Ever heard of floral jewelry? Beautiful rings, bracelets, and earrings are crafted from flowers, leaves—even live plants. Combined with wire and ribbon, they’re a stunning amalgam of the natural and the created, the ephemeral and the enduring.
Floral jewelry pieces are only some of the astonishing plant artworks created by Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences students taking Floriculture Arts. The 491 class, under the direction of professors Tessie Amore and Orville Baldos, created leaves and fronds braided and woven into hand-crafted roses and fanciful swirls, and more traditional floral arrangements also featuring found objects.
The students planned to display their works in UH Mānoa’s Hamilton Library and further refine their skills by crafting centerpieces for CTAHR’s 32nd Annual Banquet. Although stay-at-home orders put an end to those plans, the undaunted classmates have prepared an online exhibition on Instagram and Facebook.
Check out the exquisite creations, read how the students found inspiration, and comment on their work. Artworks will be posted through May 1st.