Woodland Garden in a Vase: Spring Bouquet Technique

Laurie Connable's (San Diego consultant) spring bouquets resemble miniature woodland gardens. Daffodils, irises, gladiolus rise from mossy "earth" instead of water. Smaller blooms/greenery at base enhance garden illusion.

Best woodland arrangement flowers thrust upward—"not bush flowers like roses." Garden cuttings or florist blooms make perfect spring table centerpieces.

Materials

• Shallow oval container (~12×3 in.)
• Florist's foam, trimmed, soaked
• 12+ 4-in. fern/small-leaf ivy pieces
• Sphagnum moss
• Flowers: 2 gladiolus (~2 ft), 3 irises (~18 in.), 3 daffodils (~12 in.), 12+ fillers (freesia, narcissus, nemesia, linaria, stock)
• Foliage: lemon thyme bunches, additional ivy
• Scissors/clippers

Directions

1. Insert ferns/ivy horizontally into foam above rim. Cover foam with moist sphagnum moss.
2. Insert gladiolus one side, irises other side—two clusters. Trim stems for varied heights (keep leaves). Add daffodils near irises. Tuck smaller blooms, thyme, ivy around each group. Leave small gap between clusters suggesting woodland path.