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Zen in the garden: A newfound joy of floating flowers

August 15, 2019

floating flower arrangement

Earlier this week I opened my garden to a group of master gardeners. Although this wasn’t an official garden tour, there was a still a bit of last-minute fussing, the kind where you look at your own garden with a more critical  eye.

That led to pulling out a “more natural” area next to the small path that leads to the vegetable garden. By natural, of course, I mean a hot mess of weeds with, perhaps something resembling the remains of something I planted eons ago. (There is no before picture. When I get myself into these random gardening situations I rarely pause long enough to think it through, much less take a photo.)

A weeded and freshly mulched area was a great improvement, but it was a rather large blank spot in a well-traveled area of the garden. So I did what any sane gardener would do and headed to a garden center.

I didn’t have a clear vision for what I wanted to do in this area long term and I’ve gotten so much better about not buying a single plant for a spot until I have a plan. But this garden center had a big sale on all ceramic pots. Which brought to mind one of those moments I loved so much from my trip to Chanticleer Garden in June.

water container

This simple idea from Chanticleer drew me in immediately.

A few hours later a new 21-inch pot landed in that blank spot with a few new annuals planted at its base to help soften the transition to all that mulch. The drainage hole problem (funny how you can’t find a pot with proper drainage when you’re looking for one, but the one time you need one without a hole you can’t find one) was solved with a wine cork. I knew cocktail hour was important in the garden.

water pot in garden

That area of mulch had been a weedy mess on the path to the vegetable garden.

A drop of the black pond dye I bought for the stock tank pond made the inside of the pot disappear. And then the fun began.

My first design started with a ‘Breakout’ dahlia flower that was past its peak and needed to be deadheaded. I pulled off the floppy bottom petals but the top still looked great. A few Japanese fern fronds, some Tuff Stuff hydrangea flowers, Aralia ‘Sun King’ leaves and brightly colored Nicotiana alata ‘Lime Green’ blooms finished it off. 

floating flower arrangement

floating flower arrangement

I learned that “thinner” foliage works better than thicker foliage—hosta leaves don’t seem to float well—but beyond that there are no rules with this sort of thing. To create a design on a moving surface you have to place them strategically, placing bigger material as a border to keep smaller flowers and leaves from straying. And everything needs to be gently rested on the water’s surface.

In other words, you have to slow down. And here’s where the magic happens. Walking around the garden in search leaves and flowers for the arrangement requires looking at everything differently, Placing plants on the surface of the water requires the kind of concentration that clears your mind. It’s the most zen thing I’ve done in ages.

The result of my first attempt was lovely. I’ve only had my little floating flower arrangement for a few days, but it seems that flowers last a couple days in it, and the birds do a bit of rearranging when I’m not around. Each arrangement is fleeting, which is both fabulous and a little sad. When the flowers look a bit ragged, I just fish them out, toss them away and throw some fresh water in the pot (which manages the mosquito issue that I know you’re thinking about). 

floating flower arrangement

For my second attempt I went a little less symmetrical, using ferns, papalo foliage (a Mexican herb that I decided I hate the test of but has lovely leaves), Tithonia flowers and ‘Millennium’ allium flowers.

floating flower arrangement

You can probably tell that I’ve become quite enamored with my little water pot. Yesterday I had one of those days at work where you aren’t pleasant company when you get home. Rather than subject anyone else to that attitude, I went outside with my pruners and made a new floating arrangement. The process has an almost meditative quality, which is a nice way to say that I was a happier person when I came back inside 15 minutes later.

flower arranging

A collection of flowers from the garden sit on a nearby rock waiting for floating.

My original thought wasn’t to leave this container in that spot for the long term, but now I quite like that moment on my way to the vegetable garden. It turns out that garden moments are as good for the gardener as they are for garden visitors.

floating flowers patio pond
by Erin @ The Impatient Gardener 
8 Comments

About Erin @ The Impatient Gardener

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previous post: The great seed-grown annual show
next post: The one thing I really didn’t want to find in my garden (or my house)

Comments

  1. Kellie says: August 16, 2019 at 10:05 am

    This is a lovely idea! It must have been a big hit during the tour. And I love your solution for the drainage hole. You never stop inspiring me. For years, I’ve been thinking about an enclosed cutting/vegetable garden. You’ve inspired me to make that a reality. Thank you for all the inspiration and practical advice you post. Your beautiful flowers and sense of humor make me smile!😊

    Reply
  2. Lisa at Greenbow says: August 16, 2019 at 3:25 pm

    What fun! The first one is quite an artsy design, my favorite. Who can not like a bunch of alliums floating. I like those puff balls no matter how they are served up.

    Reply
  3. Julie Mattson says: August 16, 2019 at 3:26 pm

    Erin,
    Thank you for putting your gardening “out there”. I only discovered your videos earlier this spring and your blog just lately. This stuff feeds my soul. You have a beautiful blog. I garden in Montana zone 4 but find we grow many of the same plants. Your veg garden is ‘the bomb’ and these floating flower arrangements are gorgeous and certainly unique. Nice Work!
    Julie

    Reply
  4. Laura Chandler says: August 16, 2019 at 9:57 pm

    Fantastic now I am looking forward to using finding a pot with no hole when usually that is annoying. You have me thinking I could have 2, one in front and one in back instead of the containers I always make each summer. The end of the year pot sales are happening soon. Maybe my first display will be fall foliage!

    Reply
  5. Sheila says: August 19, 2019 at 11:52 am

    Erin, this is lovely. What a terrific idea! Alas, it would be an iguana buffet here!

    Reply
  6. Francesca says: August 20, 2019 at 7:34 am

    This is such a lovely idea. Your floating flowers look so stunning against the water. It’s creative ideas like this that make gardening so exciting. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Nikki Gwin says: August 26, 2019 at 9:11 pm

    I do love my water feature, but this idea of just a huge vase with a floating bouquet is wonderful! Pinned and stuck in the back of my mind for a similar project.
    🙂 gwingal

    Reply
  8. Lisa Walters says: October 2, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    What a wonderful idea. When looking at others’ gardens, I do get the zen feeling. But never from my own, because there is always something needing pulled, plucked, dug or weeded. But I can imagine this activity would be soothing. Great video btw. Love your channel and I will be enjoying your blog now as well.

    Lisa
    Zone 8b Texas

    Reply

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The Impatient Gardener

Do you love gardening? Me too! I'm Erin and I garden in Southeastern Wisconsin, zone 5. The Impatient Gardener is all about real-life gardening: the good parts, the bad bits and even the funny stuff. It's part information, part inspiration and a little bit commiseration. Thanks for visiting.

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I stopped in at @johnsonsgardens yesterday and it was so fun to see how they are using the same sphere that I bought in their containers. Here they wrapped grapevine around it (love that it looks like it’s been growing there for ages) and put a candle in it. So warm and cozy! A small version of this would be so cute as a centerpiece. Inspiration is everywhere!
I’ve got mantel decorating on my mind. It will end up being some combination of evergreens and pine cones, as per usual, but a big part of me would rather be dreaming up a mantel like this one at @chanticleergarden
A bit of frosting on a winter container gives it just the right touch.
Mother Nature knows me well enough to know I’m a long way from getting ornaments on anything so she was kind enough to hang some outside for me.

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