We're thrilled to share a beautiful arrangement with you each time, and hope it will inspire you to add the beauty of real flowers to your home. My friend Shirley, the editor and designer at Housepitality Designs organized this, and I'm so honored she invited me to be a part of this fun and inspiring group!
My very first Floral Friday Arrangement is inspired by the colors of spring in Europe. Bright, fresh, and a little bit country.
When we lived in Europe, our house was across from a huge field of tulip and bulb growers. In the spring, the sight was absolutely breathtaking! Because the growers actually planted the flowers to sell their bulbs, not their flowers, right after they put on their best "look at me, I'm beautiful" show, they were cut down to the ground. {I hated that part!} But the bonus was that I could literally buy armfuls of tulips for our home for a few Euro's.
Isn't it gorgeous? This is right before the flower "farmer" {because this farmer only grew bulbs in spring time - the rest of the year he planted regular vegetable crops - the Dutch called him a flower farmer} cut off all these little pink beauties. After the workers bundled the flowers, I could drive to his barn and literally gather up huge bunches of 30-50 tulips or other flowers for less than 8 Euros. It was difficult not to be greedy!
So let's talk about styling a simple and gorgeous SPRING floral arrangement. Some of you might not feel confident in arranging flowers, but I promise, it's not difficult! At all.
Just like you, I have a passion for flowers. I carefully choose les fleurs that make up my bouquet each week, even though these days driving around to the farmer's barn in Europe is in the long ago past.
There are so many beautiful flowers to choose from! We are lucky in that here, in California, there are plenty of flower growers, and the small flower boutiques are plenty. But there are also beautiful flowers at our Trader Joe's, or any of the other markets to choose from. And arranging flowers yourself at home is a huge money saver, as well as creatively satisfying.
For this very first arrangement for Floral Friday, I chose the most simple French Country flowers to share. Really, you can't go wrong. This arrangement looks equally beautiful in your entrance hall, on your dining room table, or as a "welcome home" in your mud room.
Here's how to design your own Spring Arrangement:
I'm going to start with the very basic "rules" of arranging flowers, so go get your flowers, container, water and clippers or a knife, and join me at the table, kitchen or potting bench.
I know you will produce stunning floral arrangements. Every time. Guaranteed.
1. CHOOSE YOUR CONTAINER.
Pick a container that can hold enough water, it can be a "real" vase, a bucket, a tea pot, or a French antique.
I started with an antique French zinc pitcher. I love these, and sell them at FrenchGardenHouse, because not only are they very handy in the garden, they have wonderful patina, and look sensational filled with flowers.
Add luke-warm water, and floral preservative, if you have it. Most flower bouquets come with it. I also add a few drops of bleach, to keep the water fresher.
2. CUT THE STEMS OF YOUR FLOWERS.
Cut each flower with a sharp knife right before putting it into the water in your container. Some people use snips, just be sure they are super sharp and clean. I find that scissors or snips "close" off the end of the stem, letting less water travel up to nourish the flower, so I prefer a sharp knife. {I know this is not a flower I used for this bouquet, but I already had the photo! Sorry!}
3. ADD THE FLOWERS TO YOUR CHOSEN VASE.
Put your flowers in your container, and don't be afraid to move them around until you love how they look! Especially in a country arrangement like this, there is no wrong way to arrange your beauties.
You want it to look just like you went out into the garden - in France, of course! - cut flowers, and then casually dropped them into a pitcher. Choose flowers that are different in shape and size for visual interest. Remember that an uneven amount of stems for each flower type always looks best. So: 3 hydrangeas look better than 4. etc.
Some flowers should fit deep into the container, while others can jump out a little bit, for depth.
4. DISPLAY YOUR ARRANGEMENT WITH PRIDE.
You can push and pull {gently} on your flowers a little until they look just like you want them to, this type of arrangement is meant to be "loose" and free.
Now display them somewhere where you can enjoy them. Every time you see your arrangement, you will know it's almost SPRING! And smile every time you see the beauty you created.
French Country Zinc Pitcher | Antique French Zinc Body Pitcher
Please be sure to visit my friends today for their gorgeous floral inspiration!
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22 comments
Lidy, What a gorgeous sight that must have and then to able to purchase an armful of those beautiful tulips after they were harvested! I love your combination of hydrangeas, stock, larkspur, ornamental cabbage for your French Country arrangement…and I just HAPPEN to know a Potting Shed that would love have that handsome French zinc pitcher to fill with flowers! Your French Country vignette is wonderful from your chippy café chair to the wire basket and beautiful blooms. It was a pleasure to join for Floral Friday.?
Lidy, I can’t imagine living across from that beautiful field of tulips, I would have been greedy for sure. What wonderful tips on designing an arrangement. Your French country design is perfect in every way from the zinc pitcher to each carefully chosen stem! What a fun series to be a part of. Happy Friday~