condition them in water overnight. Lilies do not like floral preservative.
BEST COMPANIONS
roses, gypsophila,
DISPLAY Lilies look excel ent on their own so that sweet peas
their curly, reflexed petals and exotic markings can be appreciated without distraction. Their stiff, unwieldy character can make them difficult to place in mixed compositions. However, after some experimentation, I have started to use just one or two stems in more relaxed, garden-gathered arrangements.
Lilium ‘Tiger Babies’ is an
Asiatic hybrid. It is scent free, but
CARE Clean the water every 2–3 days and the stems bears beautiful soft, peach flowers
should keep flowering for up to 2 weeks.
freckled with chocolate-brown spots.
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Lily 119
In Greek mythology, the lily
was the symbol of the goddess
Hera, and was associated with
innocence and purity.
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120 Late Spring & Early Summer
Crouching Tigers
Lily stems are not the easiest flowers to arrange in a natural style because they are quite stiff and unyielding.
I decided to make the most of their rigidity by placing them almost horizontally to create a low, wide outline.
The softer, more flexible, frilly, and frothy flowers were then worked in around them.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
2 lily stems
1 Push a chicken wire ball into the pot, securing with (Lilium ‘Tiger Babies’ )
a cross of floral tape. Then fill the pot with water.
5 sweet pea stems with
tendrils (Lathyrus odoratus
2 Cut the lily stems to about three times the height of
‘Spring Sunshine Burgundy’ )
the pot. Position them opposite each other at a sharp, almost horizontal angle—these will define the shape 3 gyposphila stems
(Gypsophila elegans ‘Rosea’ )
of the arrangement.
5 roses (Rosa ‘Just Joey’ )
3 Nestle the roses in the middle of the arrangement.
medium-sized, round,
Hold them up to the pot to judge position and stem stoneware pot
length before cutting and placing. The stems will need to be cut relatively short.
chicken wire
floral tape
4 Cut the sweet pea stems to a similar length to the floral snips
lily stems—around three times the height of the pot—
and slip them between the lilies and roses.
5 Use the gypsophila to create some frothy fill in between the lily stems, holding up the stems to the arrangement to judge position and length.
CARE
Replenish the water every 2 days. The sweet peas, roses, and gypsophila will finish after 3–5 days, but the lilies will continue for another 10 days. Either replace the wilting flowers, or simply remove them to enjoy the stark beauty of the lilies by themselves.
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122 Late Spring & Early Summer
Stock
Matthiola incana
Best known for their scent,
stocks have been grown as a cut
flower since the 19th century.
Stocks’ stems are densely covered in slightly ruffled florets that give them a plump
appearance, and their heady fragrance can fill a room. Although most varieties come in soft and muted colors, they can also be found in shades of wine-red. If growing your own, you can also enjoy the light, airy, single forms selected out by commercial growers.
STEM HEIGHT
FROM THE FLORIST Choose stems that have
up to 32in (80cm)
one-third to half of the buds open, and the rest showing good color.
FLOWER HEAD SIZE
up to 4in (10cm)
IN THE GARDEN Sow stock seeds in a greenhouse LONGEVITY 5–7 days
in late winter or early spring. Prick out and grow the double-form seedlings. Plants produce only one FORM spike of single or
flower each, so plant closely at 4in (10cm) apart in double flowers
wel -prepared, fertile soil. Most varieties are best COLORS pink, purple,
grown under cover.
blue, yel ow, red, white
CONDITIONING Remove any leaves that will be FRAGRANCE strong,
spicy, clovelike
below the surface of the water and cut away any of the thick, white, fibrous base.
BEST COMPANIONS
peonies, sweet Wil iams,
DISPLAY Stocks’ dense columns are excel ent fil ers sweet peas
in blousy arrangements. Their soft, muted colors and spicy fragrance make them a desirable wedding flower, and their spike shape is a perfect partner for globe-shaped flowers.
CARE The water is quickly contaminated by the furry stems, so refresh the water daily and recut the stems at an angle to prolong the vase life.
Matthiola incana cultivars are grown as annuals or biennials, though the species itself is grown as a perennial or small shrub.
This cultivar is ‘Katz Apricot.’
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Stock 123
In the language of
flowers, stocks symbolize
lasting beauty.
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124 Late Spring & Early Summer
Nigel a’s flowers change shape as they
develop into seed pods—use this variety in
form to add interest to arrangements.
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Nigella
Nigel a
Nigel a’s ruff of foliage
creates a spiky structure
around the flowers.
Known as “love-in-a-mist,” nigella is grown for both its flowers and its decorative, often striped seedpods, the latter developing soon after the petals have faded. Nigella can be found in a number of colors, ranging from
white to blue and pink. There are single
and semi-double forms available, the
semi-doubles having more petals.
