Whether due to a sluggish supply chain, the effects of cold weather or increased demand, it’s possible your local florist shop may not have the roses, carnations or other floral darlings that Valentine’s Day arrangements often feature. What’s a person wanting to show their love to do? The world is awash in create-your-own-bouquet options—if you only know where to look.
Foraging for your florals is not only completely acceptable, it’s also downright doable – an inventive and personal gift that’s easy for anyone to achieve. Win the day by getting creative with branches, boughs and nature’s own gifts—with an assist from a generic grocery store bouquet.
With evergreen leaves in a range of colors from saturated greens to vibrant purple, Encore Azalea foliage shines in wintertime bouquets. By mixing and matching found foliage from the Encore Azaleas and other interesting plants in your yard, you can make a magical and memorable floral arrangement that hits the mark this Valentine’s Day.
For an inspiring “foraged and found” Valentine’s Day floral arrangement, here are some general tips and inspiration for bouquet creation:
Go for the Green
While red may be the color most associated with Valentine’s Day, it’s green that that makes a floral arrangement sing. The reds, pinks and whites of the floral superstars shine brightest when supported by the dark and medium green hues of a range of different foliage – including branches from your favorite Encore Azaleas!
Pick a Theme
You have some options when it comes to the green element in your arrangement. Yes, we’re spending a lot of time on green, but it’s an important component!
Tropical foliage.
Items such as leatherleaf, aspidistra, black ti, Australian umbrella fern, calathea, and cocculus give the arrangement a tropical feel, regardless of what flowers you use. You can find foliage bundles in a grocer’s floral department, or if you’re in a warm winter environment, you can head out to your yard and snip some banana or palm leaves.
Northern forest.
Using branches of evergreen conifers—juniper, cedar, pine, hemlock, and spruce, for instance—lend the bouquet a wintry, post-Christmas attitude.
Neutral evergreens.
Not all evergreens are conifers! Holly, rhododendrons and yes, Encore Azaleas, are just a few of the shrubs that not only produce flowers but boast beautiful foliage in February. Within this “neutral evergreens” category, leaf color can variety significantly. Holly leaves tend to be a dark forest green all year long. Rhododendrons tend more toward a middle green. Most Encores have medium- to dark-green foliage all year, except for the white-flowering varieties tending toward lighter green leaves. It’s also good to note that the leaves of some Encore varieties—Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Princess and Autumn Sundance for example—have beautiful purple to bronzy tinges in fall and winter as the temperatures cool.
Whatever your evergreen hedges can spare is fair game! Be sure to cut generous lengths from the bush or shrub so the size can be further adjusted once your arrangement comes together.
Grab from a Grocery Bouquet
It’s not uncommon for Encore Azaleas to provide some wintertime blooms, particularly in warmer climates. Their soft, ruffled petals and saturated colors strike a spectacular note against the evergreen branches and leaves you will choose.
Encore Azaleas not blooming yet in your landscape? A grocer’s floral department has reliably good-quality, long-lasting staple floral varieties that can serve as the floral anchor of this wintertime bouquet. If you see roses, grab them for Valentine’s Day! If none are around, pick any of these top three varieties below, preferably in shades of red and white. For added floral flair, baby’s breath or red hypericum berries add great contrasting colors and textures to both the flower and foliage.
- Carnations
- Alstroemeria, or Peruvian lily
- Florist mums
Once you have your foliage and your flowers, let your eye guide you as to which of your foraged branches and stems look best where. The greenery plays a supporting role, so place those branches behind the flowers.
For the prettiest presentation, bundle your bouquet in gift wrap (craft paper will do just fine!) and tie with twine or a rustic bow.
With just a little effort and a touch of creativity, you’ll not just solve the holiday flower shortage, but you’ll also leave a lasting impression.