Romanticize 29: Build a Wildflower Bounty
Lean into the season by bringing some of the outside in.
Late spring is when I finally start feeling like a human again—each new unfolding bloom I pass on my walks ushers a fresh wave of hope. The earth is alive! It smells amazing outside! Things aren’t as bad as they seemed in the hazy grey light of winter! There’s nothing that buoys the soul like passing a cheerful vase of bright flowers or being awash in their scent as you fall asleep, so for today’s Romanticize, let’s (legally) pick and arrange wildflowers so we can bring some of that optimism into our living spaces.
The Romanticize
Forage and arrange a wildflower bouquet.
The Advice
Don’t pay attention to any of the rules of flower arranging (unless you want to, of course!) You don’t need to organize your blooms by size, length, or color. You don’t have to purchase an expensive vase (I personally prefer mason jars, but even water glasses will do!) As far as I see it, the more chaotic, the better when it comes to a flower arrangement. They don’t grow in any specific orderly pattern in nature, right?
I realize I’m a broken record about saying this, but please make sure you’re foraging your blooms legally (from either your own property, public property, or a place where you have explicit permission to cut flowers).
If you’d like to dive into all things flowers and floral arranging, my absolute favorite book on the subject is Amy Merrick’s On Flowers. One of my favorite tips from her is to keep a set of pruning shears in the glove compartment of your car so you can snip blooms anywhere. In case you’re looking for a new set of shears, my favorite brand is ARS.
The Inspiration
Our peonies are juuuuust preparing to open, so they’re not quite ready for cutting, but there are plenty of other beautiful blossoms cropping up around the farm. I walked the perimeter of the fields to find fleabane, buttercups, red clover, and dame’s rocket.
I laid everything out on the patio table, alongside a jar filled with fresh cold water. While arranging, I clipped the stem of each flower at an angle (it’s how they best take in water and it helps them last longer) and removed any leaves on the stems beneath the water line, to prevent bacteria growth. To help the blooms stay fresh, change the water in your flower vessel every other day.
The vase is now happily perched on my writing desk in my living room—it’s the most central, high-traffic spot, ensuring I’ll pass it often throughout the day. Its scent and scrappy little arrangement will never cease to make me smile.
I’d love to know the results of your Romanticize—feel free to share your experience in the comments, or tag me on Instagram. Until next Wednesday, fellow romantics!