Viewing one flower at a time in the garden calls to mind the difference between a landscape painting and a portrait.

A landscape conveys garden topography, while an individual flower seen close up allows you to peer directly into the intricacy of the botanical world within its petals. To cut or not to cut, that is the only question. The exuberant delight of a lush garden can be doubled when bouquets are cut as a gift for a friend or for yourself.

There are no rules when it comes to containers, as the flowers are clearly the main attraction. Reusing bottles and jars as vases can be an effective and economical way to create dramatic arrangements that showcase the singularity of each flower. They also invite a face-to-face sniff, which brings the essence of the season right to the fore. Every room, hallway, or entrance benefits from the restorative powers of a spray from the garden.

Note: reprinted with permission from Living With the Seasons.

Image: Bridgman Pottery