Make a beautiful bouquet

Southern Living, Aug 2003 by Riley, Ellen Ruoff

Try this easy technique for a great-looking arrangement.

A summertime bouquet is a glorious thing. Whether it's gathered from your border or carefully chosen from a farm stand's fresh-cut medley, it is an easily accomplished delight. Held loosely in your hand as you pick and choose, the flowers come together in splendid fashion. But once you put them down, every stem seems to relocate itself, and the wonderful composition vanishes.

There is a simple trick to this type of easygoing arrangement. Called a hand-tied bouquet, every stem, leaf, and flower stays put just where you place it. When complete, slip it into a vase filled with fresh water, and enjoy your endeavors.

Expert Instruction

Mark and Kilia Priest, owners of Coyote Farms in West Fork, Arkansas, (see their story, "Symphony of Sunflowers," on page 94 of our August 2002 issue) have an easy method for putting together a hand-tied bouquet. Regular purveyors at the Fayetteville Farmer's Market, they always keep their stall well stocked with these ready-to-go flowers.

More Ideas

This style of arrangement makes a wonderful gift. Hide the rubber bands with a piece of ribbon to match a flower's color, or use raffia or garden twine for a casual look. If herbs are your specialty, put together a small, aromatic collection of culinary and blooming selections using the same technique. Roses also adapt beautifully to this type of bouquet.

Even if you don't fancy yourself a flower arranger, this is very easy to do. Practice on a few for your home, and then give some away. They don't require a lot of flowers, and this is pure summer garden fun.