Today’s photos come from Pam Bosse. She sent in some really lovely photos of her garden, but what really caught my attention were the incredible flower arrangements she creates entirely from the plants in her garden. I asked her how she settles on the beautiful combinations of plants, and this is what she had to say:
I don’t know! When I buy an item for my garden, I can already visualize what it will look like in an arrangement. And more often than not, once it is finished it is better than my vision! For instance, I just bought three white gaura (Gaura lindheimeri, Zones 6–9) plants, and I know the starlike (or butterflylike) flowers will be perfect as a filler with my dark foliage and bright lilies, along with the blue from stokes asters (Stokesia laevis, Zones 5–9) and oranges and yellows and reds from various coneflowers (Echinacea hybrids, Zones 4–9). Somehow, once I put it all together, the different colors work. You wouldn’t think some of these color combinations would work, but put the flowers, foliage, and fillers together, and it is magic!
I’ve been doing this for over 28 years, with a self-taught determination that can almost be described as an obsession. I just love it, and I strive to make beautiful things. From choosing, to planting, to caring for, and finally to cutting and arranging, it’s the whole package for me. It’s so pleasurable to gift someone with what I have nurtured and cared for. I find it completely rewarding.
So there is no magic here—just studying flowers, putting together what looks good, and then continuing to practice! One thing I’ll add: flower arranging is a great way to try out design ideas for the garden. Curious about how two plants would look next to each other? Stick them in a vase and see! If you like them together, you can recreate the combination out in the actual garden. Trying it in a vase first, though, is a whole lot less work.
A warm bouquet of mostly soft shades of orange, but accented here and there with white, green, and blue.
Isn’t the deep purple of the phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8) beautiful against the pale yellow lily?
Here’s the same color combination—purple and pale yellow—in Pam’s garden, with phlox against a yellow-leaved hosta.
Deep, rich purples run through with white and touches of yellow.
Those same colors in a mixed container.
Purple and pink, with notes of white from variegated leaves and the yellowish green flowers of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 4–7).
Pink and purple working together in the garden, here accented by silver foliage and bright yellow.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
If you want to send photos in separate emails to the GPOD email box that is just fine.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
You don’t have to be a professional garden photographer – check out our garden photography tips!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Comments
Lovely! You Do have a gift for making things beautiful! Thank you for sharing, (I love that phlox and hosta together!)
Thank you. A reward for all the work put into the garden. Haha
I have to say it is really something to see my arrangements posted on this page. Thank you fine gardening.
Your arrangements are beyond stunning, Pam....the flower and foliage elements are like a world class choir which each "voice" making a beautiful contribution to the overall effect. And, I noticed that you also continue your artistry with your choice of vase...no simple clear glass...at least, not in today's pictures. Your talents are put to impressive use with your outdoor gardening efforts as well. You are quite an inspiration.
Aww. That means a heck of a lot to me. Many thanks.
It’s great to see your arrangements Pam, I love cutting things from the garden and arranging them also. What has been your experience with daylilies? I’ve been thinking about trying them but have been afraid to cut them off and waste a whole stem of buds if they don’t open in the vase.
I have clipped daylilies. As in the garden they die off in a day, and the new ones opening are not as bright cause they have lost the sun. It still works for a day though. I have a pic but no way to attach it for you to see, sorry.
Beautiful combinations, Pam. Thanks so much for sharing. I especially like the featured bouquet - dark and dramatic.
Haha. Just what i was going for. Lol
Whew....just stunning. You have a convert to pale yellow and deep purple combinations. Brava!
I know right. You wouldn't think it but, so works. T
Thank you
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in