STEM HEIGHT 8–30in
FROM THE FLORIST Buds that are showing color (20–75cm), depending on
will open in the vase. Avoid choosing faded flowers, variety; N. damascena,
as these will drop very quickly.
up to 20in (50cm)
FLOWER SIZE 13⁄8–2½in
IN THE GARDEN Nigel a are hardy annuals grown (3.5–6cm), depending on
easily from seed. They are not fussy about soil, but variety; N. damascena,
a bit of care will reward you with longer stems and up to 1¾in (4.5cm)
larger flowers. They have a very brief flowering period of two weeks, so sow the seeds both in spring and LONGEVITY 7 days
early fall to prolong the harvesting time.
FORMS single and
semi-double; N. hispanica
CONDITIONING Strip the stems of their feathery has a distinctive black
foliage, then cut them at an angle and condition seed pod
overnight in deep water.
COLORS blue, violet, red,
pink, white
DISPLAY Nigel a is a diverse cut flower. It can be used as a soft, feathery fil er alongside larger-headed, FRAGRANCE none
blousy shapes in a romantic bouquet, but it is equal y BEST COMPANIONS
at home in a simple cottage-garden vase or pitcher.
sweet peas, roses, herbs
The seed pods are also beautiful to work with, adding co
ntrasting form and texture to mixed compositions.
CARE Buds showing good color will continue to open in the vase, so refresh the water every 2 days.
Nigella damascena ‘Miss
The petals of the most open flowers will start to Jekyll Blue’ has large, sky-blue,
shrivel and drop after 7 days.
semi-double flowers.
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Nigella 127
Love-in-a-Mug
The use of a simple mug provides a down-to-earth quality; the roughness of the arrangement’s dome-shaped outline adds movement. I have picked nigella at various stages of flowering to enhance the natural, grown-in style.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
3 rosemary stems
1 Cut the rosemary stems short so that they rest on (Rosmarinus officinalis)
the rim of the mug. Place them into the mug at equal 3 dill stems
intervals around the rim.
(Anethum graveolens)
2 Cut the dill to around twice the height of the mug, 18 nigel a flowers and
positioning it between the rosemary stems.
2 buds (Nigel a damascena
‘Miss Jekyll White’ )
3 Use the nigel a to create a spherical outline for the 3 bupleurum (‘Green Gold’
arrangement. Cut the first four or five stems to around or hare’s ear) stems
three times the height of the mug and place them in (Bupleurum rotundifolium)
the center. Hold the remaining stems up to the floral snips
arrangement to judge position and stem length, hand-thrown mug
and cut and place them appropriately.
4 Fill the base of the arrangement with a few bupleurum stems to add an acid-green pop.
CARE
Top off the water every 2 days and position in a cool place to prolong the vase life—heat will cause the flowers to wilt more quickly.
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128 Late Spring & Early Summer
In Chinese culture, peonies
are a symbol of nobility and
value, as well as of reproduction
and female beauty.
Paeonia lactiflora ‘Kansas’ is a double form—it has more petals than other forms, these creating its rounded shape.
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Peony 129
Peony
Paeonia
The most glamorous of cut flowers,
peony’s lush, abundant blooms
always feel like a decadent treat.
These beautiful flowers come in shades of
white, cream, pink, peach, and deep crimson.
Their shape ranges from the simple and
elegant single form, through to the double
form (also known as the “bomb type”). While the strength of their scent varies, at its best it smells like a more delicate lily-of-the-valley.
STEM HEIGHT 2–8ft
FROM THE FLORIST Select peonies in bud when (0.6–2.5m), depending
they are at the “marshmal ow” stage (the bud should on variety; P. lactiflora,
feel soft and slightly squishy). If cut when too tight, 20–28in (50–70cm)
they won’t open to their full potential, so give them FLOWER SIZE 2–12in
a squeeze if you can.
(5–30cm), depending on
variety; P. lactiflora, 2¾–4in IN THE GARDEN Peony plants normal y take 3
(7–10cm)
years to start flowering, but after that need very little attention. They are very hardy, long-lived plants that LONGEVITY 7–10 days
will bulk up and produce more flowering stems each FORMS single,
year. When harvesting, leave about a third of the semi-double, double,
stems to al ow photosynthesis for next year’s crop.
anemone-form
COLORS white, pink,
CONDITIONING Strip the bottom leaves and cut red, yellow
the stem at a sharp angle. Condition overnight in warm water to encourage them to open.
