There is nothing like adding freshness, beauty, and balance to your home by using seasonal flowers! Whether you want to create a stunning bouquet or a beautiful arrangement, selecting seasonal flowers will not only add to their visual appeal, but will also make the process of floristry a whole lot easier, more affordable, and ecologically friendly. As a newcomer to the world of flowers, familiarizing yourself with seasonal flowers will narrow down your options, and will give you a chance to experiment with combinations that are already predetermined by nature. In this article, we will share some seasonal flower ideas and walk you through how you can make the most of them.
The Magic of Seasonal Blooms
Because seasonal flowers are at their peak ripeness, they will have more energy, be more vibrant and simply last longer. They are usually readily available in your local area and less expensive than importing them. Additionally, seasonal flowers evoke a specific feel and ambiance that is unique to the season and will allow the arrangement to feel seasonal without trying to hard. Using seasonal flowers will also help you stay adaptable and gain confidence in your abilities to design.
Now that the weather has finally warmed up, the daffodils, crocuses and other spring flowers are starting to bloom. Spring flowers can be used in a variety of ways: some make nice garnishes for salads and drinks, while others can be used to make wine, jellies and butters. Below are some of my favorites and how they can be used.
The colors of spring flowers tend to be lighter and softer, and their look, fresh. The most popular flowers in spring are tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, ranunculus and cherry blossoms. They are perfect for loose and airy arrangements that show movement and simplicity. Spring arrangements are perfect for kitchens, dining tables and entrance ways, and they help bring the renewal of the season into the home.
Summer Blooms and How We Use Them
Summer flowers tend to be loud, bright and lively. Sunflowers, roses, peonies, dahlias and zinnias are in season and are ideal for full, bright bouquets. They are best displayed in tall vases and outdoors. Summer bouquets can take a bolder color palette and texture mix, and are best in living rooms, patios and summer dinner tables.
Flowers That Bloom in the Fall and How They Are Utilized
For the fall, colors are deeper and textures heavier. Chrysanthemums, asters, marigolds and dried flowers combine with foliage, branches and seasonal fruits. Fall flower colors tend to be warm and include shades of orange, red and yellow. These flowers are perfect for producing warm, earthy arrangements to decorate the dining and living areas during the fall and winter seasons.
What Flowers Are in Bloom During the Winter Months and How to Use Them
Winter floristry is about clean lines, minimalism, and texture. You’ll see a lot of amaryllis, hellebores, anemones, and winter roses, paired with evergreen boughs, pine, or eucalyptus. Winter arrangements are sparse and architectural, playing with contrast and shape. They help bring a little bit of light and glamour into dark winter spaces.
Using Flowers with Foliage of the Season
As for the foliage, in the spring and summer months it adds freshness and softness to your arrangements, while in the autumn and winter months branches, berries and evergreens are often used to add depth. The use of flowers along with the foliage will give the arrangement its completion.
Colors according to the season.
There are also colors associated with each season. For example: pastels for spring, brights and saturates for summer, warm/earthy for fall, and neutrals with pops of color for winter. Knowing the general color themes for each season can aid those who are new to flower arranging in choosing colors that work well together without having to think too much about it.
Tending to Blooms of the Season
To make your seasonal flowers last longer, make sure you’re changing the water in the vase often and cutting the stems to help them absorb more of it. Avoid placing the flowers in direct sunlight or heat. With a little bit of maintenance, your seasonal flowers will stay fresh for a long time. If you’re new to buying flowers, it’s important to know some of the basic tips for keeping them fresh.
Everyday arrangements with seasonal flowers
Seasonal flowers aren’t just for special events. Use smaller posies, single stems, or a gathering of leaves to decorate for everyday. It is practical to tailor the use of flowers to different spaces and purposes, to integrate seasonal flowers into your daily life in a low-maintenance and cost-effective way.
Nature provides an abundance of gorgeous flowers and foliage during each season, so get out there and forage (or purchase) the best of what’s on offer. Then, get creative! Using seasonal flowers to create beautiful arrangements and wreaths is a lovely way to connect with nature, get crafty and have some fun.
Seasonal flowers help you tune in to the seasons and rhythms of the year. There are seasonal textures and colours to explore, and lots of different techniques and ways of working that lend themselves particularly to one time of year more than another. When you start out it can be easier to develop a feel for when something works and when it doesn’t, and a sense of your own style, if you go with the flow of what is around at any given time. When you pick and arrange what is in season, your arrangements become imbued with a sense of time and place as much as anything else.