february flowers and permission to cheat

by Sharon Santoni

My intention was at the beginning of this bright new year to bring you my monthly flowers, that I would have carefully nurtured and plucked from my garden, before arranging and shooting just for you.

But sometimes the best laid plans ….. well, you know how it goes.  The truth is that in February the only thing I have in the garden are my snowdrops, thousands of them, but each time I’ve picked some and brought them inside I forgot to take photos.

So here for you are some flowers that I did actually shoot in February, in the freezing cold, when we were preparing the Spring chapters for my Entertaining book, but I cheated on the source.   This arrangement was only possible because I have an amazing florist close by who checked off my wishlist at the wholesale market, and came back with swathes of peonies, lilac, roses, viburnum, ranunculus and some branches of budding hazelnut.

The aim of this exercise was to show how to make a spectacular arrangement without getting complicated.   The trick is to use several vases and to arrange the flowers and different heights.   Each vase taken individually is simply a few stems, arranged upright, but by using different sized vases, and either grouping them loosely, or even lining them up, the effect is wonderful.

This system works just as well with wild flowers, such as Queen Anne’s Lace, euphorbia, lupins, or even branches of blossom.    Ideal for those moments when you need to make an impact!

Wishing you a beautiful week, with some flowers thrown in along the way!

photos by Franck Schmitt for My French Country Home

Entertaining Through the Seasons

15 comments

Marianne February 26, 2018 - 12:39 pm

Beautiful…thank you for a moment of spring.I actually picked 2 daffodils yesterday. Those two did not know they weren’t suppose to bloom so early.

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Our French Oasis February 26, 2018 - 1:08 pm

Beautiful arrangements. We are lucky, we now have masses of daffodils and it feels like such a luxury to be able to cut big bunches and bring them indoors. They certainly add a touch of spring to the house which with this current cold weather is no bad thing!

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Teresa Person February 26, 2018 - 1:58 pm

Starting to do the same thing… local grocery stores have a great selection of spring blooms…. love your peonies…

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Bonnie Gutierrez February 26, 2018 - 2:14 pm

Thank you for brightening my morning. Beautiful!

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Taste of France February 26, 2018 - 3:31 pm

These are gorgeous. I love the shape you created. Often when I see bouquets, they are too tight, too perfect, like hair that’s been blown out and then sprayed into a helmet. Your arrangements here are well-proportioned, yet look as if you gathered them in your garden, very natural.

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Connie February 26, 2018 - 3:49 pm

It’s been very cold here…opening your mail this morning is a breath of beauty and promise of the coming of spring. Thanks for brightening the days for so many! Merci beaucoup!

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Dottie Monta February 26, 2018 - 4:17 pm

It is a special talent to arrange flowers and blooming branches in such a way that they appear to be presented to the grateful viewer in all their natural beauty! Thank you, Sharon, again, for the inspiration you give us!

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Sandra at Maison De Jardin February 26, 2018 - 4:29 pm

Absolutely beautiful, Sharon. My sweet mom, a National Flower Show Judge, always said,”The most beautiful arrangements never look arranged.” She would have loved your work.

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Marianne February 26, 2018 - 7:32 pm

Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers. It brightened my day, which is cloudy and cold here in New York. I keep hearing that “spring is coming”. but I wish it would hurry. Marianne

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Jayne February 26, 2018 - 8:07 pm

aaahhhhh…thank you !

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Robyn Boyd February 26, 2018 - 10:11 pm

Sharon, thank you so much for your beautiful floral display – several vases, different sizes – so simple but so effective.
Last week I purchased ‘My French Country Home’ and am enjoying a few pages at a time. Thanks to you Sharon, I’m proposing to join you on a brocante tour and hopefully do a 3 month stint in France.

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rob February 26, 2018 - 10:43 pm

Beautiful flowers!! You are a clever lady!!
I love forsythia, quince, flowering plum.
flowering crabapple that you can cut boughs
and tease into blooming. The epitome of welcoming spring

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Carol February 27, 2018 - 11:32 pm

Sharon, my first “My Stylish French Box” arrived yesterday and I am over the moon happy with this curated box. When I opened it last night, it was like Christmas and the smells coming from the box are absolutely heavenly! I love the items that you selected for me and posted the silver on facebook, and was surprised at the number of people who notice and commented on the beautiful fork and spoon. I have both of your books and now the subscription box. I so enjoy your blog and being able to enjoy beauty that you share with us readers. I hope to meet you someday!

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lensasukabumi March 1, 2018 - 4:44 pm

Thanks!And thanks for sharing your great posts every week!

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Ida Duplechin February 28, 2019 - 10:42 pm

In the pouring rain and chilly draft, I sit in sox and sweater over clothes reviewing my renovation plans. After everything begins to run together in my mind, your FB post popped up. What a beautiful page of flowers and the story behind your effort to obtain them is truly heartwarming. I enjoy your blog so much; it’s the perfect accompaniment for 4 pm tea or chocolat chaud.

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