One of my favourite gardeny things to do is putting flowers in vases. I can't really call it arranging! I particularly like this with flowers that I'm about to have to cut down for some reason, because it feels neat and frugal, and also with odd things - like the fatsia leaves here.
This is today's other attempt:
Unfortunately the peonies had short stems so I couldn't use a vase as tall as I would have liked and it all looks very clumpy. Never mind, it was great fun!
I would appreciate any tips on getting better at arranging. A lot of the books I see seem to show results I don't really want to aim for - I like things to look informal, but frankly these two are far better than I normally manage, they're flukes, and often it's very frustrating to have lovely flowers and know that I could have done much better with them if I had a clue what I was up to...
They are both fab arrangements. I especially like the second one and don't for second find it clumpy.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could take a short arranging course at your local college? Or just keep going as you are as I'm sure you will find your rhythm!
Ryan
Wonderful! Fatsia makes a super fan shape with no help from us at all!
ReplyDeleteLovely. I tend to do small what I call Tussey Mussey bunches in a small vase one because I am lazy and 2 because I don't like to pick too many from the garden as they last so much better outside. I do try and add something smelly nice smelly at present I am adding honeysuckle I know it soon drops but in the eveneing especially it is lovely.
ReplyDeleteOhhh, Emily, they both are beautiful! If I needed to chose, I'd vote for the second arrangement. You are talented!
ReplyDeleteI think you did a good job. I like the second arrangement too.
ReplyDeleteI love flowers arranged like that, fresh from the garden. It doesn't seem to me that you need to go on a course - except that I guess you can pick up useful tips on how to keep flowers going. Treat yourself to a day course at Perch Hill or something - they're having an open day this Saturday (13 June).
ReplyDeleteEmily I think both are great - I especially like the first with the fanned Fatsia leaves. I'm horrible at arrangements. I want to get good also - even have a pretty good size collection of vases just for this reason but I can't do them. My daughter just picks the flowers and they are arranged in her hand it seems - don't know how she does that. And would you believe my husband picks me bouquets? He brought one to me at the hospital and I swear every nurse, aid and anyone who worked there came to my room to see it because it was so pretty and they knew HE had made it for me! He ALWAYS picks me the last bouquet of summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks all. Funny how I can see ways to get better by looking at the pictures of them here, which I couldn't see looking at the real thing.
ReplyDeleteRainGardener - I love your last bit, so so romantic! But I hate to say it, I'd hate my husband to make a bouquet because he gets to be brilliant at everything and I still haven't grown out of feeling I'm not Me if I'm not best at something.
I think you have done a spectacular job! What great arrangments! They are gorgeous
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