How to Arrange Flowers Simply and Beautifully

 

I did wedding flowers when I was younger, so I have seen a few trends come and go. When I started doing wedding flowers the bouquets were very formally styled. As time passed they became more informal as have flower arrangements in general.  I prefer a bouquet that appears naturally gathered or a simple single-species bouquet. I don’t have much blooming in my new garden but bougainvillea. Look how beautiful it looks in this gorgeous vessel. That is the beauty of a single species bouquet, anyone can create a beautiful arrangement.  It is all about the vessel that it is arranged in. Let’s take a look at How to Arrange Flowers Simply and Beautifully.

 

A bouquet of simple sunflowers in one of my favorite vessels is beautiful in its simplicity.

A gorgeous bouquet of The Prince from my former garden.

A giant bouquet of landscape roses.

 

Hydrangeas from my former garden..

 

These hydrangeas I purchased from the Wholesale Florist and are just beginning to brown at three weeks! With proper care hydrangeas can last quite a long time.  This is a record though I think.

Any flower “en masse” in a gorgeous vessel always makes a statement and anyone can do it. Creating a mixed bouquet requires a little more skill. You can read more about single species bouquets in my post here Simple Flower Arrangements you Can Create from your Garden here

HOW TO ARRANGE FLOWERS SIMPLY AND BEAUTIFULLY

When selecting flowers for arranging in a natural bouquet select flowers based on what’s currently blooming in your own garden or what is available at your local market. Pick flowers with different growth patterns, shapes, and sizes, so your arrangement doesn’t look like too stiff. Here is a simple bouquet I created when I had very little blooming in my former garden

Flower Arranging 101

Step 1: Gather your materials.

• Clippers — You’ll need gardening clippers or floral snippers
• Vase — Choose your favorite vase in which to display the flowers. I personally think it is all about the vessel, especially with single species bouquets.
• Plant food — Pre-made bouquets usually come with packets of plant food. I use bleach.  It works just as well if not better.
• Water — I like to have a spray bottle filled with water handy.  I spritz the flowers as I arrange them until the vase is filled.
• Your Gathered Flowers — You’ll need greenery, primary flowers, and secondary flowers for the arrangement.

Step 2: Remove any thorns and leaves that will reside below the waterline.

Step 3: Measure the flowers against your vase of choice and cut them to size. Vary the sizes of the stems but keep them within a few inches of each other unless you are preparing a gigantic bouquet. Cut the stems on the diagonal. This will let the flowers soak up more water and prolong their life.

Step 4: Fill your vase half full with water. You’ll want to change the water every few days. This step is very important your bouquet will last much longer if you do this.

Step 5: Pour 1/4 t of bleach into the bottom of the vessel (or the commercial stuff they give you)

Step 6: Start by criss-crossing your foliage to create a base. Forming this lattice pattern will create a sturdy base for your other flowers.

Step 7: Add in your focal flowers, making sure they are spread out. The focal flowers are the ones you want to highlight. They may be the most colorful, the biggest or just your favorites.

Step 8: Add in any of your secondary flowers. Secondary flowers tend to be smaller and will round out the flower arrangement.

Step 9: Rearrange or fill in as needed. Remove any petals that are wilted and adjust the foliage so that it fills in  any empty spaces.

Here is a fall arrangement I made last year from foraged berries and fruit from my former garden. Look closely at your garden.  Often when you think there isn’t a thing to pick there are the makings for a beautiful bouquet.  A beautiful vessel always helps.

This is another bouquet created from simple fall leaves and hydrangeas.  Hydrangeas have a long season and because of their size create a lot of bang for the buck.  They are one of my favorite flowers to work with.

This is a more formal arrangement that I created for this post How to Create a Collected Fall Tablescape.

Sunflowers are another favorite because of their size, availability and the punch they give a bouquet.

This arrangement was created for a local charity event.  You can read about that in this post How to Rock a Bohemian Christmas Table

Another favorite vessel that I use (especially when I had a long table) is a box made of old fence boards.  It is really easy to fill with foraged florals because nothing needs to have a long stem.  Here are a few I have created over the years.  All vessels or similar are linked at the bottom of this post.

Another fall arrangement from a Thanksgiving past.

And a baby shower in pinks

A baby shower for Little Summer in bright pinks. You can read more about the shower in this post Girl Baby Shower You Can Copy.

SHOP MY FAVORITE VESSELS FOR ARRANGING SIMPLE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS

I know this was a long post.  I could go on forever talking about flowers.  Don’t be afraid to create a simple, natural arrangement.  Single species bouquets are my current favorite.  Just have fun, you don’t need to follow any rules.  I hope you enjoyed How to Arrange Flowers Simply and Beautifully.

You might also enjoy the post Three Weddings and…

Now pop over and visit my friends for their inspiring ideas.  I know you will love them!