We Get Flowery with Ramblin’ Rise Floral Co. and Kimmy Dashnaw
So, guys, this is the year I have committed to more saving and fewer splurges. If you know me, if I want something, I buy it. No regrets. No buyer’s remorse. I can say no to all the purses and fancy dinners out, and I will gladly pass on luxury vacations and definitely don't need a new car with all the gadgets. But, when it comes to home decor, clothing, and skincare—I have zero control. ZERO.
I love creating a beautiful space to live in almost as much as I love creating great outfits. It’s my love language. I think the two really go hand in hand. If you ever come to my home, I almost always have fresh flowers anywhere I can put them. I love bringing the outdoors in, and there's something about the naturalness of using plants and flowers for décor that just makes my heart happy. BUT (and this is a big but), it’s not cheap. Weekly farmers market and Trader Joe's floral splurges are one of the ways I'm trying to cut a little excess out of my life (because let's be honest, I'll never stop buying clothes). I've been making my own little arrangements using the naturally growing plants and native flowers in my backyard (and a few snips from my neighbor’s yard...don't tell ‘em), and I've been loving the creativity and beauty of it all!
Inviting the Pros Over for Some Expert Flower Arrangement Advice
So, I had the idea of inviting my pals (DIY-er extraordinaire, Kimmy Dashnaw of @southwesternmama, and floral genius, Savannah Benton of @ramblinrosefloralco) out for a day in Ojai—mainly because I live in the sticks and will do anything to get people to come out to my house so I don't have to leave it but also because I knew I could get a little help in putting together the perfect bouquet from these pros.
I snipped a ton of greenery from my yard, and Savannah brought a bunch of beautiful flowers that you'd be able to find at the farmers market, Trader Joes, or your local grocery store for a reasonable budget. We turned up some tunes, threw some snacks at all our kiddos, and we got to styling our arrangements! (I'm not gonna lie guys—I think I'm a professional now.)
Pro Tips to Make the Perfect DIY Flower Bouquet
Savannah gave me some GREAT tips (read below) that made the BIGGEST difference and gave my amateur bouquets that super professional look I had been trying to achieve!
- Start with your greenery and place it in your vase or container, creating a "net" for the bigger flowers.
- Have fun with the different lengths and styles of greenery! No wrong moves here! Get creative and embrace imperfections.
- When you're ready to add flowers, think in terms of creating a "triangle" effect (*try one focal flower and 2 secondary flowers per triangle as an easy rule to follow).
- You may want to pick a single larger flower in your triangle to be the focal point.
- It’s easier to put the larger (and heavier) flowers near the bottom of your triangle to keep them from drooping.
- Stalks are a great flower to use for the higher point of your triangle and to create height.
- Once you've placed your triangle(s) of flowers, fill in any of the holes with added greenery/sprucing!
I'm telling you, this whole triangle thing makes the BIGGEST difference! In my bouquet, I did one triangle with a main focal flower and then a second triangle with smaller flowers—worked like a charm! Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
Use Flowers from Your Own Backyard to Create a Bouquet
I also wanted to include some great options Savannah mentioned for backyard greenery that you may have in your home as well as budget-friendly flowers you can find at Trader Joes or the local Farmers Market!
Greenery you may have at home or in your garden:
- Lavender
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Eucalyptus
- Pepper Tree
- Citrus Branch
- Artichoke leaves
- Evergreen Leaves + Branches
Easy Focal Florals to Add a Big Bang:
- Carnations
- Sunflowers
- Dahlias
- Roses
- Peonies
- Ranunculus
- Gerbera Daisies
- Hydrangeas
- Poppies
Simple Add-In's for the Secondary Flowers:
- Stock
- Mini Carnations
- Mini Roses
- Snapdragons
- Aster
- Larkspur
- Delphinium
Hope this helps. Remember to keep it fun and, with backyard style bouquets, embrace the IMPERFECTIONS! Like my favorite things in life, we all start with the same flowers, the same greenery, and the same tips, but we all end up with a completely different bouquet! Each one special and perfect in its own unique way!
Thanks to Kimmy and Savannah for all their help (and Kimmy for our vid and these great pics)! Grab your gal pals for your next girls’ night or day-in, pop some bubbles, and dooooo this! We had a blast, and we each got to take home something beautiful!
Shop my Entire Look!
My dress from this shoot is from the shop and its been a BESTSELLER three times over. Shop my look...its the Summer in LA Maxi Dress paired with my go-to Spring and Summer staple, white boots!!! We have the Coconuts x Matisse Acacia Bootie which is super similar to mine at the shop as well. Shop both of these items at the links below...
Coconuts x Matisse Acacia Bootie
Your Fav Los Angeles Boho Boutique Can’t Wait to See You
As always, our Los Angeles boutique loves more than just clothes (although we do love our clothes quite a bit)! We are here to celebrate all different types of expression, and we are so thrilled to be able to share it all with you. Want to know more about what we are doing outside of the shop? Head over to your favorite boho boutique in Los Angeles and stay to chat! Or, if you’re just interested in the clothes, shop with us online or in-store! xo
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