Introibo- with Flowers

Flowers for the altar of repose High altar arrangements For Holy Thursday, I visited our local bulb farm and selected gold and white irises, colors for the Holy Eucharist.   White centranthus is always a good filler that grows like a weed in my garden.  For greenery I used magnolia, pittosporum, laurel and camellia.  Unfortunately, most of the yellow irises weren't quite open for today's feast. Irises need direct sunlight to open and the last three days have been mostly rainy.  On a positive note, the arrangements will be brought back out to decorate the church on Easter Sunday, when all of the irises are at their peak.   The fragrant yellow rhododendrons were a last minute treasure found in the garden where I cut my greenery.  The climbing yellow rose was also an irresistible addition.  After looking at altars of repose on the New Liturgical Movement's website, I was inspired to do more than just my usual small arrangements.  I used a rectangular ceramic dish with floral f

Roses, alstromeria and pink Breath of Heaven Roman Chasuble that will be worn at our Traditional Latin Mass on Laetare Sunday   For these arrangements, I pruned my prolific pink Breath of Heaven shrub and used two generous bunches to "stop up the drain" of the vases, rather than use floral foam.  (Michael Gaffney taught me this useful technique!)  I added some camellia greens for texture and then the soft pink roses and dark fuchsia alstroemeria- to complement the antique silk Roman chasuble Father will wear tomorrow.   For more arrangements with rose vestments, please see my post:  Gaudete & Laetare: altar flowers for rose vestments .

I went to the store with irises in mind.  However, when I saw bunches of tulips in rich violet- so fitting for Septuagesima Sunday- I couldn't resist!  Large carnations are also a personal favorite, and these were carnation perfection.  The violet centered white alstroemeria would lighten up the arrangements.  Dark colors tend to disappear the further back you stand, but this time I decided to go for it and keep it reminiscent of the penitential times ahead.  Greens used: magnolia, pittosporum and camellia. See Marie-Jacqueline's wonderful  post  on "Shrovetide" flowers for the time before Lent. On Sexagesima Sunday, with fresh water added during the week, these flowers are still fresh and beautiful!

Alstroemeria is my faithful flower friend for altar arrangements.  It's beautiful, inexpensive, comes in a wide variety of colors, is available year round, and lasts two to three weeks (at least!).  I even find its form to be i nteresting enough to stand alone in a vase of greenery.   This week the flower selection at the grocery store was dismal and my garden hasn't quite started blooming.  I decided to focus on a lot of lush greenery (pittosporum, laurel and camellia) with some burnt orange and yellow alstroemeria.  I think these colors look lovely with the green and gold vestments! 

In anticipation of Gaudete Sunday, I post a variety of arrangements I have made in the past incorporating various shades of rose.   Rose vestments come in a variety of colors from a pale apricot to a rich raspberry.  Here are a few examples: Solemnis maniple and chalice veil Slabbinck chasuble with apricot damask and red orphrey Solemnis chasuble in raspberry damask Sacra Domus Aurea stole, maniple and chalice veil   18th century chasuble from 'Shades of Rosacea' Toomey Avignon (Easter egg) pink chasuble with violet orphrey Solemnis gothic chasuble Is there a proper shade of rose for Gaudete and Laudete? From what I can tell, not exactly. Shawn Tribe writes an interesting post Shades of Rosacea:  On the Litrugucal Colour Rose, which you can find  here .  In it he recommends certain shades over others but gives no definitive answer to this question.  For altar flowers for Laetare and Gaudete, here are some samples of past arrangements. But above all, rejoice!   

Processional litter and altar flowers for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Ave Maria! White oriental lilies, alstromeria, carnations, wild heather, with magnolia, redwood, camelia and pittosporum greens.