I get asked a lot about how to arrange a vase of flowers. I usually reply that you just have to mess around with it until it looks right, which is true! But I thought it was probably time to share a more in depth “recipe” to the perfect bouquet of flowers and flower arranging.

First, use a large vase and put a packet of flower food into the water. Most bouquets come with a flower food packet. If you don’t see one, grab one from the flower section in the grocery store. They’re free! I always grab one or two extras to have in my junk drawer at home for when I’m cutting my own flowers from the garden.

Here’s my ‘recipe’ for a large flower bouquet:

• Focal flower – something large and showy. I’m using sunflowers for this Thanksgiving bouquet. Other focal flowers would include lilies and hydrangea, as examples. You’ll want 3-5 of these flowers.
• Filler flower – I’m using a variety of small daisies. Other good filler flowers are zinnias, carnations, or alstroemeria. I had to go look that one up because I just recognize it by sight. 😊. You probably see these all the time at the grocery store…

These are both cheap and last forever! Almost two weeks usually! And they come in a ton of different colors.

• Greenery – Pre-made bouquets are the worst about giving you greenery. I usually buy a package of extra greenery stems with my pre-made bouquet because they help fill out the vase and create a visual peace and space in your arrangement. Or I go around my yard and snip off greenery from my bushes.
• Interest flower – If I’m making my own mixed bouquet, I like to grab 5 stems or so of an interest flower. Some seasonal ones right now would be stalks of wheat or berry branches.

As you start arranging, start with your filler flower and greens and arrange a nice base of these. Then start to strategically place your focal flowers, filling in with your filler and greens to keep your focal flowers at the height and space you want them in your vase. Finally, finish it off with your interest flower – little pops of something different throughout your arrangement gives interest to the eye.

A few quick reminders about vase arranging…

1. You MUST cut off a portion of the bottom of each stem. This triggers your flower to start taking up water.
2. Don’t buy flowers from the store that don’t look spectacular. They will not magically look healthier at home. Make sure your stems are saturated in water at the store, and look vibrant and full. No droopy petals or leaves, folks!
3. Remove leaves and stems that will sit below the water line of your vase. This helps keep your water cleaner longer and for the stem to not waste energy and water keeping a part of it alive that no one is looking at.
4. For heaven’s sake, please water your arrangements. All of the bottoms of your stems need to be in water. (I feel like that should go without saying, but…you know.) I usually don’t dump out my water every day, but add fresh water every day using a watering can.
5. As stems in your arrangement die, just pull out the stem. Don’t toss the whole arrangement or leave it sitting in your bouquet to rot. A good fresh bouquet should last you at least a week, sometimes more, if you take good care of it!

For those so inclined to watch a whole video of me arranging this Thanksgiving bouquet, check out my Instagram…

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