During the summer, I grow flowers not just for the garden, but for the winter months ahead. I cut some blooms with the goal of drying—strawflower, statice, everlasting daisies—and hang them in little bundles throughout the basement. By winter, those same bundles become centrepieces, wreaths, gifts, or front porch arrangements. They hold a memory of summer sun and warm soil, even when the days are short and the garden rests under frost.
I’ve made more space for dried flowers in the garden plan for this upcoming growing season, choosing varieties that keep their shape and colour well. There’s something satisfying in this kind of planning: tending to growth now, knowing it will bring beauty months later. It’s a gentle way of carrying nature indoors and through the coldest months. Even when the snow lies thick, there are hints of life, colour, and texture inside.
If today allows, gather a few natural or dried materials and try arranging them. A handful of branches, a few seed pods, or a bundle of dried flowers can become a small display for your table, windowsill, or entryway. Notice how colours, shapes, and textures work together, and enjoy the quiet creativity of bringing a little of the outdoors inside.
