Displaying dried flowers in vessels - Part 1: Single varieties in beautiful vases

Displaying Dried Flowers in Vessels - Part 1: Single Varieties in Beautiful Vases

Vessels and vases can really compliment your dried flowers, so choosing ones that are right for you and your flowers is key.

Displaying dried flowers in vases though is slightly different to displaying fresh ones thanks to the unique attributes of dried stems.

Displaying single blooms

If you want to display single blooms, you will need vessels that have tight necks to ensure your flowers stay upright.

Displaying a few blooms

A lot of flowers become very rigid when they dry out, so if you display them in a straight vessel your arrangement may look rigid too.

To get round this, you will need to find a vessel that has a tight neck that flares out at the top. This will open up your display and make it look more natural.

It's also important that the vases you use are relatively weighty as they won't have water in to weigh them down.

Dried flower stems aren't very pretty when compared to fresh, so I tend to steer clear of glass vases. This ensures the stems are hidden from view and your focus is just on the flowers.

Using a Collection of Small Vases

Using a collection of mini bud vases of different shapes and heights can create a beautiful display on your dining table. Whether you arrange them all in a group, or line them up down the centre of your table, you can create a striking display.

Some things to consider when filling your bud vases are:

• how can you create height above the stem of your vase?
• how can you create movement in your display?
• stems of different lengths will create interest
• remember, odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye, though you don't have to follow this rule religiously
• mixing different stems together will make your display look more natural
• aim to create an airy look, so that you can see the other plants through your display – this will make your display look more natural, like a woodland

Finding the Right Vases

When shopping for vases, consider what your aesthetic is and buy with that in mind.

Whether you like neutral tones or primary colours, if all of your vases are in the same tonal range, then you can be sure your arrangements will work in harmony with them. Let your tastes drive you and remember that you don't need to spend a fortune either.

Places to find vases and vessels:

• charity shops
• car boot sales
• online sites, like eBay and Etsy
• vintage and antique shops

Your Assignment

Source five different-sized vases and bud vases (or use ones you already have) and experiment with making displays in them using dried flowers.

Take photos of your arrangements and make notes of what you think worked and what didn't.

Repeat this assignment every few months as a way of documenting your progress. This will be a great confidence builder as you'll be able to keep track of how much you are learning.