When we need a floral centerpiece or arrangement, we don’t need to plan a trip to the local grocer or flower shop – all we need to do is step out into our own backyard. The summer season is the perfect time to pick our blooming perennials and annuals that decorate our yards gardens. Don’t forget we can trim from our garden containers and window boxes too.
Be creative selecting a container, maybe a basket or Mason jar for a summery, casual look? Remember anything goes when working with flowers. I love the look of a basket full of cut flowers so I like to turn this into an arrangement. For a soft, whimsical look, I love a summer basket full of yellow feverfew, Queen Anne’s lace, lady’s mantel and coreopsis.
For a double bonus of fragrance and rich shades of green, I head right to my herb garden and patio containers. Lemon verbena adds a wonderful green element to any arrangement and a nice citrus aroma. Rosemary, basil (both green and purple) mint and sage also make for great additions of color and fragrance. And how could I not mention my favorite - I like to incorporate a few stems from my tomato plants. Every gardener tending to their tomatoes relishes the earthy, unmistakable smell and how wonderful it is to bring this inside your home.
If you are lucky enough to have established blooming shrubs - hydrangea, abelia, summer sweet, red spiaria, crepe myrtle – there are your colors! Sometimes I like to incorporate some greens too which I simply trim right from trees.
As always, take the time to enjoy your plants, herbs and flowers – I believe they like the time with us too!
- Barbara