CI-IRISTIAN TORTU'S FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS do not sit passively on tables waiting to be admired.With operatic flair, they celebrate the drama of birth,death-and everything in between-with equal enthusiasm. Tortu's floral arrangements reflect his admiration for each stage of a plant's life-the newborn bud, the proud blossom, and the wilting flower, which germinates to start nature's cycle again. Life virtually bursts forth from his dynamic arrangements.

Sensational Bouquets by Christian Tortu beautifully documents how Tortu bends the rules of traditional flower arranging to design exciting and thoroughly contemporary bouquets. His strong opinions and design sensibilities are gathered in this volume like an illustrated manifesto, featuring stunning arrangements of unexpected plants in wicked combinations that are not For the faint of heart.Exploiting the enormous dramatic potential in floral design, he encourages readers to look at flowers with an open mind. Calling upon his childhood memories of a country landscape, Tortu looks to nature For its visual diversity. In his hands,every plant is worthy of a bouquet. From green tomatoes and tea grass to water lilies, Tortu'sbold combinations surprise and delight with their spontaneous elegance.

  Preface

GENESIS

  All Flowers Are Created Equal

  The Flower in All Its Stages

  Green All Over

REVOLUTION(S])

  The Color Revolution

  The Form Revolution

  The Revolution in Use

CROSSROADS

Integrating the Exotic

Lessons from Nature

CHRONICLE OF A BLACK BOUQUET

The Bouquet Arrangements