Summer Bouquets

Blue and yellow, shades of pink, all green­-right out of the garden and into my house. This Farmer loves to snip blossoms, blooms, and branches and adorn my house with trappings from the garden. Just a quick traipse down the garden path can yield little nosegays and bouquets aplenty to bring the outside in. and bring them in all summer long!

    Neighboring colors on the contrast chart, such as blue and yellow, always make a visual splash and impact whenever they are used. Rather than using a diametric contrast, such as orange and blue, slide over a step and use yellow. I just think "happy" when I see such a jaunty combo, and rightly so! For the word "jaunty" has the French word for yellow as its root! Just knowing that the combo of blue and yellow makes green gives this little trilogy of hydrangea, salvia, and melampodium an added oomph and pizzazz. The sharpness of the true green leaves with its parent blue and yellow colors is delightful. While on the subject of green.

    Using all green florals for a bouquet is stunning. Lime, chartreuse, grass and golden green all make up for a deliciously cool and fresh arrangement- and in a green Depression Glass vase to boot! Buds of hydrangea and their serrated true green leaves bounce off of limey sweet potato vine, acuba, and Southern shield and Kimberly Queen fern fronds that all together appear cool on a sweltering summer afternoon. You can also add a few green pears plucked before ripening to play on the theme and serve as a dutiful homage to this amazing color in its various shades.

    Green is so neutral-nature's neutral-and fairs well in any tableaux. You can never go wrong with green. Shades, hints, hues, and tints of the color represent life and vitality and bring said movements into a bouquet. If your home is vibrant and full of color, a green arrangement is well suited. If your home is neutral and serene, green is at home. If your home is traditional or mod, classic or contemporary, prairie, piedmont, or post and linear, green is your scheme! This Farmer truly loves tone-on-tone plantings and green just may be my favorite one.

    With that in mind, I move on to the fun that pinks can bring to the table-literally! From salmon to coral to baby pink and fuchsia, pinks blend so well and complement one another gracefully. The last bits of foxglove, some hydrangea, begonia leaves and buds, pentas, roses, and 'Coral Nymph' salvia all merge and mingle together in a jelly jar, yet could be completely at home in a julep cup, crystal vase, majolica pitcher, or blue and white cache pot. This absolutely fun flower scheme is happy and heartening, pleasing to the eye and surprisingly complementary to many interior schemes and table settings. Lime green looks so keen with pink, so a few sprigs of variegated liriope add drama and pizzazz.

    I'm a boy that likes pink. I'll admit it. Maybe it's because my mama was Phi Mu; but honestly, the color is beautiful and so many lovely flowers can be found in the ranges of pink. As a designer, I rely on pinks to soften and frame a home, accent a bed, or add that pop against blue that is so classic. Cobalt, navy and indigo with fuchsia, hot pink, or salmon rose is just fantastic.

    Stroll through the garden and bring in the treasures you find. Just a jar of little buds is smile worthy. From this Farmer's garden to yours, I hope you find fun with your summer bouquets.

About James Farmer
Hailing from the pecan and peach laden fields of Georgia, James Farmer learned the joys of seasonal cooking and eating at the side of his grandmother whose Southern heirloom recipes he revitalizes for contemporary tastes. A professional garden, floral and interior designer, cook, author and lifestyle expert, Farmer is a young, fresh voice for his generation. Whether it's planning a menu for a summer picnic, using everyday items for an extra special tabletop display, or making a skillet peach pie, Farmer masterfully guides his audience through the art of elegant garden living on a grand scale-or a modest budget.
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A Time to Cook, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..