mist the heads and keep the vase topped up.
  • Orchid — Keep orchid stems in cool, clean water away from ripening fruit, whose ethylene gas makes the blooms drop early.
  • Peony — Cut the stems on an angle and use cool, fresh water, as warmth forces the heavy blooms open too quickly.

How long your flowers last

Expect this arrangement to hold beautifully for 5–7 days overall, with the orchid stems often carrying on for 2–3 weeks after the rest have softened. The delphinium and peony are the first to fade, typically slowing after day five as their tall spires and full heads drop petals, while the hydrangea sits in the middle at 4–7 days. The orchid is the clear endurance flower here, so as the bouquet matures you can lift the spent peonies and delphinium and let the orchid and remaining hydrangea carry the shape. To get the most from this Amicis mix, recut every stem at an angle and refresh the water every two days — clean, cool water is the single habit that extends the whole arrangement.

The story behind these flowers

A closer look at the blooms gathered into this arrangement.

Delphinium

Origin

Native across the Northern Hemisphere, through Europe and Asia

Cultivated since

In European gardens for centuries

Fragrance

Virtually scentless

Symbolises

Openness, lightness & positivity

Named from the Greek for dolphin, after the shape of the flower itself, Delphinium carries blooms in graduated spires of cobalt, violet and white. That vertical line is what makes it indispensable in an arrangement - it draws the eye upward and gives an Amicis design its sense of height and architecture.

Hydrangea

Origin

Japan & the Americas

Cultivated since

Reached European gardens in the 1700s

Fragrance

Very light, fresh and green

Symbolises

Heartfelt emotion & gratitude

Named from the Greek for 'water vessel', the hydrangea carries full, cloud-like heads that shift colour with the soil — from blush and cream to deep blue. Its generous volume gives Amicis bouquets their soft, romantic fullness.

Orchid

Origin

Tropical regions worldwide

Cultivated since

Prized in Asia for centuries; carried to Europe across the 18th and 19th centuries

Fragrance

Most cut varieties virtually scentless

Symbolises

Refinement, luxury & rare beauty

Among the largest plant families on earth, orchids took root across the tropics of Asia and the Americas, cultivated in Asia long before reaching the West. Victorian collectors then chased them across the globe, fuelling a famous European craze. Their arched stems and sculptural blooms bring quiet architecture to an arrangement, holding their form for weeks where softer flowers fade.

Peony

Origin

China

Cultivated since

Over 2,000 years in China

Fragrance

Sweet, soft and rosy

Symbolises

Prosperity, romance & honour

Cultivated in China for more than two thousand years, the peony was crowned the King of Flowers and favoured by emperors long before it reached a Western garden. Its tight bud opens into a deep, ruffled bloom that brings volume and quiet drama to an arrangement – a single stem is often enough.