5 Tips for Transforming Supermarket Bouquets into Luxurious Arrangements on a Budget

If you want to gift someone a luxurious flower arrangement but have a tight budget, don’t worry! With a little creativity and imagination, you can turn a simple supermarket bouquet into a breathtaking masterpiece. According to Jennifer Murphy, owner of Forget Me Knots Custom Events and Floral Design in Floral Park, New York, selecting fragrant flowers like roses and lilies, which will fill the air with their sweet aroma and make the bouquet even more unforgettable, is the first step. When bringing the flowers home, it’s crucial to trim their stems diagonally, remove any leaves beneath the waterline, and place them in a vase to hydrate. This provides the flowers with “breathing space” and prolongs their lifespan. Next, arrange the bouquet by positioning the tallest stems at the rear and gradually moving toward the front with shorter blooms for balance. Greenery such as eucalyptus or fern leaves can be obtained from your garden or purchased from the store, adding texture and making the arrangement appear more voluminous. Additionally, garden plants like dusty miller, ivy, myrtle, and viburnum work well as bouquet greenery, while morning-picked herbs, including basil (particularly cinnamon basil), mint (apple mint, chocolate mint, or spearmint), oregano, and sage, have a longer life span and a stronger scent compared to those picked in the afternoon or evening. Fillers such as baby’s breath and wax flowers, referred to as florists’ secret weapons, add depth and fill gaps among the larger blooms. Furthermore, rather than displaying the bouquet in a conventional glass vase, try using a quaint pitcher or an antique mason jar to provide personality to the arrangement. Remember to take your time during the artistic process; there’s no need to rush. For more gardening articles from the Associated Press, visit https://apnews.com/hub/gardening. Jessica Damiano, who frequently composes gardening columns for the AP, also publishes the celebrated Weekly Dirt Newsletter. Subscribe here to receive weekly gardening recommendations and ideas.