For the Vase and Floral Work

This collection is very exciting to me. I like making flower and foliage arrangements and there are numerous plants that can be used, either fresh or dried for everything from a wildflower bouquet, to a buttonhole, to a formal centerpiece, to a little posy or a flower crown. It is so fun to be able to harvest from your own garden and this list helps get you started. It is also useful for flower farmers and florists who are interested in leaning into perennials as part of their palette and adding unexpected plants to their repertoire. There are some opportunities for "focal" flowers here, such as peonies, and more of those will be added as the nursery grows. However, where these suggestions shine is in what they offer by way of texture, detail, and movement - the bits and pieces that can make a floral design unique and surprising.

At some point I will probably add a blog post about conditioning flowers, which is an art unto itself. For now, here are some steps to help ensure the longest vase life: Use clean snips and place your cuts immediately into clean buckets or jars of water. Cut early in the morning or late in the evening as these are the times when the plants are most hydrated. Let the flowers and foliage "rest" in water in a cool, dark area, if possible, prior to arranging. Strip the stems of leaves and flowers below the water line. Re-cut the stems as you are arranging. Refresh your bouquet by changing the water regularly, pulling out dead material, and recutting the stems.

There is a ton of information on the web about conditioning and arranging flowers and foliage. There are about one million books on these subjects as well as numerous Youtube videos. You can take all that in, for sure, and if you do, let it be fun. You can also do nothing but run out in your bare feet with your kitchen shears, cut a bunch of things that inspire you, stuff them in a mason jar and call it good.