"Flower-Lane between nature" by Lucinda van der Ploeg

Floral designer artist Lucinda van der Ploeg was asked by the Fleur Creatif team to decorate one of the dungeons, the torture room, of the beautiful castle of Alden Biesen during Fleuramour 2014.

As a little girl Lucinda loved to walk through nature and really experience it. "I would occasionally just lay down in the field or in the forest to look around, listen and smell. I really wanted to be immersed. At Alden Biesen I wanted to something with this feeling for the visitors. Let them experience that feeling in a smaller setting."

Nowadays, people mostly look at an object and take pictures... But people forget to feel and to pick up the atmosphere it brings them. Therefore, I have created an object in this dungeon where the public had to walk through. The creation should not just be seen, but also be experienced, felt and smelled. I wanted to immerse the visitor intensely. To give them an expercience of what I feel when I lay down in the field and absorp the nature... This is how I came to the idea of "Flower-Lane between nature."

When the base was set, thanks to two very sweet students (thank you girls!), it was time to arrange the grasses and flowers. Lucinda got to work together with her top assistant Hanky Frèrejean!

Making off video from "Flower-Lane between nature"

The structure:

The structure was made with wood and hogweed (Heracleum). This Hogweed just comes from nature along the highway or railway... they are lovely big. I often drive by them and love to work with them. After checked by the police, I came back at an other pint of the day to pick them up! Lol, beeing a bit naughty is o.k. right?!

On the structure waterbins were placed, inthere Smithers Oasis floral foam (corso-brick).

The sides of the structure were finished with Ligularia Leaves. I used the red coloured back. These leaves get a leather-like look when they soften after laying dry for a day. After the stems have become somewhat slacker they could be bend around. Two student from the "Wellant College" have helped me with this. Great to see these young student at work!

The entire construction is in a half-circle from two sides so that visitors can walk through like your walking into a lane of nature... wondering what is around the corner. It was like you could hide from the people outside and have a moment for yourzelf to enjoy the beauty of flowers...

"Tom de Houwer" "It looked great, very natural. I felt like I was a small bug when I walked through the majestic hogweed..."

The Flowers and grasses:
I'm really spoiled by my sponsors with beautiful flowers and grasses! That can truly make me happy. For me the right combination of flowers, textures, sizes, are a must to get to the perfect effect!!

For colours I chose pink and orange tones. These two colour shades reinforce each other. They give a warm feeling of harmony, but still triggers the life-energie...

First we arranged the grasses. I had the most beautiful grasses... wauw! Incredible.. When this was placed... the atmosphere was already perfect... just how I wanted it to be... relaxing, peace, mother-earth, warmth, hamony.... ahhh... SUPER!

Then the flowers ... I wanted to arrange the flowers in an up-straight line. Such as they grow out of the ground. This reinforces the natural effect.

Hanky "Luus, I feel so lucky and privileged to be able to create this ... and with you .. I'm enjoying!" We have worked with a lot of fun!

Step by Step "Flower-Lane between nature"

Step one: The Structure:

The structure was made with wood and hogweed (Heracleum). This Hogweed just come from nature along the highway ... they are lovely big. I often drive by thought I could do something with that ☺

Bins with Smithers Oasis floral foam were placed in which the flowers and grasses will be inserted.

The side and legs of the structure were finished with Pallet Liugularia L

Step one: The Structure:

The structure was made with wood and hogweed (Heracleum). This Hogweed just come from nature along the highway ... they are lovely big. I often drive by thought I could do something with that ☺

Bins with Smithers Oasis floral foam were placed in which the flowers and grasses will be inserted.

Step one: The Structure:

The structure was made with wood and hogweed (Heracleum). This Hogweed just come from nature along the highway ... they are lovely big. I often drive by thought I could do something with that ☺

Bins with Smithers Oasis floral foam were placed in which the flowers and grasses will be inserted.

Step one: The Structure:

The side and legs of the structure were finished with Pallet Liugularia Leaves. I used the red coloured back). After the stems have become somewhat slacker they could be bend around.

The entire construction is in a semi-circle from two sides so that visitors can walk through like your walking into a turning lane... wondering what is around the corner.

Step two: The Flowers and Grasses:

I'm really spoiled by my sponsors with beautiful flowers and grasses! That can truly make me happy. For me the right combination of flowers, textures, sizes, are a must to get to the perfect effect!!

For colours I chose pink and orange tones. These two colour shades reinforce each other. They give a warm feeling of harmony, but still triggers the life-energie...