Festive Foraged Winter Bouquets

Fall celebrates the hard work of your garden by yielding the opportunity to harvest the abundance that is grown throughout the summer. In the wine country, the fun begins when grapes are harvested to make wine. As December approaches, gardens begin to fade, leaves fall, and the cold makes many want to stay indoors. Garden offerings become scarce during the winter. Like the animals in the beautiful open space behind my home, I begin forage not for food but for elements of nature to cut and make bouquets to bring into my home. Foraging can be fun because it forces many to look at their faded gardens and barren landscape to find elements of beauty. Evergreens, seed pods, and pinecones, and berry branches are like gifts found under a Christmas tree during this bleak season. Now, the fun begins when you go out to discover unexpected varieties to add to your foraged winter bouquets.

This year my winter garden has offered a few unexpected seasonal gifts to enjoy in my foraged bouquets this winter. Yesterday, I had someone in a FaceBook group #BouquetoftheDay inquire as to where I live to have such beautiful flowers growing to make beautiful bouquets in December? Well, I live in northern California, and this year we have a mild winter that has afforded a few of the heartier flowers to continue into December. With a few recent nights at 30 degrees, many flowers are quickly fading finally. Interestingly, I am also already seeing my azaleas, paperwhites, and Lily of the Valley bloom growing alongside bold red zinnias, roses, and even a few sunflowers. My rosemary and borage are still abloom with delicate blue flowers while sunflowers are still in bloom next to the light up candy cane decorations in my front yard. 2020 has been a crazy year for all with the challenges of a global pandemic coupled with our local climate issues being unseasonably mild and dry. Thankfully, today we had about three-quarters of an inch of rain. Additionally, the rhythm of my garden seemed a bit off since the summer fires filled the sky with smoke. Anyone else in the region feeling this vibe? None the less, a few of my late summer and fall favorites can be added to my foraged bouquets for an extra pop of unseasonal color.

So foraging in my winter garden this year has afforded me some unexpected color from a few hearty flowers and plants succeeding despite the gradual drop in evening temperatures as the solstice approaches. Each foraged bouquet is a gift that brightens my days at a time when we are now indoors more that ever and isolated. It is also fun to brighten other people’s days by sharing my foraged bouquets with them on social media like my Instagram or in some of my favorite Facebook groups like Flower Magazine’s In Bloom or #BouquetoftheDay. I also appreciate a few new pops of color in my garden this winter like the pink found not only in my rose beds but also a hollyhock and carnations. Pink is my new favorite holiday color! Wherever you are this holiday season your garden and natural environment will offer inspiration and gifts of natural floral elements for your foraged bouquet this winter. You just have to go out and look for them. Foraging is fun! Connect to your natural world and celebrate the season!   

How to Forage

Foraging is easy! Just go out into your yard and see what is growing in the natural environment. You may be surprised at what you’ll find. Today, I encountered a furry rabbit that jump out of shrubs while gathering some paperwhites! Don't forget to dress for the climate, bring a creative eye, and also a pair of clippers. Selection will vary widely depending on where you live at what is native to your region. Oftentimes, purchased evergreen cuttings from a supermarket floral department or branch trimmings from a Christmas tree lot can augment the clippings foraged from the garden to give your bouquet more visual interest and a more finished look to compliment festive holiday décor.

5 Easy Steps to Create a Foraged Winter Bouquet

1. Gather your Winter Pallet Evergreens and foliage like eucalyptus leaves set the stage for your Winter bouquet. Evergreens and conifer branches are winter favorites as they are plentiful and traditional seasonal expressions for the holidays. Use any foliage that is seasonal and native to your area and your garden. Layering a few different varieties of evergreens or foliage adds more color and texture to create visual interest. Foliage and deep greens of pines, spruce, and conifers also add a seasonal fragrance to your bouquet. In large amounts, this can be overwhelming. So it is important to consider scale and placement when assembling a foraged bouquet for your home.

2. Introduce pops of Color Bright berries get the spotlight giving the foraged bouquet pops of seasonal color while adding texture and additional visual interest. Flowers purchased from the supermarket can also be added as colorful accents to the celebration of seasonal evergreens and your home décor. If possible, buy flowers that are locally and sustainably grown like many sold at Trader Joe's.

3. Incorporate Seasonal Elements Gathering seasonal elements like pinecones or branches will add more footnotes of interest, texture, and visual complexity. The natural beauty of organic elements such as pinecones, seed pods and branches speak to the organic beauty of the change in seasons.

4. Enhance the magic of the holiday season Weave in some sparkle with seasonal décor, ornaments, or festive ribbons. A simple ribbon can make a foraged bouquet look like a finished artisan bouquet to be presented as a gift. Festive ornaments that are in scale with the natural elements of your foraged bouquet can be added to the arrangement. This adornment can help connect the natural elements to other accompanying holiday design elements on your tablescapes or in your home décor.

5. Elevate Winter Bouquets A simple glass vase or canning jar can make a foraged bouquet look like a crafted nosegay. Add a ribbon and it is transformed into a seasonal gift. Placing your elegant foraged bouquet into a beautiful antique or cut crystal vase can transform your crafted nosegay into a polished decoration for your home or tablescape. Vintage silver, porcelain, or vessels such as urns can elevate your foraged bouquet into an elegant show-stopping artful expression of the season. Images in the carousel above showcase bouquets that share similar floral elements and pallets yet have completely different looks because of the vessels that they are in. Also, it is important to check water levels daily as branches drink large amounts of water.

Foraged bouquets connect us to our natural world to transform holidays into a celebration of seasons with all things flowers and grapes!