How to make a dried flower bouquet with lavender

Flowers are always a stylish way to say 'thank you', 'I love you' and a host of other thoughtful sentiments.  In fact, flowers have been used to send messages for centuries, reaching a zenith with the Victorians who, one could easily say, were obsessed with the communicative meaning of flowers.  Today, flowers continue to be an elegant way to celebrate, acknowledge or thank someone.

The one downside of sending someone flowers is that they will inevitably wilt.  Such is the transience of life, but there are many flowers that don't have to wither.  Creating bouquets with florals that dry naturally means that a gift of flowers does not have to be fleeting. 

Lavender is one such flower.  Many varieties of lavender retain their form and color beautifully when dried.  Let's create a giftable bouquet that will last!

How to make a dried flower bouquet with lavender

You will need....

• Lavender - dried or fresh (see note below)
• Fresh Eucalyptus - We used Seeded Populus Eucalyptus for its delightful texture.
• Fresh Baby's Breath
• Fresh Sea Holly (Thistle Eryngium Blue)
• Scissors or clippers
• Floral tape or rubber band
• Parchment paper
• Ribbon to suit your fancy
  
  

We chose these floral elements for their soft palette, similar scale and structural variety.  Each of these elements retain their structure and color when dried.  They are also readily sourced from a local florist.

When we are creating a bouquet we rarely follow a formula, but there are some useful things to keep in mind — scale, balance and composition.  Large or dense florals can be balanced by groupings of smaller blooms.  Use taller blooms in the center of the bouquet surrounded by slightly shorter blooms so that all the florals are visible.  Intermingle feathery, lighter textures with heavier greenery.  Turn the bouquet as you are building it to ensure there aren't any holes forming and it doesn't become overly one-sided.  Don't hesitate to remove leaves, cut stems down and trim the florals as needed.

One of the wonderful things about flower arranging is that each bloom is different.  Each stem and each spray of leaves is unique.  Embracing the organic diversity and letting the asymmetry be present will invariably mean that there is something wild, joyful and free in the bouquet.  

    

When the bouquet is ready for finishing, secure the stems with floral tape or a rubber band and trim them to the same length.  Wrap the bouquet in parchment paper and tie with a ribbon (leaving the stems visible gives it a nice organic feel).  Or, for a simpler dressing, wrap the stems a few times to cover the floral tape or rubber band and finish it with a bow.

Add a gift note and you are all set for gifting a beautiful bouquet that will last and last!

  

To ensure it lasts a long time do not put it in water.  These florals will dry naturally without water in whatever vase or container they are put in.  Additionally, keep it out of direct sunlight to preserve the color.

Note: To create this beautiful bouquet we used dried lavender.  We cultivate two varieties of lavender in our organically-certified fields that are especially suited for drying — Lavandula x intermedia "Grosso" and Lavandula angustifolia "Royal Purple".  We used "Royal Purple" for this bouquet.  If you are planning a large bouquet and long stems would be preferable, "Grosso" would be well-suited with its long stems. 

If you plan on using fresh lavender, it's a good idea to check that the fresh lavender you are using is a variety that drys well.  Some varieties crumble and loose their color when dried and do not work well for dried arrangements.  If you are unsure, send us a picture or the variety name and we'll gladly provide guidance.