InForaged Flower Arranging: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Stunning Arrangements from Local, Wild Plants, Rebekah Clark Moody shows readers almost 40 ways readers can enhance and brighten their homes with the natural beauty found in their backyard. The book provides step-by-step instructions for each arrangement and offers tips on how readers can make the arrangements their own. The following is from Chapter 3, “Summer.”
The foliage from the smoke bush tree is interesting and adds a lot to any arrangement, but it is the blooms that are the masterpiece! They look like puffs of smoke in pink and red tones and are beautiful on their own or mixed in with other arrangements. They are around for most of the summer and some of the fall, depending on where you are located.
Plants
- Smoke bush
Supplies
- Floral shears
- Large ceramic vessel
- Waterproof tape
Forage
- Cut around ten branches in a mix of heights, choosing some that have just the foliage, but most that have the “smoke.”
Prepare
- Cut the branches at an angle, removing lower leaves, and place them in water to rehydrate prior to being arranged.
- Create a grid shape with waterproof tape and fill the vessel with water to the top.
Arrange
- Start by placing two pieces horizontally to the left and right, leaning them on the mouth of the vessel. A third piece can be placed more vertically. This will be the basic shape.
- Continue to fill in the space and build out the initial shape. The beauty in this arrangement is the simple, well-placed design.
Display and Care
- This arrangement looks best against a wall or backdrop. Make sure to check the water level every few days and refresh as needed.
More from Foraged Flower Arranging:
Excerpted with permission fromForaged Flower Arranging, by Rebekah Clark Moody. Published by Page Street Publishing, © 2017
