Have you ever bought a bunch of flowers and felt surprised at how much you paid to have them assembled into a neat bouquet? The reason for that additional cost is that bouquet making is an art that requires an eye for detail and patience.
Learning the skills of flower arranging can be very rewarding, both for the wallet and the peace of mind it brings. The best way to do it is with an experienced teacher, using fresh and seasonal flowers. However, if this is the first time you’ve thought about bouquet-making, there are plenty of virtual guides to give you a taste of the craft on YouTube.
For tuition from a seasoned professional, Judith Blacklock’s Flower School in Knightsbridge offers courses and classes on all aspects of floral artistry. The principles you’ll learn here can be applied to all designs, even the arrangement of a few garden flowers in a jug. A flower school with more of an emphasis on laid-back learning is Flower Power in Bethnal Green – have a look at their upcoming courses here.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be able to make attractive floral sprays using only the blooms you (or its intended recipient) like best, and with the colour combination of your choice. You can use flowers from your back garden for an extra personal touch, or source them from your usual florist or market. Either way, the gesture seems far more heartfelt than presenting a bouquet assembled by a stranger!
Image: Muffet
