Dahlia and Zinnia Bouquets

Zinnia and Dahlia BouquetsThese simple little bouquet are easy to make- and it's a fun way to incorporate flowers from your garden- or your recent flower finds at the Farmers Market. I have two favorite flowers- when it comes to my local Farmers Market- Dahlias and Zinnias. I visit the Fulton Farmers Market nearly every week- both summer and winter- it's a year round market- however it's Michigan so there isn't Flowers in the Winter... but as soon as Spring has sprung- the Flower Power quickly jumps into high gear!Both Dahlia and Zinnia are later summer flower offerings. Hope Dahlias provides the Dahlias- that you'll see in this project and you'll learn more about Hope Dahlias and my friends Kristin and Barb- in an upcoming episode of Life in Bloom! Craig from Z's Farm- provides the zinnias- and he grows specialty varieties for me... Green, Antique, Cinderella, Mixed colors- (NO White- I'm not a fan of White Zinnias or Dahlias... truth be told)... and I pick them up every week in season.Right now- you might have Peonies both regular and Tree Peonies... Tulips, Ranunculus, Bleeding Heart, Allium, Lily of the Valley- and as summer progresses- you'll see Gladiolus, Sun Flowers, Lilies and more... there's always something blooming when it comes to farmers market offerings.The vases I've chosen for this project are small vases with a tapered neck- they are actually made of pressed glass- and the glass is pressed on the same mold as bubble wrap - so the vase pattern is identical to the bubble wrap that is used for packaging (or annoying your family, friends or co-workers when pop- pop-popped). They are good vases- they are easy to carry- have a narrow neck- that makes them hold the flowers better- I like a smart vase- with a little narrower neck- it truly helps hold the flowers together better. Pebble stone vases are available from many professional florists or flower sellers!I also use one of my favorite tricks- the Vase Delight Foliage Bouquet is one of the Green Bouquet offerings- it's created by my friends at FernTrust- and it's a little collection of shorter stems- that they create- and bundle together- you'll see in this segment- that I just give them a cut and drop them into the vase. The reason this trick is so helpful- the Vase Delight- provides structure- in the vase- so it's easy to drop in a few flowers- and the foliage holds them in place. That way you don't need as many flowers- and it helps you look like a pro. You're welcome.Look for foliage bouquets at many flower sellers- or if you get a bouquet- that includes foliage- you can pull out the foliage and bundle it up- just like this- and drop it into the vase to create structure for adding your flower stems... it's a simple and effective trick!I add a few interesting stems- of various types of textural stems to the bouquets to give it a more garden like appearance... Scabiosa Pods, Crocosmia Pods, Millet, and Snowberrry - make brief appearances- and it's a great way to give the bouquet a more garden like appearance. Think unexpected items... it could be as simple as a stem of Scented Geranium or Hosta Leaf too... it's up to you- and it's fun!The Dahlia and Zinnia blooms are show stoppers- and they are the stars of these bouquets- just a few - make it exciting and provide a place for your eyes to land- (also known as a focal point or focal area)... Texture is busy- and our eye likes it- in contrast to big luscious blooms- but too much texture and eyes don't know where to land- and too many big blooms and our eye is not sure what to look at next- it's a balance- and you're the artist.These are fun arrangements to spread around the house- in different rooms- or give as gifts- or share with friends... the possibilities are endless... and the variety happens naturally at the Farmers Market- each week there is always something New- when it comes to Life in Bloom!