There is something deeply personal about a vase of flowers—gathered, not arranged. It's as if a piece of the garden has been brought indoors, a little wild, a little lopsided, but undeniably beautiful. At the height of summer, when the world bursts with scent and color, bringing the outside in feels not just natural but necessary. A bowl of dahlias on the kitchen table, a few stems of lavender on a windowsill, roses tucked into an old crock by the door—these are more than decoration. They are gestures of care, of seasonality, of beauty made tangible.
For as long as we've tended them outdoors, we've been bringing flowers indoors. But how we arrange them—what we include, how we pair them, and the vessels we choose—has always reflected the times we live in, our values, and the stories we hope to tell. Flower arranging, in all its forms, has remained one of the most accessible and enduring expressions of creativity and place, inviting everyone to partake in this beautiful tradition.
A Long Love Affair with Flowers
Flower arranging is a tradition that reaches deep into human history. Ancient Egyptians laid lotus blossoms beside their dead. Romans adorned banquet tables with roses and herbs. In medieval England, herbs and petals hung in rafters for both fragrance and folklore. This ancient lineage connects us across cultures and generations.
By the 17th century, formal arrangements had taken root in Europe. Dutch still-life paintings from this era depict sumptuous bouquets overflowing with native and imported blooms—aspirational arrangements that shaped European taste for generations.
In 18th century Britain and France, floral design became a symbol of refinement and elegance. Ornate porcelain vessels and silver epergnes held elegant arrangements at the center of aristocratic tables, where flowers spoke of wealth, access, and cultivation.
But it was in 19th-century Victorian England that floral arranging truly became a household ritual. The period's fascination with botany, domestic beauty, and sentiment brought flowers into everyday life—adorning parlors, pinned to lapels, and passing them hand-to-hand between friends and lovers.
Victorian influence extended far beyond Britain. As English ideals and aesthetics traveled, they helped shape the development of floral design in France, the Americas, and even colonial outposts worldwide. The 19th-century taste for romantic naturalism, symbolism, and botanical richness left its mark on nearly every modern floral tradition.
Floriography: When Flowers Spoke for Us
Victorians assigned meanings to flowers—lavender for devotion, pink roses for affection, and forget-me-nots for memory. Bouquets became coded messages. Known as "talking bouquets," these arrangements were as much about communication as they were about beauty. (We explore this tradition further in our post on The Language of Flowers.)
As the influence of British culture spread, so too did its romantic ideals about flowers. From America to colonial outposts across the globe, floral design adopted the Victorian ethos of symbolism, sentiment, and seasonal elegance.
The Natural Revival: Constance Spry and the Garden's Return
By the early 20th century, formal floral design had grown rigid and fussy. Enter Constance Spry, a schoolteacher-turned-florist who rewrote the rules of flower arranging.
Constance Spry, a schoolteacher-turned-florist, revolutionized the world of flower arranging in the 1920s. Her compositions, often featuring cow parsley, kale leaves, and twisted hazel branches, were a departure from the rigid and fussy formal designs of the time. She famously arranged flowers for the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937. Still, her most lasting legacy lies in her belief that floral design should be personal, accessible, and expressive, a sentiment that resonates with many of us today.
Today, her spirit lives on in seasonal, garden-inspired arrangements from floral designers like Shane Connolly, Willow Crossley, and Philippa Craddock. And in homes across the world, her ethos continues in every stem clipped from the garden and placed with care.
Spry also championed the use of flower arranging in unexpected vessels, such as kitchen jugs, jam jars, and enamel pitchers. Her belief that beauty could be created from the ordinary and that rules could be broken in pursuit of authenticity laid the groundwork for the wild and wonderful arrangements we admire today.
English Cottage Garden: A Looser Style of Flower Arranging
Few styles reflect the joy of flower arranging more intimately than the English cottage garden. Full of texture, scent, and a bit of whimsy, summer arrangements often feel like a morning walk through the garden: impromptu, joyful, and seasonally honest. The beauty of this style can inspire us to create our own arrangements that bring a touch of the garden's loveliness into our homes.
By June and July, English gardens offer roses in faded wallpaper tones, tall delphiniums reaching skyward, brambly vines, and herbaceous texture. Dahlias make their entrance, Queen Anne's lace floats like spun sugar, and soft herbs lend scent and subtlety.
Cottage garden arrangements don't aim for polish—they aim for poetry. When arranging in this style, let the garden guide you. Begin with what's abundant. Use odd numbers. Leave space for air and light. Let stems curve and wander. It should feel like something gathered with muddy boots still on and a basket in hand.
How to Make a Loosely Gathered Summer Arrangement
1. Choose a vessel.
Look for antique pitchers, crocks, jam jars, or weathered jugs. It should feel tactile and rooted in your space.
2. Begin with foliage.
Create shape and structure with greenery—ivy, mint, rosemary, and raspberry leaves. Let stems cross and nest. If you can, choose at least 5 different "shapes" of leaf to give your arrangement depth and variation.
3. Add focal blooms.
Place your statement flowers—like dahlias, roses, or peonies—at varying heights, slightly off-center.
4. Layer in smaller flowers.
Scabiosa, cosmos, snapdragons, or sweet peas add softness and movement. Turn the vase as you go.
5. Add the finishing touches.
Let something trail. Add Queen Anne's lace or a fennel flower. Don't be afraid to get creative with this one. Try a trailing tomato vine with tomatoes attached!
6. Know when to stop.
Perfection isn't the goal. It's about balance, beauty, and leaving room for the wild.
Bringing the Garden In: More Than Decoration
In the end, flower arranging isn't just about how a bouquet looks—it's about how it feels. It's about tuning in to the season, to your home, to what the garden is offering on any given day. Whether you're working with clippings from your yard or a small bundle from the farmer's market, it's the gesture that counts.
At Lineage Design Co., we believe every flower deserves a worthy vessel. Explore our collection of antique pitchers, stoneware jugs, and hand-thrown vases—each curated to become part of your own seasonal story.
Whether you are new to flower arranging or returning to it with fresh eyes, we hope this guide inspires you to create something a little wild, a little wonderful—and wholly your own.
Elizabeth Evans
As the Founder of Lineage Design Co., I curate British heritage interiors and French country style rooted in tradition, nature, and craftsmanship. With a background in art and garden design, I specialize in 18th- and 19th-century nature-inspired antiques, from carved furniture to European floral textiles. My husband and I are restoring a French-inspired cottage and garden in Salt Lake City, where we live with our two pointers, a Maine Coon, and a small flock of chickens.
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