Arranging Flowers & Foliage

G a t h e r 

There is an abundance in the natural world, from what we grow intentionally to what grows naturally. Flowers and foliage can be gathered from our surroundings or sourced from local flower markets, florists or shops. Whilst it is a treat to buy flowers when budget allows, foraging offers a rich alternative throughout the seasons. Keep a pair of secateurs in your glove box and stay curious—observe what’s growing along country lanes, woodland paths, and even roadsides. Remember to forage responsibly, taking only a little, and never too much from any one plant.

Wildflowers, grasses, branches, and even overlooked weeds can all become beautiful elements in your arrangements. With just a few essentials like secateurs, floral tape, chicken wire, and flower frogs—alongside a collection of vessels, you will be well-equipped to experiment and refine your compositions. There is beauty to be found in simplicity, and great joy in discovering what nature offers, season by season.

P r e p a r e

Once you have gathered branches and blooms, take time to prepare each stem with care. Trim the ends at an angle – this increases the surface area and improves water absorption. Remove any leaves or side branches that would sit below the waterline in your vase, as submerged foliage can break down and promote bacteria, shortening the life of an arrangement. Where possible keep arrangements away from direct sunlight, radiators, or anything that gets too warm.

Embrace the organic nature of your materials—nothing in nature grows perfectly straight or symmetrical. Vary the stem lengths to create a more natural rhythm of colour, shape, and texture. Fill your container halfway with clean, lukewarm water, which offers better oxygen flow than cold. Refresh the water every few days and give stems a snip each time to allow them to drink up more water and keep the arrangement looking its best, for longer. For delicate flowers and foliage, a quick mist can keep them looking crisp and hydrated.

A r r a n g e 

A beautiful arrangement often owes as much to restraint as it does to abundance. Consider the varieties of stems that you include and how they will work together. Whilst a mix of florals and foliage can look striking, so too can a single variety or colour palette, which can feel simple and abundant all at once. 

It is also important to think about proportion in your arrangement. Allowing for more plant than vessel enables flowers to sit naturally in a vase. Experiment with varying heights and shapes of flowers and greenery to capture the essence of their beauty and achieve your desired composition.

Branches, whether fresh or dried have a wonderful sculptural quality and can form a simple yet impacting arrangement. Choose branches that have natural curves and movement rather than straight, upright stems. In order to highlight interesting shapes, less is always more when it comes to arranging branches, and there is beauty in the quiet moments, in the negative space.

When arranging, the vessel is just as important as the stems themselves. Consider the scale, shape and style of your container, as these elements will influence the overall silhouette and feeling of your display. Different vessels guide how flowers and foliage will sit within them, some encouraging a relaxed, loose arrangement, others lending a more structured, formal look. 

Think about where your arrangement will live in your home, and let that inform your choice. Vases, bowls, jugs, and even baskets can all become beautiful floral vessels. Start with what you have—many household items can be adapted. If a container isn’t watertight, simply place a jam jar or glass inside to hold the water discreetly. Always ensure containers are clean, as lingering bacteria can quickly shorten the life of your flowers.

Sturdy flower frogs or chicken wire secured with floral tape can be used to support stems, especially when arranging in a shallow vessel. Flower frogs have been a functional and sustainable tool for centuries, dating back to the 14th century. Designed to give floral structures shape and stability, they sit at the bottom of a bowl or vase, offering holes or upright metal pins to hold stems in place. Available in a variety of styles, sizes, and materials, flower frogs can be adapted to suit different types of blooms and foliage. Whether you are creating a dense, textural composition or a more airy, minimal display, they help anchor your arrangement while allowing each stem to shine.

For small arrangements, bud vases are effortless to assemble and endlessly versatile. They offer a simple yet elegant way to bring beauty into any space and can be placed across the home whether on a table, mantel or window sill. Despite their size, bud vases have the power to transform a setting, whether grouped together for impact or placed individually for a quiet, thoughtful touch. They are also a wonderful way to make use of off-cuts, single stems, or smaller blooms that may not fit into larger arrangements. For visual contrast and interest, use a variety of sizes and with just a little consideration, even the most modest display can feel refined and full of character.

There is an infinite variety of flowers and foliage that can uplift the home – bringing scent, texture and colour to everyday spaces and creating beautiful focal points. From a single stem in a simple glass vessel, to an abundant bouquet of sculptural branches gathered from the garden, each arrangement holds its own beauty.

Whenever your are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul.

– Alice Walker –

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