FRAGRANCE
sweet, light, lily-of-the-
DISPLAY The flowers are so impressive with their val ey-like scent
lush, dark green foliage that arranging them by BEST COMPANIONS
themselves is very satisfying. Choose a low, wide sweet peas, alchemil a,
container to accommodate their large heads. Double sweet Williams
forms can create a bit of a “clumpy” outline, so break this up with wispy, fril y, or lacy flowers or foliage.
CARE Top off the vase every day, as peonies are thirsty flowers. Refresh the water and clean the vase every 3 days.
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130 Late Spring & Early Summer
Coral and Pink
To make the most of these gorgeous, semi-double, coral-colored peonies, I used a low, wide vessel—the tarnished surface of this old copper pot contrasts beautifully with the color and texture of the petals. The acid green of the foliage and hot pink of the sweet peas intensifies the peonies’ color to create a vibrant, summery aesthetic.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
5 hornbeam branches
1 Make a ball of chicken wire and stuff it into the pot (Carpinus betulus)
so it fits snugly and sits flush with the rim. Secure the 10 peonies (Paeonia
top with a cross of tape and fill the pot with water.
‘Coral Charm’ )
2 Cut the hornbeam branches to around two or three 5 lady’s mantle stems
times the width of the vessel. Then position two stems (Alchemilla mollis)
horizontal y and one vertical y to create the outline of 7 sweet pea stems
the arrangement.
(Lathyrus odoratus ‘Spring
Sunshine Cerise’ )
3 Use the peonies to create a soft dome shape. Hold chicken wire
each flower up to the arrangement to judge position and stem length. Cut and place them appropriately, copper plant pot
angling the heads to face in different directions.
pruning shears
4 Tuck the lady’s mantle and sweet pea stems in among the peonies. Make sure the sweet peas extend floral snips
out from the arrangement to break up the outline of the dome.
CARE
Top off the water every 2 days and replace the sweet peas after around 3–5 days. The peonies will last for 7–10 days, and the lady’s mantle up to 2 weeks.
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132 Late Spring & Early Summer
Icelandic poppies grow natural y in cold,
subarctic climates. However, despite their
name, they are not found in Iceland.
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Icelandic
Poppy
Papaver nudicaule
Icelandic poppies are
some of the most exquisite
cut flowers you can find.
Coming in a range of luminescent colors,
fragrant Icelandic poppies bridge the gap
between spring and summer. Their silky,
tissuelike petals have a crinkled appearance as they unfurl from their buds, making them look impossibly fragile when they are in
fact surprisingly robust.
STEM HEIGHT
FROM THE FLORIST Buy poppies while their
up to 12in (30cm)
stems are still in bud, but with a seam of petal showing.
FLOWER SIZE
IN THE G
ARDEN Icelandic poppies are biennials up to 3in (8cm)
grown from seed, so sow them a year before they LONGEVITY 3–5 days
are due to flower. Start off the seeds in trays in the greenhouse in early to midsummer, transferring them FORMS single,
to their final planting position in fal . Keep picking and semi-double
deadheading so they will flower for up to 6 weeks.
COLORS yel ow, orange,
red, pink, white
PREPARATION After cutting, sear the stems so FRAGRANCE strong
that they retain their moisture (see pp.22–23).
and soapy
DISPLAY Poppies make excel ent focal flowers, BEST COMPANIONS
their bright yel ow centers drawing in the eye. They buttercups, peonies,
combine well with grasses and umbel-shaped flowers white laceflowers,
quaking grass, sweet peas
to create meadow-style arrangements, but are also happy jostling among sweet peas and peonies in hand-tied bouquets or vase-style arrangements.
CARE Refresh the water every 2 days and keep Papaver nudicaule ‘Champagne
in a cool spot. If they are looking floppy, recut Bubbles’ are easy to germinate and
and re-sear the stems.
are available in a good range of colors.
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134 Late Spring & Early Summer
Spring Meadow Jar
To capture a wild, meadow style, I’ve combined Icelandic poppies with white laceflower and quaking grass. Less is more with this type of arrangement—you need to create lots of air, imagining pollinating insects winging their way between the flowers.
YOU WILL NEED
ARRANGE
15 Icelandic poppies
1 Place the floral pin holder at the bottom of the jar (Papaver nudicaule)
and secure with a floral tack. This will help you to 7 white laceflower stems
keep the arrangement open as you won’t need to add (Orlaya grandiflora)
flowers in order to keep the stems in place.
7 sweet pea stems
2 First push the poppies into the pins at the bottom (Lathyrus odoratus)
of the jar, leaving a good space between the flowers.
10 quaking grass stems
(Briza maxima)
3 Fill in the gaps with the laceflowers and sweet peas.
medium-sized, straight-
Keep some of the laceflower stems lower and at more edged jar
of an angle in the jar.
floral pin holder