I’m Maria Nieuwenhof from Quebec, Canada (Zone 5). I was going through my pictures over the last few days and trying to figure out what annuals I will start from seeds this year for my bouquets. When I go to see friends, or when I visit my father in Montreal, or when I have an event to go to I bring one or more bouquets. I started in late April with my first bouquet that had daffodils and ended in early November with achillea.
This year was a busy year for events. We had two baby showers, I participated in my gardening club’s flower show; after that I had a garden visit, and plenty of lunches with friends. In addition, I bring a bouquet to my dad every week and of course always have one on my kitchen table. I use only plants that grow at home—perennials, annuals that I start from seed, and some wildflowers, branches, and leaves that grow on our large property. I am starting to be more creative with my bouquets and am always on the lookout for things I can use. I love walking around the garden with my basket in the morning and asking myself, “What is going in the bouquet today?” or “What color will it be?” These photos are only a few examples. I hope you enjoy them.
Late April in Quebec, beautiful daffodils (Narcissus hybrid, Zones 3–8) take center stage, set off by branches trimmed from shrubs in the garden.
It’s tulip time, accented by the variegated foliage of ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria, Zones 4–9) and hosta (Hosta hybrid, Zones 3–8).
Here’s a sunny early summer bouquet, with a range of yellow blooms. Yellow evening primrose (Oenothera sp.) shows off in the center, while spires of purple veronica (Veronica spicata, Zones 3–8) give contrast in both color and form.
This is a study in lavender, with beautiful daylily (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zones 3 – 10) blooms. Individual daylily flowers only last one day, so they can seem like an unexpected choice for a cut flower, but new buds will continue to open even after they are cut, and as you can see here, they look amazing in a vase!
The basket is full of fresh flowers from the garden that are ready to be arranged and enjoyed!
Soft pinks from a sunflower (Helianthus annuus, annual), zinnias (Zinnia elegans, annual), and a sedum just beginning to bloom (Hylotelephium spectabile, Zones 3–9) are set off by yellow sprays of goldenrod (Solidago sp.) and accented by clouds of green from fern fronds and ornamental grass.
Celebrating summer with pink gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrids, Zones 8–10 or as a tender bulb) and zinnias
Zinnias are an essential choice for anyone wanting to enjoy cut flowers. They are easy to grow from seed, come in a wide range of colors, and are beautiful and long-lasting in a vase.
This end-of-the-year garden bouquet was picked in early November and includes late-blooming yarrow (Achillea, Zones 3–8) and other long-lasting beauties from the garden, such as seed heads from Miscanthus sinensis (Zones 5–9) and branches of variegated euonymus (Euonymus fortunei, Zones 5–8).
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Comments
What a wonderful idea to focus on cut flowers from the garden, thereby getting double duty from the blooms! I loved the bouquets and also admire your spirit in detailing your social activities with the beautiful bouquets in hand for the lucky recipients.
I love giving flowers but what I love even more is creating the bouquets. Walking around the garden almost daily makes me see all that is growing there. I also watch the bees, bugs, caterpillars etc...
Really artistic arrangements. Could you share photos of your garden, too?
I sent in photos of my gardens and they were suppose to go up on the site 2 weeks ago but never did!
I typed your name into the search line and found two pieces with your name. One is a garden. Maybe you missed it when it was published?
Beautiful! absolutely loved this—although it left me longing for summer! I give away a lot of cut flowers also, so many that the recipients often gift me with extra vases, which I interpret as encouragement to keep up the practice.
Dreaming about what might be suitable for tomorrow’s arrangement is always a good excuse—if I need one—to wander around our borders.
Daylilies, though, I’ve never included them. Thanks for the inspiration!!
Thank you
All very lovely.
Thank you
What an artistic touch you have with arranging flowers and greenery and I love the variety of containers. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you
Maria - what a joyful set of bouquets! Thank you for sharing! I like the pink arrangement with the helianthus at the top and includes ornamental grass - super textures and colors!
Thank you
truly lovely bouquets, thanks for sharing
Thank you
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