Leave No Leaf Behind

The lone leaf is one of the most frequently discarded items when arranging bouquets from the garden. When you have a bucket filled with textural interest from greenery and stems with berries, one less leaf is insignificant, right? That one leaf might be what is needed to complete the desired look for your arrangement.

Fresh cut stems of berries and assorted greenery just waiting to become a holiday creation for the home or office.

Here is one little tip on how to use the lone leaf with what you have on hand. While working on holiday arrangements in my office, the normal arranging items were not available. Improvising was key to a successful arrangement. I needed some sort of anchor to add fullness and fill in the gaps.

The leaf should have a bit of stem to adhere to whatever you choose to use.

A coffee stirrer that was clear and plastic was ideal. It would not get soft or rot in the water.

Look around to find the perfect item to be utilized as an alternative extension. Be creative. Being immersed in water for a week or more is important.

Using a smidgen of tape, I secured the leaf to the stirrer. The tape should not touch the water. Do not use any item that will absorb water. The use of rubber bands or thin paperclips is also useful as stem extenders.

One, two or three leaves can be gathered to create a cluster.

I also created a cluster of leaves to vary the visual impact in the vase. When inserted in arrangements you do not see the stirrer. This adds additional flair to the arrangement. It is also a great way to fill in sparse areas. Using your imagination, one can also create unusual combinations that add visual interest to arrangements.