There’s something special about a beautifully crafted flower arrangement gracing the kitchen counter or dining room table of a home. Floral enthusiasts can find extra joy piecing together a bouquet all on their own, but the nuances of arranging go beyond sticking your favorite flowers in a vase. Sarah Hausdoerffer, owner of Bramble and Bloom Floral in Crested Butte, provides some helpful tips and essential first steps for those looking to bring the beauty of nature indoors.

“Make sure you clean the stems before putting the flowers in water to prevent bacteria,” Hausdoerffer begins. This includes removing all leaves and buds that would be submerged in water and cutting the stems at an angle to fit your vessel of choice. “The most important thing is to make sure the flowers are happy,” she explains.

Security for the flowers is the next step. Using chicken wire or tape to create a crisscross pattern at the bottom of the vase helps the flowers maintain their arrangement as you place them in the vase. Hausdoerffer also suggests making sure each stem overlaps in the middle. This should create an “X” shape, adding stability and structure to the arrangement. Once all your flowers are placed, fill with fresh water.

“Once you have all the basic principles down, you have creative freedom,” she adds. “It’s really an art, so you can take it to all different levels.”

Hausdoerffer used to be a street artist but decided to make the switch to flowers as her art form. She attended the Floral Design Institute and then opened the doors of Bramble and Bloom in November 2019. Her shop offers plants and flowers of multiple varieties, some traveling from as far as Holland or Costa Rica to make it to the West Slope. Customers can hire Hausdoerffer as a designer for events and arrangements, or come in to make their own at the potting station.

Bramble and Bloom encourages customers to bring in their own vase or reuse the one they purchased from the store, bringing the same vessel back time and again to refill it with new arrangements. Hausdoerffer also has some tips for being more sustainable with florals.

“Dried arrangements last forever,” she reminds people. “You can also press flowers in a frame and create an arrangement that way; terrariums are also a great option.”

Hausdoerffer likes to incorporate dried elements into her arrangements too, adding branches or preserved butterflies that died naturally. “It’s like creating a story with nature, giving it new life,” she says. “It’s really cool to use stuff that’s unique, but still uses things from nature.”

When putting together your own arrangement, Hausdoerffer believes “color is key.” She recommends going monochromatic (using all one color) or going for a large contrast with opposites on the color wheel. Add the greens first, then add the line flowers, which create a sort of line through the arrangement. Generally, line flowers are taller, which helps create negative space. You don’t want to crowd too many things in or you won’t be able to see the entire flower. Aim for it to look as much like an actual garden as possible. Add the mass flower next, followed by the smaller accent flowers. For a finishing touch, incorporate some wispier flowers or dried accents.

“There are a lot of principles and rules, but I don’t think art should have rules,” Hausdoerffer confesses. “I think you can make anything look good. If you have the right mindset, you can do anything.”

• Find floral inspiration on their Instagram page *@brambleandbloomfloral.*
• Learn more about the floral shop on their website *brambleandbloomfloral.com*.

Mindful Floral Arrangements At Home