FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Autumn Dreams

The theme for this weeks FLOWERS is - 'Autumn Dreams'.

After our summer holidays - the beginning of autumn is often full of expectations. We dream of new beginnings and new projects. 

I have spent the last two months renovating our house and garden. We are now putting things back in their place - but somehow somewhere in the middle of obsessively cleaning, de-cluttering, moving furniture and taking things to the charity store - I suddenly want to change things around. Hang pictures in different places or try them in different rooms, rearrange furniture and create new arrangements on shelves and mantelpieces. 

I'm having so much fun - but boy does it take up a lot of time. Looking, pondering and forever changing again and again. I will get there in the end! All part of a fresh start or dreaming of a new beginning.

Dahlias are spectacular at the moment and come in so many different colours. These two beauties are both salmon pink and I have taken off all the leaves, buds as well as half-open flowers.

I bunched the fully open flowers in a large clear glass pickling jar. I have kept the two different Dahlias separated giving them half the jar each. Looking fabulous just on their own - with no "interruptions" but the pure flowers showing off colour, shape and texture. 

The buds and all the half-opened flowers I put together in a second smaller vase next to the big one.

The seed heads from the common wild poppy - the one that self-seeds all over the garden, is one of my favourite. I carefully collect the seed heads and have them all winter as dried flowers in the house.

Hang the bunch upside down in a dark, dry place. Tie the stems with a rubber band that will tighten as the stems dry and get thinner. With string the stems will fall out. If you want to collect the seeds you can loosely tie a paper-bag around the seed-heads so that any seeds will fall into the bag. Then you can later sow them in your garden.  

    

I have started seeing Snowberries - the botanical name is Symphoricarpos - in the florists and local flower stalls. If the leaves are still nice - you can leave them on. I prefer to remove all the leaves leaving the pure white berries looking rather dramatic on the dark stems.

Here I have mixed the Snowberries with Foxtail Millet - the botanical name is Setaria. The two plants have both interesting texture and interesting contrast as well as a definite autumn feel to them.

This is such a wonderful time of year when it comes to plants, berries and foliage - so lets make the most of it and enjoy what's on offer. 

Please, have a look at Titti's blog HWIT BLOGG and see how she has worked around the theme of 'Autumn Dreams'. 

Enjoy your flower arranging and have a great floral day!

I will be back soon with more DIY floral delights.

~ xoxo ~

Ingrid

[Styling and photography: © Ingrid Henningsson/Of Spring and Summer.]

You can also find me on:

Instagram - https://instagram.com/ofspringandsummer/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/ofspringsummer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ingrid.henningsson