Floral Foraging Challenge
If you follow along on Instagram, you already know… yesterday, my plan was to put together ONE floral arrangement. I ventured around our yard with my gardening shears, a bucket, and a vase to fill. I came back inside with wayyyy more than what would fill my single vase, so I ended up putting together multiple arrangements. What was supposed to be a quick 15 minute creative break in my afternoon turned into today’s blog post. Why? Because it was really fun and much needed. We may be stuck at home right now, but spring is here and it’s beautiful out there, my friends! I thought it would be fun to challenge you guys to join me in foraging your yard or outdoor space to pull together a little vignette that makes you smile today or this week. You in? Get out there, get some fresh air & sunshine, and take a little creative break sometime today. I promise it’s good for the soul. Click through to see my arrangements and get some quick tips! I also share a bunch of favorite vases at the end of this post, if you happen to be on the hunt…
I went outside without a specific plant, branch, or flower in mind. My goal was to look around, snip some things I liked that felt inspiring, bring them back in, and fill up my vase. I’d definitely recommend doing this because you never know what you’ll find! I ended up pulling together both large and small arrangements. Branches work well for large, sculptural arrangements, while flowers or smaller blooms are easy to drop into a bud vase.
I snipped a hydrangea from our front porch planters for a small bud vase I styled on our living room coffee table. Many people feel guilty cutting flowers from their yard, garden, or planters, but my philosophy is this… flowers only live for a short amount of time before they begin to wilt. Sure- they may last last a tiny bit longer on the plant, but where will that flower make you smile? It’s ok to clip one or two and bring them inside- it’s all part of the beauty to enjoy while it lasts! Now I get to see my hydrangeas outside on the front porch, and in our living room. It’s a win / win.
In our kitchen, I opted for delicate branches. Sometimes a little greenery is all you need! I promised a few foraging tips, so you can find those below:
- Grab your gloves, a bucket or basket, and a sharp pair of scissors or shears.
- Cut your stems and botanicals at a sharp angle to make them last longer.
- Look for stems that have just started blooming (or are almost ready to open)… these will last longer.
- Wipe off any excess dirt, trim stray bits, remove blooms that are on their last leg, and shake out any bugs.
- Quickly get your stems back inside and submerge them in cold water to keep them from wilting.
- Change the water every couple days.
- Have fun with it! There is no right way to do this… wild, asymmetric arrangements often end up looking the prettiest.
You’ll quickly figure out what holds up well inside and what doesn’t. I’ve learned what plants & botanicals in my yard do better as arrangements, and those I can expect to only last a few days. The branches in our entryway, pictured below, are BEAUTIFUL… but the flower petals will start dropping in the next day or two. I’ll enjoy it while it lasts!
My challenge for you is this…Â
- Get outside today and forage for some branches or flowers.
- Create an arrangement.
- Take a photo of it and tag me @roomfortuesday. I’ll share my favorites on Instagram today & tomorrow!Â
Have fun and enjoy some creative time outside today, friends! I can’t wait to see what you come up with. I’ll also link some of my favorite vases below…
