STILL WATERS

Water is a conduit for tropical life. Floating markets carry trade. Homes on stilts support entire communities. Canals irrigate orchards and ricefields, and from the ocean comes the catch of the day. Floating arrangements conjure up images of lotus-filled ponds, of young seedlings emerging from flooded rice paddies, or the meandering path of a fallen leaf journeying downstream. The simple act of floating flowers in anticipation of arriving guests or for personal pleasure can have both a cleansing and calming effect. Floating arrangements are also suited to the ephemeral nature of tropical flowers. Many do not last long once cut, but it is easy to create and replenish these enchanting floating arrangements with each new day

MASSED MAGIC

Simple, stylish and contemporary, a mass of floating blooms free of their foliage makes a dramatic statement in any space, be it an entranceway, a living room or a courtyard setting. This is an effective way to inject a splash of color into a room of muted hues or to highlight those already present in the surrounding decor. Container sizes for floating arrangements can vary from teacups to swimming pools, although the effect of a motionless watery canvas is more easily achieved in small, shallow vessels. Both long-lasting flowers such as the orchid and short-lived blooms such as the hibiscus are suitable. The latter can be replenished daily from the garden.

Resting in a water-filled tray, star-shaped mokara add the final touch to this exotic canvas of mauve and fuschia vanda orchids and reddish-yellow miniature cattleya hybrids. Framed by the generous tabletop in designer Ou Baholydhin's Bangkok living room, this eye-catching display concentrates the colors of the surroundings.

Under watchful eyes, the rich purple and yellow hues of water lilies welcome guests into the home of Velvadi Sritrairatana and her husband, interior designer Viboon Techakalayatum. In the calm of this muted foyer, the lilies, floating in a large hand-beaten stainless steel tray, tease their admirers by opening and closing in response to changes in light throughout the day.

TRANQUIL NOTES

Delicate blossoms afloat in a ceramic container create a mood of contemplation and sensuality. Waking to a fragrant frangipani floating in a dainty porcelain bowl can set the tone for the day ahead. Taking the time to create or simply to view such simple gestures can have a calming effect. Composition is easy. All that is required are a number of freshly picked blooms from your garden and a sharp pair of scissors with which to trim the stems daily when replacing the water. Limiting flowers to the one variety usually works best in small bowls, which can then be placed on tables, on the ground around indoor pools or along walkways.

Fragrant Wrightia religiosa blossoms encircle the bases of bronze Sakul Intakul "chedi" vessels. From the center rises the mythical Mount Meru, the Buddhist and Hindu spiritual center of the universe.

This small hand-thrown ceramic bowl reflects the scale of the floating lantana flowers, at the same time providing a miniature contemplation feature.

PASSING PARADES

Courtyard water features, dark reflection ponds and even swimming pools can form a sophisticated canvas for larger floating arrangements. The intrinsic charm of flowers adrift lies in their unpredictability as "floral happenings". They take on a life of their own, unfolding at whim and evolving in response to subtle changes in the surrounding environment. To ensure that the impact of the flowers is not diluted given the scale of the setting, simple structural details can be added-banana trunk rings and rolled leaves act as flotation devices, while coconut frond skewers secure flowers to leaves and add form and line to the overall arrangement.

Two varieties of both "ti" plant leaves and desert roses are set adrift in a calm water feature. The rolled leaves, secured with coconut frond spines, are evocative of vernacular watercraft. Their colors complement their delicate floral subjects.

Ivory and green-tinged rings from the trunk of a banana plant form an innovative platform for this floral arrangement. Pink hibiscus blossoms rest upon the floral floats in tranquil repose, while flickering candles inserted into the center of the banana rings add a romantic touch. Bamboo skewers connect each ring in a loose and flowing formation that retains a semblance of order.

FLORAL CROSSINGS

An oasis of calm within a modern cityscape is a rare and precious find, one in which floral arrangements need to be carefully introduced so as not to disrupt the existing ambience. Armfuls of brilliant green stems can be tamed into floating bridges or rafts, dotted with boldly colored exotic blooms. Free of foliage, they take on the appearance of vivid brushstrokes. Plastic thread is used to connect the stems and maintain the form of the rafts. A flower as rich in symbolism as the water lily makes an ideal contrast to the modern, almost minimalist feel of linear flower stems. Such "suspended illusions" can be created in any tranquil indoor or outdoor pond, though scale and proportion need to be considered.

"Bridges" of vibrant green water hyacinth stems connected by invisible threads and sprinkled with dazzling yellow water lilies stretch across the tranquil, chedl-lined inner courtyard pond at The Sukhothai Bangkok. The stems of the water lilies reach through the platforms to drink from the pond below. Both stems and lilies combine to infuse warm tropical color into a restrained yet reverent setting.