I’m Maria Nieuwenhof from Quebec, Canada (Zone 5). I was going through my pictures over the last few days and trying to figure out what annuals I will start from seeds this year for my bouquets. When I go to see friends, or when I visit my father in Montreal, or when I have an event to go to I bring one or more bouquets. I started in late April with my first bouquet that had daffodils and ended in early November with achillea.
This year was a busy year for events. We had two baby showers, I participated in my gardening club’s flower show; after that I had a garden visit, and plenty of lunches with friends. In addition, I bring a bouquet to my dad every week and of course always have one on my kitchen table. I use only plants that grow at home—perennials, annuals that I start from seed, and some wildflowers, branches, and leaves that grow on our large property. I am starting to be more creative with my bouquets and am always on the lookout for things I can use. I love walking around the garden with my basket in the morning and asking myself, “What is going in the bouquet today?” or “What color will it be?” These photos are only a few examples. I hope you enjoy them.
Late April in Quebec, beautiful daffodils (Narcissus hybrid, Zones 3–8) take center stage, set off by branches trimmed from shrubs in the garden.
It’s tulip time, accented by the variegated foliage of ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria, Zones 4–9) and hosta (Hosta hybrid, Zones 3–8).
Here’s a sunny early summer bouquet, with a range of yellow blooms. Yellow evening primrose (Oenothera sp.) shows off in the center, while spires of purple veronica (Veronica spicata, Zones 3–8) give contrast in both color and form.
This is a study in lavender, with beautiful daylily (Hemerocallis hybrids, Zones 3 – 10) blooms. Individual daylily flowers only last one day, so they can seem like an unexpected choice for a cut flower, but new buds will continue to open even after they are cut, and as you can see here, they look amazing in a vase!
The basket is full of fresh flowers from the garden that are ready to be arranged and enjoyed!
Soft pinks from a sunflower (Helianthus annuus, annual), zinnias (Zinnia elegans, annual), and a sedum just beginning to bloom (Hylotelephium spectabile, Zones 3–9) are set off by yellow sprays of goldenrod (Solidago sp.) and accented by clouds of green from fern fronds and ornamental grass.
Celebrating summer with pink gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrids, Zones 8–10 or as a tender bulb) and zinnias
Zinnias are an essential choice for anyone wanting to enjoy cut flowers. They are easy to grow from seed, come in a wide range of colors, and are beautiful and long-lasting in a vase.
This end-of-the-year garden bouquet was picked in early November and includes late-blooming yarrow (Achillea, Zones 3–8) and other long-lasting beauties from the garden, such as seed heads from Miscanthus sinensis (Zones 5–9) and branches of variegated euonymus (Euonymus fortunei, Zones 5–8).
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