Unlike in some regions, we were lucky enough to be spared the worst of the weather this year. The garden has revealed itself earlier than expected, and we have already been enjoying it for a few weeks now. It is still far too early to have lunch outside, but we happily allow ourselves a quiet coffee in the sun.
Hellebores opened the season at the very beginning of the year, gently taking over the flower beds where they now feel perfectly at home. Thanks to them, I can start making bouquets very early on, and they bring a welcome touch of light into the house.
Of course, there are also snowdrops, one of my mother’s childhood favourites. So delicate, they always remind me of tiny pearly drops, perfect for creating simple, almost poetic arrangements. But neither they nor the hellebores are quite enough to truly announce the arrival of spring, are they?
What I love most about the garden is this quiet succession of flowers, plants and trees, each one stepping in turn to reveal its finest self. It is an eternal cycle we know by heart, and yet it continues to surprise us. The first blooms of each season always feel a little special, especially tulips, poppies or dahlias, which I observe every year and follow almost religiously as they grow, as if I were discovering them for the first time.
And so, quite naturally, come the daffodils and jonquils, two flowers I long believed belonged to entirely different families. It seems, however, that jonquils are simply part of the larger daffodil family. In the end, it hardly matters. I have always had a soft spot for them. I find them delicate, almost weightless. They make me think of little figures ready for a spring picnic, dressed in white, with straw hats!
Jonquils, on the other hand, are more straightforward, more joyful, perhaps a little more rustic too. They brighten not only the garden but also the woods, unmistakably announcing the return of warmer days. And yet, for a long time, I found it difficult to bring them indoors, feeling they somehow belonged outside.
But in recent years, by planting more daffodils, especially the Cheerfulness variety, which I love, even though it does not appear in this bouquet, I have found greater pleasure in creating arrangements that feel richer, more layered, more nuanced.
And now, finally, let us come to the bouquet, after this rather, perhaps too, long introduction.
When spring begins to emerge, I usually use daffodils and jonquils to decorate a table rather than to compose a bouquet for the house. This time, I wanted to do something a little different, something fuller, slightly dramatic, where each flower is a bit of a Drama Queen in need of attention, while still remaining faithful to the colours of the season, yellow and white.
All the flowers and branches in this arrangement come from the garden, as is often the case. I added one or two beautiful white hellebores. They bring light, that graphic quality I am so fond of, and above all they create that subtle transition between winter and spring that I love to capture in a bouquet.
FLOWERS & MATERIALS
- A pot or vintage dish such as a soup tureen
- Pruning shears
- Flexible wire mesh
- Adhesive tape + scissors
- Jonquils
- Daffodils
- Forsythia branches
- White hellebores
- A little moss
Step 1
Choose an elongated pot or a vintage dish such as a soup tureen. The final result can be particularly charming with a blue and white pattern.
Start by shaping the flexible wire mesh into a soft oval. This structure will help keep the stems upright as you place them inside. I recommend folding the mesh underneath so you have two areas where you can anchor the flowers.
Step 2
To prevent the arrangement from tipping over, secure the structure with adhesive tape. Even if the tape shows slightly on the outside, do not worry. It will be hidden by the moss.
You can now pour water into the container.
Step 3
Begin by placing the small forsythia branches. Keep them fairly tall so that they rise above the bouquet.
Do not hesitate to ask for a little help if needed. My little furry boy in the photo loves flowers and enjoys keeping me company while I put a bouquet together.
Step 4
Next, add the jonquil stems. Start with the tallest ones, spacing them evenly, then follow with the medium height stems.
Step 5
Do not hesitate to mix the varieties to bring both light and softness, with the creamy tones of the daffodils and the white hellebore stems adding a beautiful structure to the arrangement.
Alternate shades and heights to fill in any empty spaces.
To help your bouquet last longer, place it outside overnight and top up the water over the following days. Simple but effective gestures, allowing you to enjoy it just a little longer.
