Foraging in February

As I type this, it is 21 degrees outside, but feels like 9 degrees with the wind chill. That is COLD for these parts and doesn't leave much to be found in the garden for flower arranging. In keeping with my commitment of using 100% local flowers for projects and orders every single day of the year, I embraced the challenge of this cold weather to make something beautiful that brings warmth, abundance, and color to an otherwise cold, sparse, and dark season.

Fresh winter arrangements can be lush and beautiful and represent the Pacific Northwest so perfectly.

I am so thrilled with the results. In this arrangement you will find all the beauty of February with a large & lush Amaryllis from my indoor bulb garden. I knew I wanted a structure of bare branches and some evergreen foliage because here in the Pacific Northwest, that is what is readily available in February. I also wanted to prove that evergreen foliage doesn't have to scream Christmas. I cut some cedar from the trees in my garden and some branches from the lilacs that were trying to bud up already in January. I filled out the shape of the arrangement with some privet and added some pussy willow branches for a soft and warm texture. For a little more color and texture, I added some dried foliage and seedpods and finally added some hellebore from the garden and one glorious stem of Amaryllis, with it's multiple lush blooms.

When I started this business, I definitely thought February would be the month of dried flowers, but it really doesn't have to be. As much as I adore forever flowers in all their whimsy, texture, and long-lasting beauty-nothing is more precious than lush, warm, and fresh flowers in February. These beauties were sent to someone who really needed a some encouragement during a hard season-there is not better use for them.

Photo: Kaylin Pinkett