Summer offers so many flowers & beautiful greenery for fresh bouquets. At Airmeith Naturals, we like to use some unconventional plants in our bouquets. We would like to share some of our ideas so you can try something a little different this summer.
By replacing some of the flowers you would ordinarily use with some freshly cut stems of herbs, you bring in a whole new range of colors and textures. Not to mention a new dimension to the aromas of your fresh bouquets. I have provided a list of some suitable herbs for use in herbal bouquets.
Rosemary – The tiny, needle-like, blue-green leaves add a new level of texture to your arrangements. Feel free to use the stems as is, or use them with their flowers for an added bit of color.
Mints –You have a wide range of varieties to choose from. There is the rich green foliage of the more common varieties like peppermint and spearmint or the multi color combinations found in variegated mints. Mountain Mint provides a lighter green color and a fuzzy texture to your bouquet. With leaves that have unique curls and folds, Curly mint can add a distinctive flare to your bouquet as well.
Sages – As numerous and varied as the mints in terms of colors and textures, Sage adds an unmistakable scent to your arrangement. I am rather found of the purple sage for the subtle color variations. Let’s not leave out the multi talented culinary sage, with its characteristic gray-green, rough foliage and oh so familiar scent.
Santolina (or lavender cotton) – This shrub herb has small, finely divided snowy, pale green foliage that looks to me like stubby fern fronds. It also lends a pleasant scent to herbal bouquets. The daisy-like flowers of the plant, while quite attractive, do not have quite as pleasant a scent, so you may wish to choose stems without the flowers.
Parsley – Their foliage adds a robust look to any herbal bouquet. As with some of the other herbs, there are various varieties in addition the common culinary one. You can chose from flat-leaved, curly or even feathery looking plants.
Lavender – Although commonly used in bouquets, I would be remiss in not mentioning Lavender. Not only do the flowers provide interesting texture and aroma but the stems themselves make beautiful additions to any arrangement. Feel free to save them and dry them after you are done with your bouquets.
I have only listed a small portion of the herbs that can be used when creating herbal bouquets. Others that you might use are Borage, Solomon’s seal, Wormwood, Lovage, Nasturtiums, Motherwort, Thyme, Salad Burnet, St. John’s Wort, Lungwort, Sweet Cecily etc… Experiment with different combinations of herbs, flowers, leaves or twigs. Let your imagination run free. Try different containers for your herbal bouquets. Tall vases, short wide bowls, old shoes, tea pots, garden pots filled with dampened moss, the list goes on.
The key to working with Herbal Bouquets, is having FUN. As far as I am concerned, go ahead and use whatever herb you want. Some may not last as long as others, but each will provide enjoyable for at least a little while. The great thing is, you can go ahead and compost the herbs when you are finished. They will then be able to nourish your gardens so you may choose more herbs to bring into your life. ENJOY!!
Airmeith Naturals 