Blooming 11 Herbs Perfect for Flower Arrangements
In the picturesque town of Peebles in the Scottish Borders, Catherine Duncan tends to her cut flower garden. A member of Flowers from the Farm, Duncan is also a guest writer, sharing her passion for seasonal, scented cut flowers with the world. Her work can be found on her blog at cloudberryflowers.wordpress.com and on Twitter (@cberryflowers) and Instagram.
Duncan's garden is a vibrant tapestry of herbs and flowers, each with its unique charm. Myrtle, a fragrant evergreen shrub, thrives in warmer climates, but in Duncan's garden, it adds a touch of exotic allure. The hardy lavender adds scent and texture to bouquets, jam jar posies, and buttonholes, and can even be used to make confetti for weddings. However, lavender requires the right type of soil to flourish, as Duncan discovered when some of her lavender in clay wet soil did not survive, while those in drier soil thrived.
Marjoram, with its delicate petals, looks lovely in a bouquet of flowers. Bronze fennel provides feathery soft foliage for arrangements, but needs conditioning overnight in water to prevent wilting. The bright blue borage flowers on tall stems are a welcome addition to flower arrangements, and this year, Duncan is also trying white borage. Achillea, a valuable herb for flower arrangements, forms large clumps in various colours, suitable for bouquets with flowers like salvia, sweet peas, cosmos, and scabious.
Duncan's garden is not just a haven for flowers, but also for herbs used for cooking. Rosemary, with its strong aroma, is a useful herb for smaller arrangements and is often used in buttonholes for weddings. Mint, with its fresh scent, provides texture and grows easily, but requires proper conditioning to prevent wilting. Lemon balm has a lovely fragrance and is used in jam jar posies of flowers.
In her cut flower patch this year, Duncan is growing feverfew, thyme, and basil in addition to previous successful herbs. The names of the new herbs she tried are not provided, but Duncan encourages experimenting with different herbs, growing those liked for look, scent, and cooking use, and matching them with other garden flowers for a fresh, natural look in flower arrangements.
Nepta catmint, a shrub loved by cats, is good for flower arrangements with its purple flowers, easy to grow from seed and quick to return annually. Dill adds a lightness to arrangements and is a good filler later in the season, often combined with rudbeckia and dahlias.
Duncan's garden is a testament to her love for herbs and flowers, and her commitment to growing and arranging them in a way that is both beautiful and natural. Her advice to others is to experiment, to grow what they love, and to enjoy the fragrance, the texture, and the beauty that these plants bring to their lives.
