Where to Source Your Flowers
Determining where to source your flowers for homemade arrangements can be a challenge. Few people have a massive garden at their disposal for picking them fresh. That means you’ll need to make a plan for securing the blooms you need. Otherwise, you’ll find your arrangements are severely limited.
The good news is there are likely multiple options available to you for getting fresh flowers, no matter where you live. One or more of these strategies will surely be a winner to ensure you get what you need.
1. A Local Nursery
By far, the best place to get fresh flowers you aren’t growing yourself is from a local nursery. Not only will this save on shipping costs, but it ensures that every bloom is fresh and likely to withstand the rigors of setting up your flower arrangements.
Many nurseries will offer deals for regular or bulk orders, and you’ll likely be able to inspect all the merchandise before ordering to get exactly what you want.
2. Order Online
If you have a preference for exotic flowers or need specific varieties on a regular basis, then buying flowers online is the easiest option. Just note that you’ll pay a premium for rush shipping to ensure they arrive in decent shape, and even then, their lifespan will be limited.
3. Your Own Garden!
For the ultimate convenience, consider growing your own cut-flower garden filled with your favorite varieties. Starting a flower garden takes less space and effort than most people believe. With regular maintenance, you can guarantee you have a steady crop of flowers throughout the growing season.
We have an entire book dedicated to growing cut flowers. That’s an excellent resource for starting your personal garden. In the meantime, here are some main points to keep in mind:
- Grow a mix of annuals and perennials to ensure there’s always something coming up.
- Keep the beds well weeded to limit competition for nutrients.
- Deadhead spent flower blossoms to keep plants blooming all summer.
- Grow a variety of colors, textures, and sizes to maximize visual interest in your arrangements.
4. Grow Them Indoors or in a Greenhouse
If you have the space available, it’s possible to grow a few varieties of cut flowers indoors. Marigolds, geraniums, and African violets tend to respond well to indoor conditions, and they provide blooms for weeks at a time.
Make sure you keep them under plenty of light. South-facing windows work well for most varieties, but adding supplemental grow lights is always a good idea.
5. Consider Foraging
For those willing to get creative, the natural world offers ample inspiration for flower arrangements. In fact, some arrangement styles, like ikebana, rely on found objects for their free-form design and lack of rigid structure.
So get creative with what’s around you! Evergreen boughs, bare stems, wildflowers, and even weeds can add lots of visual complexity to your arrangements, and the materials are available for free.
