My freestyle bouquets - step by step

The season is winding down in my cutting garden. I have my fingers crossed that my dahlias keep blooming for a little longer. I know that the inevitable will happen when the temperature drops so today I cut everything that was blooming and decided to make one big bouquet using all the flowers.

These guys stop you in your tracks.

Some of my dahlias are not in shades I would usually grow, or at least not in shades I would arrange together. This year, I decided to be free from colour restraints and combine every imaginable colour.

Here is what I gathered from the cutting garden.

Texture is my way to make the arrangement cohesive.

These hydrangea blooms are a little past their prime so I made sure to put the pretty side out as this arrangement is to be viewed from one side only.

I have no formal training in flower arranging. I think that will be obvious from my step-by-step here. It is just my way of building my bouquet. That said, I don’t approach every bouquet the same way. It just depends on what I have to work with.

Added in some Stipa Gigantea plumes.

This is an unusual choice of base flowers, I know.

When I have so many flowers I use very little greenery, if I use any at all. I consider these zinnias my “filler”.

I find being relaxed about rules is the way to enjoy the process. If I add enough texture, almost any combination of flowers will look pleasing.

I love nigella seed pods almost as much as I love the nigella flowers. Any flower known as “love in a mist” is on my Must Have list. They come so beautifully from seed.

Added a few longer stems for shape and hops for texture. The final addition was the stipa gigantea sprigs.

I think you get the idea. Don’t overthink it. Just have fun and create xo