A service-delivered floral arrangement isn’t always in the budget (it adds up quick) come Mother’s Day, especially for those of us who have had to reserve our funds due to the global circumstances. And for some of us, putting a little more of our own efforts into the Mother’s Day bouquet has a certain appeal. Being creative, resourceful, and thoughtful? Those will be the true gifts in mom’s eyes.
We went to our go-to expert when it comes to all things floral decor—Jamie Lee McCormick, floral artist and founder of The Flower Daddy. Jamie can elevate the most luxe event with his creations, but he also knows a thing or two about being resourceful. He has the eye for arrangements, and gave us some pointers on creating our own dynamic arrangements from what is most available to us.
“I feel like we’ve just been in survival mode for weeks, getting the eggs, milk, bread, and even the toilet paper. We forget to take care of ourselves!” Jamie shares. “If you are in California, most of your store-bought flowers are from your local farmers. They’ll usually be labeled as such. So, this is a way to support your local farmers who need it more than ever now. Plus you’ll bring so much beauty and happiness to your mother on her special day.”
“1. Find an old vase you have lying around the house from a past flower delivery, or even a larger mason jar works. I used an old mason jar I had under my sink.
2. Find clippers or something to cut the flowers with.
3. When cutting flowers in the garden, make sure you’re cutting them long enough to fit in the vase or mason jar you have chosen. For my arrangement, I cut fresh rosemary (which I can cook with later), geranium, and jasmine, which can be used as a filler flower. Flower-wise, a variety of garden roses, lavender, germanium, and flowers from succulents also work. I also added some passion flower and cat tail grass for texture and a whimsical feel.
4. When styling and designing the arrangement, always begin with the greens. A solid base is a great way to start.
5. Next, you’ll want to add the flowers—save fillers for last. There’s no right way to style your arrangement. This is your time to enjoy and be creative.”
Store-bought from your local grocer
“1. Most grocery stores have vases available for purchase in the floral department, but you may have to search for them. Take my local Hollywood Gelson’s for example—they were located in the front of the store.
2. When purchasing flowers, you’ll want to get a variety of things: greens for the base and flowers like roses, tulips, hydrangeas, and waxflower for a filler. For my arrangement, I got a bundle of eucalyptus, waxflower, and ranunculus together, which cost me $12.99—a total score. One dozen Kahala roses was $19.99, a bundle of spray roses (which are a smaller rose) was $11.99, and local white lilac (which is only in season for a few weeks in the spring) cost me $15.99. I found a few types of chamomile, which cost me $6.99 each. In total, I spent around $82. You don’t have to spend that much, but you get great top-quality flowers. I made two arrangements out of all the flowers I purchased.
3. Find clippers or something sharp to cut the flowers. When cutting flowers, make sure you cut them at an angle so they can drink better. FUN TIP: If you find some local lilac, you’ll want to find a place you can hammer the ends for them to drink water better.
4. When styling and designing the arrangement, always start with the greens as a solid base.
5. Strip leaves from the greens, leaving three-quarters of the greens left. If you get roses, you’ll want to strip down most of their leaves and thorns. Remove the first outer layer of rose petals to help the rose open.
6. Next, add the flowers—save fillers for last! Again, there’s no wrong way to style your arrangement.”
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