Bouquet of the Week: The Last Cosmos of the Season
As part of our recurring Bouquet of the Week series, Garden Collage continues to present a weekly inspirational bouquet that incorporates intriguing new elements into the traditional practice of flower arranging. This week, Garden Collage CEO and Founder Daisy Helman styles a locally-sourced bouquet to honor autumn.
This time of year in early October is an interesting time to source flowers, because there are many lingering “summer” options still available, depending on how warm your September weather has been. For this week’s bouquet, I went to my local farmers market with a vision of bringing autumn into the house and also a desire to incorporate the last of the cosmos I had growing on my roof. I wanted something a little longer-lasting, and what I ended up with was a diversion from my normal aesthetics because I typically don’t like red. But, I am always happy to incorporate elements that I can find locally, and that was the vision behind this bouquet.
Because I live so close to the Union Square Farmers Market, it’s really important for me to try to incorporate as many local flowers and other produce into my repertoire for as long as I can. I cling to the end of the season like a lifejacket, sourcing herbs, flowers, veggies, and other items that won’t be as readily available in the winter. I love berries, and I was really trying to honor my local grower by sourcing them there.
To compliment the cosmos and the other autumnal hues, I incorporated beautiful wild grass from the garden, which feels like an airy offset. I also threw in some sage that I cut from my roof because it’s super prolific at the end of the season, and I like the scent it gives off when you pass by it; in this way, this autumnal bouquet honors all the senses at once.
