Backyard Bouquets~ what to do with a Bucket of Blooms~

Dear Friends, old and NEW! WELCOME!
I hope this note finds you all well and enjoying the slow turn of summer into fall. And, for those of you who have been dried out and puckered up by the drought I wish you RAIN!  I know it's been tough on you and your gardens. We are only days away from a new school year and autumn is right around the corner, but summer is NOT over yet..It doesn't officially end until September 22nd the Autumn equinox. I don't need the calender to tell me that. My backyard blossoms are going strong and are sure to  keep us in ' house flowers' for weeks to come! That means you'll be enjoying them too no matter what your weather is!

 Each day I grab my bucket an go out to cut bunches of fresh flowers. To say the cut flower garden has provided an abundance of beautiful blooms is an understatement. In just one season I've gone from a Gardner who hardly cut anything for fear of leaving too large a gap in my flower beds to a free spirited farmgirl who cuts flowers with wild abandon! I'm having fun ' playing' with different floral arranging ideas...

Today I'll show you what to do with a bucket of blooms!

 

 Start with sharp cutting tools. I use Fiskars pruners. I have two sizes. One for cutting larger stemmed flowers and shrubs and a smaller one for removing leaves and cutting the bottoms of stems before they go in a jar or vase.

 You'd be amazed at how many flowers you can fit into a full sized Ball Mason Jar. 

This bouquet is made up of a mix of dahlia,s zinnias, snapdragons and parsley for an added green filler. I love a bold color pallet and this deep red dahlia makes the mid toned orange dahlias go POP POP POP!

Here I've added some pinks, and red oranges with one lovely white dahlia to set  the whole thing off...Then came the remaining zinnias and snapdragons with a snip of parsley just for a touch of added greenery.

Arranging flowers is a little like decorating.. I chose blooms that play well together then added a touch of whimsy just for fun.  Notice how the deep red in the petals of the bottom left dahlia speak to the same red in the zinnia behind the maroon dahlia in the above photo? I repeated that same orange zinnia throughout and added the hot pink for a wow factor!

Side view

The idea is not to be too serious ( get your play on ) and use what you have available in the garden! This is the beauty of growing sustainable cut flowers in your own backyard ( or front yard ). You'll get a less contrived look this way and feel good about creating something original with each bouquet you make! In the end, if it makes you smile you done good!!!

Side and Back  

 With only a sprig or two of parsley as filler that leaves plenty of room for FLOWERS!

Here it is finished and ready for any occasion inside or out!  This beauty was destined for the counter by my kitchen sink where I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time!

 Might as well enjoy it...

Stay tuned for more flower arranging with late summer and early fall cuttings from my 

Backyard Flower Farm ! 

 Love to all ! 

Deb

 How do you like to arrange your " YARD FLOWERS" ?

I'm sharing this post on Tootsiess Flaunt your Flowers Fertilizer Friday this week and Tilly's Nest
Down Home Blog Hop # 1 !