DIY: Ode to Spring Bouquet

Even for the most hardy, hibernal enthusiasts among us, winter in New England goes on for way too long. We’re having a warm snap this week, yes, but we’re still awaiting the first buds, the emergence of tiny green shoots from the ground. Fed up, I decided to take matters into my own hands. If Mother Nature was not going to bring spring to me, I was going out to get it myself.

Thus I headed to Winston Flowers to see what springtime offerings they had in store. A ranunculus, two lilacs, several sweet peas, and sundry other fresh selects later, I had the makings of the quintessential vernal arrangement. I’m calling it my Ode to Spring.

Photography by Justine Hand.

Above: My visit to Winston Flowers happened to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day, so there were plenty of lively greens to chose among. To conjure the fresh, verdant and carefree feeling of spring, I mingled bud-green vibernum with informal white lisianthus, sweeping lilacs, and romantic ranunculus. To these I added breezy white sweet peas and others in a playful shade of pink.

Above: All my flowers received a fresh cut before I placed them in cool water. To achieve the long diagonal cut that helps woody stems such as lilac and vibernum absorb more water, I used a sharp knife to shave the stem away.

Above: Bright green viburnum, white and lime lisianthus, and white lilac form the base of my bouquet.

Above: I wanted my bouquet to reflect the airy, carefree abundance of spring, so after adding a lush, white ranunculus and spunky sweet peas, I lifted the bouquet a bit to create a loose and informal structure.

Above: To be honest, after I’d finished the bouquet, I felt it needed a little more warmth and a bit more spike to add and keep the arrangement from being too sweet. A couple of sunset pink tulips from the grocery store did the trick.

Above: Dripping boughs reflect the romance of spring.

Above: The ruffled effect of the soft sweet peas and other petals conjures images of cloth caught by a spring breeze.

Above: On my dining table, My Ode to Spring Bouquet is charming enough to see me through the rest of the cold weather. By the time it fades, perhaps spring will take its place.

N.B.: Next step for conjuring spring in the midst of endless winter: Plant some Hardworking Hellebores That Bloom in the Snow. Or I might just drown my sorrows with an Early Spring Cocktail Party.