GIVE THE GIFT OF EVERLASTING FLOWERS

The Random Bouquet at www.randomthatch.co.uk styled in the Random Weave Vase (available from March)

Everlasting flowers are just that! Unlike fresh cut that last 5-10 days, if you’re lucky, before wilting (and smelling foul) - dried flowers, sent with love, that last for years with a little care.

Check out the Random Bouquet created at our Somerset home Random Thatch, and inspired by our nature garden. The Random Bouquet, just £28, is a hand-tied, sculptural botanical arrangement featuring our homegrown favourites: nigella, fennel, broom and grasses. Easy to care and love to admire: no water is required, and even the styling has been done for you to create a modern rustic touch to your lounge, library, kitchen, or bedroom (avoid a bathroom due to moisture in the air).

Simply fill a favourite dry vessel (vase, bottle, basket, jam jar, or even a tin can, with a cluster or two. Each Random Bouquet contains about 20 stems (feel free to cut shorter for your needs). There are around 20 stems per bunch, and arrives in a long flower box, to make the perfect gift. Alternatively, try the letterbox bouquet too.

How to care for dried flowers

Dried flowers are totally foolproof: give them a blast with a hairdryer to remove any dust once in a while, avoid direct sunlight and don’t get them damp or wet (otherwise they might go mouldy). With no need for natural light, dried flowers make a stylish addition to any home or workspace.

AND with dried botanicals you’ll be benefiting the environment too, as unlike most freshly cut flowers which are usually flown in from abroad, in a temperature-controlled environment, dried sprigs last far longer, need minimal care, and are much less wasteful. Plus, unlike faux stems, dried botanical flowers are 100% natural, compostable, recyclable and biodegradable. Don’t you just love them even more?

How to dry flowers at home

To dry your own wildflowers at home: hang small bunches tied with string or raffia upside down in a cool dark place. Avoid the sun and they should be ready to style in just a week or so. Cut stems such as aliums, gypsophila, grasses, honesty, cow parsley, roses, and other wild flowers work well, but you can dry many long stem weeds and seed heads for their sculptural shape. Dried herbs such as rosemary and lavender have a wonderful scent too.

Random tip: Keep any seed heads that break off and you can create your own pot pourri. Opt for botanicals for their shape and appearance, rather than a traditional pot pourri ‘fake’ smell, then add two tiny drops of an essential oil blend such as the uplifting JOGB Mood Drops in GOJO.

JOGB Mood Drops of exclusive pure aromatherapy essential oil blends