When you prune this March hold on to those dogwood and quince branches and by surprising tactics you can add gorgeous accents to interiors.  Simply clip the branches, place in water and, although it seems counter intuitive, keep humidified in dark cool location (like a garage) until buds start to break. These clippings make effortless arrangements and many woody deciduous shrubs can be forced to bloom this way.

Some other sites for more detailed instructions: Of course we had to tap Martha on this one.  And for the truly dedicated botanist click here.

A handpicked bouquet of fleurs… such a sweet expression of love. But winter can be a deal-breaker unless you live in a warm climate. Fear not Minnesotans (and the like). Creative thinkers can always find blooms for beloveds! With a little bit of luck and good timing you can capture delicate ice flowers early in the morning after a cold night with little wind. Grab a digital snapshot or better yet simply blind-fold your (trusting) honey and lead him in slippers and parka to the special spot.

We were delighted by these left of center garlands and holiday arrangements.  Enjoy!

A gorgeous grouping of hellabores show holiday arrangements do not always require evergreens.

A small detail but inspired nonetheless.  Feathers to complete this festive vignette.

Genius innovation Billy Milner uses copper tubing as garland!

A simple bundle shows the beauty to be found in the more stark silhouettes of the winter scape.

Certainly, many designers make use of plants to contrast and soften or to simply fill a space, but the key to their successful use is judicious placement and selection.  Plants work when they are integrated into the design rather than used as an afterthought.   

This dramatic arrangement acts as an architectural element anchoring the room.

 The height and scale of this fiddle leaf ficus provides a connection between low slung furnishings and the extreme height of the interior.  The gaze is drawn upward to keep the eye scanning throughout the whole space.

Another important element – the container, or lack thereof.  This simply wrapped root ball shows just how the container serves to further express the aesthetic of the surroundings.  We can’t imagine a more appropriate way to relate to the worn and textural elements of this vignette.

Via India Hicks and David Flint Wood.  

Often designers use plants to “soften”.  In contrast, these fronds serve as a highly graphic and rectilinear element with the more static furnishings expressing softer lines.  Proof that every design rule can and should be challenged.

Scholars and Astronomers once believed the universe was comprised of a series of perfect spheres nestled one inside the next, rotating independently.  The sound they made as they moved was termed music of the spheres.  We still think spheres bring harmony to the environment… interior and exterior.

Geometric shapes serve as the perfect jewel in an organic setting.  As winter approaches architectural elements like these sand stone orbs add interest to an increasingly sparse landscape.

Love the contrast of organic material and simple geometry in these pendants.

Of course the artful application of topiary perfectly expresses the beauty of a delightfully imperfect geometry.

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers. They can be tough. We love these arrangements for inspiration. Closely cropped and a limited color palette consisting of greens and whites are always winners, they never look overdone and work perfectly for any occasion, no matter the season or level of festivity.

A great organic bowl or pot can help vamp up any arrangement.

TIP: for your next great outdoor dinner- place several little jars throughout the table at random and fill with clusters of herbs, greenery and white or cream flowers.

Imagine an exquisite getaway just outside your front door. A place to entertain new and old friends, a chic retreat after a day of work, a calm serene yard-scape to ease even the most frantic of days. One beautiful detail to enhance a lawn and make it appear even more luxurious is the addition of a fabric. For example this draped off seating area provides privacy and softness. Love that driveway!