Making a bouquet from your garden flowers does not require floristry training. If you can grow the flowers and have a clean jar, you can make something beautiful.
Every bouquet has three components: foliage (the green base), focal flowers (the big, eye-catching blooms), and filler/accent flowers (smaller blooms that fill gaps). Start with foliage, add focal flowers, then tuck in filler.
1. Condition all your flowers for at least 2 hours.
2. Choose a clean vase and fill with water and preservative.
3. Create a base of foliage: eucalyptus, ferns, mint, or basil. Cross stems in the vase to create a natural grid that holds flowers in place.
4. Add 3–5 focal flowers: dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, peonies, or ranunculus. Space them unevenly for a natural look.
5. Fill gaps with smaller flowers: cosmos, scabiosa, ageratum, or nigella.
6. Add line flowers for height if desired: snapdragons, larkspur.
7. Finish with trailing elements: grasses or amaranth.
Overcrowding the vase. Using too many varieties (3–5 types is usually enough). Cutting stems too short. Not removing foliage below the waterline. See color theory and vase selection for more guidance.