Even on a cold and dreary winter day, it’s a pleasure to go into the garden to harvest some materials for an arrangement. And yes, even in the darkest weeks of winter, there are materials to glean. There are plenty of interesting branches, including those of flowering shrubs and trees that have flower buds at their ends. Others, like red-twigged dogwood, offer stunning color.

Water your arrangement. It will last anywhere from a few days to a week or more, depending on the type of flowers you use. Once the blooms fade, you can remove them and add more fresh blossoms.

Photo Credit: Veronica Lorson Fowler

Gather branches from your garden, a few cutflowers and basic floral supplies to create this elegant, easy and affordable arrangement.

Photo Credit: Veronica Lorson Fowler

Press bits of wet sheet floral moss onto the presoaked floral foam.

Photo Credit: Veronica Lorson Fowler

Insert the branches in a simple but pleasing pattern, then add flowers.

Photo Credit: Veronica Lorson Fowler

Don’t forget to consider broad-leaved evergreens, such as boxwood and rhododendron, or needle-leaved evergreens, like juniper or pine. Or get creative with dried flower heads and ornamental grasses.

If you’re lucky enough to have flowers in your garden even during the winter months, by all means use those. The rest of us will need to make a stop at a floral shop or the floral section of the supermarket for something colorful to tuck in with the branches for some much needed color and perhaps even fragrance.

As a bonus, the moss and branches in this arrangement will last indefinitely. However, the flowers will last just a few days to a week or so. But that’s okay: When they’re spent, just simply replace them with more of the same (or a different type of bloom) for an arrangement that will last for months.

Here’s how to create the winter arrangement shown.

Materials

• Waterproof container
• Wet-type floral foam
• Sheet floral moss
• Cut branches from the garden (I used branches from a saucer magnolia.)
• Flowers of choice (I used Alstroemeria.)

Step 1: Collect your supplies. (Any branches will do for this arrangement, but look for those with interesting forks or bends. Those with developing buds or bits of early foliage emerging are especially nice.)

Step 2: Soak the floral foam in water until completely wet. Cut it with a sharp knife to fit the container. The foam should rise about a ½ inch above the rim of the container.

Step 3: Tear pieces of sheet moss to fit roughly over the floral foam. Dip it into water for a minute or two and blot slightly with a rag or towel. Press it onto the foam, tucking in the corners.

Step 4: Cut the branches as desired and insert, going for a natural effect. (Avoid any heavy or too-tall branches that could topple your display.)

Step 5: Cut the flower stems and insert them as far as possible into the foam. (With softer-stemmed flowers, you may want to use a pencil or chopstick to push through the moss and well into the foam). The farther down into the moist foam the flower is, the longer it will last.

Step 6: Add as much water as possible to the foam, pouring it atop the moss slowly. Replenish every couple of days.

This easy arrangement is a great way to chase away the winter blues. In fact, you can use it any time of the year using a variety of fresh blooms to match the season – and your mood!