Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.
In floral design, I love the challenge of working with new and unexpected materials.
Cotton branches with raw cotton bolls from Whole Foods Market. You can find similar Cotton Branches at Save on Crafts; $5 for two stems.
Some millet, also found at Whole Foods, seemed the perfect complement–spiky and dark.
And then I found this pear branch at Winston Flowers, and the form began to emerge. Playing off the natural forms of the branch, I would create a sweeping autumnal bough.
Now all I needed was some foraged material to would complete my homage to the waning days of fall–something that would reflect autumn, but not immediately wilt after I got it indoors.
Other than my plant specimens, all I needed were flexible floral wire, clippers, and a lovely velvet ribbon.
Step 1: Consider your structure and create a base. If the latter, do you want it equal in length or lopsided?
Step 2: Begin layering the arrangement.
With each new specimen, you most likely will need to trim.
Don’t forget to add height to the arrangement.
Step 3: Secure your first few branches with floral wire. You will notice that I didn’t immediately start tacking down the branches.
Step 4: After you have one side loosely constructed, begin building up the other side and the middle.
Step 5: After the bouquet is mostly assembled, tie a ribbon around each side.
Step 6: Hang or place in situ and continue to add last minute touches until you have the arrangement you want.
I left my structure a bit loose and wild, so the forms of individual plants would show.
I didn’t use anything other than the pear branches for structural support, allowing for more flexibility in the arrangement.
Among the auburn and yellowing foliage, the scattered cotton balls remind me of winter’s first dusting of snow.
Above and below: You will note that I did not create a mirror image on both sides of the arrangement.
I did not preserve my leaves because I wanted them to continue to yellow just as they would outside. Finally, you can prolong the arrangement by refreshing it with new material.