the january bouquet

by Sharon Santoni

Here is a January bouquet for you. With the Holiday decorations taken down and put away carefully for next year, the house is feeling a tad bare. It’s always this way, a mix of relief to declutter, and tinge of melancholy to say goodbye to the holidays.

So I went for an easy fix, and bought a bunch of anemones and a bunch of tulips, foraged for 5 minutes in the garden and came up with a bouquet, which to me bridges the seasons. The bare branches of our lime tree, some dried hydrangea heads, a couple of branches from the hazelnut with its long yellow-green tails and a little bit of ivy in berry.

I love the mix of colour in this january bouquet. It’s so much more subtle than the wake-me-up springtime combinations, or the russet golds of autumn. This feels more luxurious, slower, and in the middle of a cold January, that suits me perfectly.

How about you? Once you have taken down your Holiday decorations, do you like to compensate with cut flowers? with foraged greenery or with potted bulbs?

15 comments

Lorrie Orr January 12, 2022 - 11:25 pm

Your January bouquet is lovely, and perfectly suited to bring a bit of colour and life into the house. I have a couple of hyacinths in bloom indoors that are filling the house with fragrance, and an amaryllis just beginning to flower.

Reply
GL Gardener January 13, 2022 - 12:38 am

I have several pots of paper whites in bloom. They are quite fragrant and I love to see them come into blossom.
I used to have them at Christmas but there is always so much going on so I have waited to have them in January when all the Christmas decor is done. They bring such joy. Love your bouquet.

Reply
Gray January 13, 2022 - 1:44 am

Absolutely Gorgeous. As always.

Reply
Maywyn January 13, 2022 - 1:44 am

The poetry of the arrangement is moving, inspiring.

Reply
Laura January 13, 2022 - 2:01 am

Hello Sharon
Happy Birthday! I can’t remember exactly when it is, but I know it is close to mine which is tomorrow.
Your bouquet looks beautiful and soothing. In January, I love filling corners of the house with fragrant pots of pretty primulas They remind me that even though it is bitterly cold out and there is snow on the ground, spring is just around the corner. Tomorrow, my husband will bring home a large bouquet of pink roses and I will arrange them in an antique crystal vase and place it next to my reading chair. There is no doubt that fresh flowers help me make it through our long and bitter winters here in Ontario.

Reply
Tamara January 13, 2022 - 2:51 am

I enjoy flowers year round – cut flowers! I have 6 small vases of white hydrangeas on my kitchen island that I replenish weekly . In my foyer , I make a beautiful arrangement to greet everyone as they come through the door! I love the smell , beauty , and elegance that any flower brings! I smile every time I see them and it reminds me slow down – stop and smell the flowers !!

Reply
Jeanne Henriques January 13, 2022 - 6:09 am

A very happy bouquet Sharon…I love that you foraged in the garden as well. I took advantage of a snow break recently and foraged in the woods, filling a basket with large swatches of moss. I have been tucking it in here and there, around spring bulbs in pots and into a large mercury glass bowl. All inspired by the floral arranging workshop at Tahilla Farm. ☺️ I am also tucking branches from our pear tree into containers and will wait patiently until they bloom. Another big snow storm is heading our way next week. A little floral “lift” is a welcome contrast! Sending birthday wishes your way…xxx

Reply
Cindy January 13, 2022 - 4:03 pm

Such a beautiful arrangement. I have decided that it is a treat to always have some cut flowers in the house at all times. A local flower shop has a special buy one get one free on Wednesdays and that is when I stock up on lovely clippings. It helps keep the spirit bright and grounded. Happy Birthday to you!

Reply
Steven January 13, 2022 - 5:31 pm

For us a long table filled with TraderJoe’s orchids in front of a sunny window and amaryllis in several rooms help make the transition. Not the verve of holiday sparkle but subdued and pleasant.

Reply
Nettie January 13, 2022 - 7:25 pm

Absolutely gorgeous!

Reply
cheryl jardine January 13, 2022 - 11:08 pm

Wishing you a Happy Birthday Sharon and love the color combination of the flower arrangement – as you said not as bright as the spring colors but work wonderfully in January after the decorations are down and put away.

Reply
Sarahkate January 14, 2022 - 8:43 pm

Your January flower arrangement is so beautifully subtle and very, very elegant! This year, where I am, in what has turned out to be a very “bleak midwinter” indeed, I’m trying something new – scented leaf geraniums which make nearly perfect indoor plants as when not blooming there are really interesting leaf forms. Brushing against or rubbing the leaves releases an assortment of low-key fragrances, each variety having a unique scent signature. My three new “pelargonium” plants (tender perennials) are very different from the typical zonal geranium; these three happen to have the baking scents, one clove, one nutmeg. The third plant is unmistakeably redolent of fresh lemon!

Reply
Mrs. Laura Susan Bamberg Gideon January 16, 2022 - 11:09 pm

Sharon, I adore the way you described your bouquet. It was so comforting on a rare snowy day in the South (of the U.S.) The house does feel bare after Christmas, so I don’t wait long to hang Valentine’s decor. It’s hard to find tasteful Valentine’s decor though. I often use fresh flowers, throughout the year, to decorate my home. Even a single rose in a vase in the guest room and guest bath make the house seem warmer and friendlier, especially when we have visitors. Happy New Year!

Reply
suzanne muzechuk January 22, 2022 - 7:40 pm

LOVE ,LOVE , LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. SO BEAUTIFUL. THE WORLD NEEDS ALL THE BEAUTY AT THIS TIME ESPECIALLY. ALL THE BEST , SUZANNE.

Reply
word hurdle October 17, 2022 - 4:29 am

After Christmas, the house does feel empty, so I don’t hang the Valentine’s decorations for very long. Thoughtful Valentine’s Day decorations are difficult to come by. Throughout the year, I frequently utilize fresh flowers to beautify my home.

Reply

Leave a Comment