Building a bouquet of fresh flowers and earthy greens is a great way to add a splash of color and beauty to your home while flexing your creative mind. An unmatched sensory experience, from the floral scents wafting through the air to the silky feeling of the delicate petals, having a bouquet of fresh flowers in your home helps elevate your space.
Shannon Goshen owns Casa Blanca Flower Farm, an urban farm located in southeast Reno. You can find her flowers at the Riverside Farmers Market at Idlewild Park every other Sunday from mid-May through October. She also offers a spring bouquet subscription service.
Here, Shannon shares tips on building a bouquet that will last, from how many stems to include to color palettes, selection, and how to keep your flowers thriving for as long as they can.
How many stems should be in your bouquet?
That will, of course, depend on the type of vase or vessel you are using, but I generally start with around five to seven focal blooms. A couple of favorites for the table include larger blooms like limelight hydrangeas, lilacs, roses, and peonies, and the good news is all of them grow beautifully right here in Reno, which means you can enjoy them at their freshest.
Fillers are the backbone of a bouquet. They have a magical way of bringing the whole thing together. Greenery gives a bouquet breathing room, and that airy, just-picked-from-the-garden look.
What do you suggest for colors?
Combining contrasting colors or using similar hues of flowers are both great options. I think it will come down to the feeling you are going for in your bouquet. I personally love the garden-y collected combinations of jewel tones with softer neutrals.
How many types of flowers should be included in a single bouquet?
I try to work with about three to five types of flowers for a bouquet. I will select a focal flower that draws the eye, like peonies, and then supporting flowers and fillers, like iris, ranunculus, sweetpeas, and mint, to pull it all together with various forms, colors, and textures.
What techniques will help the flowers thrive as long as possible?
The vase life of a flower is dependent on the type of flower, with some varieties just naturally lasting longer after being cut. A few favorites that naturally have a longer vase life include ranunculus, lisianthus, chrysanthemums, and zinnias.
Cut flower stems about one-half inch at an angle so that the stem has more surface area from which to pull in water and re-cut your stems every couple of days. Change the vase’s water daily or every other day for the longest life and be sure to keep the flowers away from ripening fruit like bananas and apples.
Shannon Goshen is the owner of Casa Blanca Flower Farm in Reno, Nevada. Learn more at CasaBlancaFlowerFarm.com.