I’ve always looked to the softness of Autumn. It’s how I cope with the changing of the season. A season, followed by another season well of which I hibernate. It’s true. There is no hiding that I really don’t like Autumn. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I get sad when it starts creeping in, very SAD. Blowing crisply in. Perhaps if I lived surrounded by nature where the weather, particularly the heat doesn’t drop too low on the scale, and the greens on the trees remained vivid and the flowers still bloomed despite a chilled winter night…
Yes everyone seems to be celebrating the arrival of “their favorite” season as I’m watching mine pass as quickly as they came. I see your pumpkins, flannel, spiced drinks you want to “cozy” up with and I get shivers. Not good shivers, the ugh no…I don’t want “cozy” I want stillness and comfort but I don’t want those things along with it. I want softness, like the softness in the early season’s greens and golden hues.
A want that mellow-ness but not the “stay indoors” kind of vibes, I want to be outdoors!!
And that’s the thing that gets me. I’m a natural wanderer, a creature of Mother Nature, and need to be able to freely explore the outdoors, preferably without the slight annoyance of a chill as I get them oh so easily, but I even so I brace the chill as much I can to enjoy the comfort of Nature. Yet, I constantly yearn for warm sun, to work and relax and savor while being outdoors surrounded by nature. I want to wear a dress that billows in the breeze. At all days of the year.
So I tend to look for the soft details, the ones I love all year but change slightly with the seasons to help appreciate the Autumn, so I won’t get as SAD…I hone in on all the intricate and warm colors, the colors changing in the garden, scents of early morning foggy forests and wood burning ovens, comforting pleasures like baking and painting.
And I always try to bring Nature indoors. When the garden blooms I always bring in whatever tidbits of foliage and blooms are still thriving in the garden. Making small buds or large branch vases, I love so much.
This arrangement was made last November, a month in the northeast when you’d think flowers in gardens are hidden beneath overflowing foliage that is browning and dying. Well that foliage and late season greenery is treasure baby! The more variety you plant in your garden or spot on walks from kind neighbors you can then ask for a few branches — the better! Think of the overall color palette you want or allow a certain flowers/foliage to become the guiding focal point.
On a grocery run I spotted a bunch of blush Peonies at Whole Foods which delightfully coinciding with an arrangement I had to make for a birthday. Peonies in Autumn are well nonexistent, a rarity especially ones that looked this good. And they were on their way home with me as soon as I set eyes on them.
The following morning, on one of those overcast days, skies filled with varying gray clouds and the tiniest of pockets of hopeful blue skies…a sky that funnily makes great lighting for the most accurate depiction of colors in nature. Yes, a sunny day is wonderful, but when trying to capture all the unique colors and textures found in plants, too much light can be a bad thing.
I went first, for the Balloon Plant!! I love this beauty. So unique in the garden; tall, droplets of green balloons which open to release a cloud of fluff like dandelions — and it does the same in cut arrangements! I love incorporating them whenever they’re in season, when their balloon buds are puffed yet green. The color is that right pop of brightness. And aren’t those prickly bits and curved shape soo darling!? A lovely contrast to the softness of the peonies.
Since I personally knew the recipient of these florals likes the color red, I decided to put my own moodier and modern take on a color I rarely use. But what I do love about the color are the deep hues found in a glass of wine or the darkness in plums…
On I went picking here and there…
the rose leaves, green in bits that then blended into red,
the dried grasses, golden and copper in color,
sprigs of fragrant rosemary adding to the scents and feeling of Autumn,
and whatever bush, plant, flower or branch caught my eye.
I photographed this arrangement in the late afternoon on said overcast day, and the muteness of the day lended itself beautifully to the final look of this floral piece.
I let my imagination and creativity take the reigns, creating a wide floral piece with focal points on all sides using the peonies in the center of the vase, to create the shape and details all around.
I challenge you to do the same this Autumn…
You don’t have to be an expert, knowledgeable or a novice floral stylist to create lovely arrangements. Anyone can do it! This Autumn grab a flower or bloom that captures your eye…then go on walks around your garden or street and see what makes that sparkle in your eyes shine more brightly and…create!
Think outside the box with Containers!!
Use a favorite vase or a container with a deep enough opening to fill with water and long stems. Maybe even choose one with a a pedestal base. Or maybe even a terra-cotta pot…whatever will compliment your seasonal home decor. Or turn them into smaller bud vases if you prefer too, the more Autumn blooms around the home, the better I say!!
You can use this floral arrangement as inspiration for the look of yours — to guide you with the placement of certain colors, shapes, textures and heights of similar stems you will use.
Prep your container!!
In the bottom of your vase, optional if you have, secure a floral frog.
Tape off the opening of your vase using Clear Floral Tape to create a grid. *don’t make the square openings too small or you won’t be able to fit many stems into the arrangement.
Look at it from all angles!
If you’re doing a one sided arrangement only seen from the front, well then make sure it looks as pretty as can be, especially the peripheral sides one would see when walking by.
If doing an arrangement that will be viewed from all sides, like if placed on a dining table, well then make sure it looks pleasant from any angle someone sitting at or walking by the table would see…fill in any emptiness and spots you can see the floral tape or top of vase with extra greens, foliage or blooms as your little heart desires.
Make your arrangement last!
For optimal long-lasting freshness, replace the water everyday as you won’t be able to remove the stems to trim the ends.
Place the vase in your sink, and allow cold water to run for a few minutes — allowing the old water to spill out and be replaced with fresh. Pour out some water to needed quantity {no need for excess water} and dry the sides of your vase.
Re-style the arrangement in your home as desired, maybe in a new room or near your entrance, and enjoy this natural Autumn beauty as long as you can!
Hope you fully enjoy all the comforting, calm and warm Autumn things you love this season…we all deserve that simple pleasure!!
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