Summer flowers — whether massed in formal arrangements or used to brighten a picnic with friends, they’re everywhere, and they’re gorgeous.
But how do you get those glorious arrangements?
Condition your Material
Do-it-yourself bouquets for parties, celebrations, or just to brighten a room take some planning because you’ll need to cut your flowers and foliage the day before the celebration. Make the stems longer than you think you’ll need. Peter’s Flowers suggests, “Use a very sharp knife or scissors and cut the stems on an angle. Be sure to plunge them into a bucket of water immediately.”
After you’ve gathered your materials, cut the stems again on a 45-degree angle, but do it under water. (You want to keep about an inch of the stem in water as you cut.)
Then store the flowers and foliage in water overnight in a cool, dry place.
This allows the flowers to condition, or soak up as much water as possible, so they look fresh as long as possible.
Choose your Containers
Chances are you’ve picked up some wonderful containers at flea markets and thrift shops. Now add some imagination.
Think of several clear, slender vases grouped together with one perfect delphinium bloom in each.
Maybe you’ve found white-glazed ironware jugs, mugs, or bowls. Try arranging them filled with white hydrangeas for a cool look, or use a contrasting color for some drama.
Match the color of your blooms to the container — or use the container’s color to provide a pop of contrast.
Try a few simple zinnias or dahlias tucked in rustic containers to brighten a makeshift table at an impromptu gathering.
Planning an outdoor tea? Think about using a number of small containers — old dessert dishes, salt cellars, or even shot glasses — for tiny arrangement favors that your guests can take home with them. Work with individual hydrangea florets, small mounds of baby’s tears, or maybe even one perfect love-in-a-mist or echinops.
Or you may want to take full advantage of summer’s bounty to arrange a massive bouquet that celebrates the lush variety of colors, textures, and scents available. Need a few tips? Check out this video of Nicolette Owen and Sarah Ryhanen from Brooklyn’s Little Flower School.
Less can be More
Don’t waste those blooms that don’t have a long enough stem to go in a traditional arrangement. Show off their perfection by floating them individually in votive candle holders or porcelain tea cups or massed in a large, shallow dish. Be sure to keep the stems at least an inch long so the blossoms get enough water.
More can be More, too
Maybe you have a different vision for your bouquets — something that’s out of the ordinary. How about re-creating bouquets from the paintings of the Old Masters? The results can be breathtaking and evocative.
Instead of Old Masters, why not build a bouquet with the feel of Monet’s gardens at Giverny — serene vistas of water lilies, reeds, and reflecting ponds?
Give your imagination free rein to play with images from a formal parterre garden, a cool Moorish oasis, or a lush tropical hideaway and see what you come up with. In summer, the materials are always close at hand and you’re sure to find new inspiration every day.
