Want to try some floral DIY? Sweet Pea’s Floral owner Tara Carlson talks us through the best way to arrange flowers at home: She recommends using fresh flowers with a floral preservative to keep them looking lively as long as possible. You should always cut the stems quickly and at an angle, preferably using a sharp Swiss army knife, to help the blooms suck up water. When you’re ready to arrange, start with greenery, which will help hold flowers in place, then add larger flowers (like hydrangea) close to the bottom and add smaller flowers (like peonies and ranunculus) and other fillers at the top. Carlson loves to use unexpected containers for her arrangements—try buckets or pitchers to give your traditional vase a rest.
Carlson says her favorite flower arrangements are done with her pint-sized assistant. “I personally have a great garden in my backyard, so for me, [the best arrangement] is helping my 6-year-old daughter 'make flowers' from our garden using all sorts of blooms and mixed greenery. She really has a knack for it,” Carlson says.
