Michael van Namen: The enchantment of lilies

I am Michael van Namen and my passion in this business is to show the world how enchanting flowers can be. What I love most is processing flowers in such a way that their natural beauty continues to shine, just as they grow in nature. I love that!

What I find so special about lilies is the miracle of their growth: from a modest bud, a majestic flower emerges. And the hues of some lilies, such as Viva la Vida, are truly magnificent.

Although some lilies smell strongly, there are lots of other varieties that are a great alternative. What I also love is that lilies are immediately noticeable from a distance. I work a lot on corso floats and you can tell immediately that they are lilies. They are real eye-catchers!

My favorites are the double-flowered lilies, especially in soft pink shades. The Double Diamond Is my absolute favorite! Their lush petals and the fact that they have no pollen make them perfect for weddings and parties, as they don't stain your clothes. Even in funeral arrangements, with just a few pretty open flowers, they look beautiful!

It is always a privilege to be given a free hand when arranging flowers, as was the case on Bredefleur's Customer Day. Imagine a huge vase filled with 60 different lilies, each in their own maturity and color. The result is an explosion of beauty!

And the garden I created, there I let each lily shine in its own unique, natural way. Each lily its own stage.

Furthermore, I think the grower should surprise the arranger and vice versa. I like to put the flowers on a sort of cooking island and use them to cook and thus ultimately surprise. The best part is that I then surprise the grower again by my creations with his product. Grower, just give me what you would like to show and then I will cook. So thank you, Bredefleur for this great opportunity!

It is a pity that sometimes lilies are still seen as mourning flowers or that they would all smell strongly. I would like to take this opportunity to let all florists, at home and abroad, know that there are so many different kinds of lilies, in all kinds of colors and sizes, that do not remind you of mourning at all. And many lilies do not smell at all or just a little. So florists should continue to tell stories about them, especially to the younger generation.

Also, one last tip from Michael: "If you find that your lilies end up smelling too strong inside anyway, put them outside on your garden table or balcony. They look beautiful there too and brighten your day right outside too!"