Garden and roadside plants, along with wilted flowers, shine in Kreetta Järvenpää’s arrangements—gather ideas
For photographer and artist Kreetta Järvenpää, floral arrangements are like puzzles. She uses materials from both the garden and roadside. “Even weeds can become almost elevated and find their personality alongside garden flowers,” Kreetta says. Gather ideas for your own relaxed, modern summer bouquets!
Casually festive
Marigolds and chocolate cosmos beautifully echo the deep tones in the center of the ‘Happy Single Date’ dahlia in a bouquet arranged by Kreetta Järvenpää. Dill and ornamental carrot stems are woven into a twig base to give the arrangement an airy finishing touch—they work just as well with short or long stems. Raspberry branches are also great for trailing among the flowers.
From the garden and the roadside
Creative experimentation can reveal delightful plant combinations, as seen in this bouquet where Kreetta has paired orange-toned zinnias, calendulas, and ‘Salmon Runner’ dahlias with false cleavers, Canadian hawkweed, and lupine leaves.
“Even weeds can become almost elevated and find their personality alongside garden flowers,” Kreetta says.
A flower’s character guides the kind of arrangement that emerges.
Delicate together
Just a few lovely ‘Baby Yellow’ dahlia stems are enough when you use a flower frog. It allows you to position each stem exactly where you want it. Kreetta makes her own frogs from ceramics but also recommends thrift stores.
Flowers that break off or are cut too short can become their own little arrangement.
In the spirit of the baroque era
Kreetta loves lavish arrangements that let her celebrate color. Dried flowers add earthy tones. This arrangement highlights the entire growing season, from bud to withering. A footed dish elevates the flowers, creating an airy feel. Kreetta secures a ball of chicken wire in a shallow container with florist’s tape for support.
This bouquet features a variety of dahlias, marigolds, zinnias, ornamental carrots, chocolate cosmos, and dill.
Personalities preserved
In Kreetta’s view, imperfection makes homegrown flowers perfect. Curved and winding stems have a strong character that’s best welcomed, since they add movement and life to an arrangement. Kreetta creates her own small arrangement from blooms that break off or are cut too short, such as these ‘Schneeflocke,’ ‘Franz Kafka,’ ‘Baby Yellow,’ and ‘Happy Single Date’ dahlias.
Flowers are beautiful in every stage of life.
With just a few stems
A festive look can be achieved with very little money or effort.
“You don’t always need large arrangements. A few branches and a pretty pitcher are enough,” Kreetta says.
She likes to cut flowers to different lengths. That way, these white cosmos form a gracefully varied, dreamlike cluster.
With a single color
A monochromatic look inspires Kreetta to experiment with vessels and flowers. Here, she combined a vintage pitcher with ‘Happy Single Date’ and ‘Salmon Runner’ dahlias.
