Just realized I was wrong about using only fresh flowers for arrangements

I was at the Portland Japanese Garden last week and saw their ikebana display. They had dried hydrangeas and seed pods mixed in with fresh blooms, and it looked amazing. I always thought dried stuff looked cheap, but this was elegant and lasted. It made me think about offering more mixed-media pieces, especially for events. Has anyone else started using more dried elements in their work?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray1362mo ago

Try mixing in some dried grasses too.

perry.fiona2mo ago

Won't that just make it look messy?

kellys782mo ago

Actually, the texture contrast is a big deal... fresh flowers are all soft and smooth, but dried stuff adds a rough, papery feel that you can see and almost touch from across the room. It gives the whole piece more depth, like it has a story. That mix of soft and rough is what keeps it from looking cheap or messy. It feels intentional, like a real art choice.