A gorgeous garden mix to bring on bliss

WHAT’S NEW

Right now, florists are kicking off summer by styling the season’s most fragrant garden flowers into carefree pitchers. “Here, white open-petaled peonies, lush purple lilacs and wispy grasses combine for a high-contrast look that’s full of eye-catching movement,” says floral pro Maureen White-Goeman of Maureen’s Designs in Chelsea, Michigan. “It’s a bright, fragrant bunch that will add charm to any surface!”

GET THE LOOK

Fill a 10"-tall lavender-hued pitcher with water. Then snip 7 to 10 stems of white peonies and 8 lilacs to 12" to 17". Add the lilacs to pitcher first, alternating colors to form a vibrant, lush base. Next, add peony stems one at a time, inserting them in a random fashion for a relaxed look. To finish, slip small handfuls of long grass blades between the blooms and tuck in a branch of leafy greenery near the bottom of bouquet.

INSIDER’S SECRET

Lilacs have woody stems that make it tough for them to absorb water. To ensure the purple blooms in this mix are properly hydrated, cut each stem at a sharp 45-degree angle, then make a vertical 2" cut up the stem to split it and gently pull on the two pieces to spread them out. This split opens stems so they can absorb more water. Also smart: Keep out of direct sunlight and refresh water daily.