Fresh Flowers for Fall and Winter

Flowers are one of the loveliest ways to bring a room to life, and never more so than in the colder months. A single bunch can lift a grey afternoon, soften a crisp fall morning, or bring a little warmth to the table on a dark winter evening. Sharon has always kept flowers close throughout the season, a few stems gathered in an antique vase, something foraged on a walk with the dogs, and the good news is that autumn and winter offer plenty to choose from at the florist.

As the year turns, the palette deepens from the brights of summer into richer, more romantic tones. Here are six fresh flowers you can find in season for fall and winter.

For Autumn

Chrysanthemums

Often overlooked, the chrysanthemum is the quiet star of autumn, and a world away from the supermarket bunch when chosen well. The spidery and bloom varieties come in gorgeous russets, burgundies, and burnished golds. They last beautifully in the vase, often two weeks or more, and look wonderful massed together in a low bowl.

Asters

The aster is one of fall’s most charming flowers, with its masses of small, daisy-like blooms in soft purples, pinks, and white. They bring a light, meadowy feel to an arrangement, a little wild and informal. Lovely gathered on their own in a jug, or used to soften and fill out a bouquet of larger autumn blooms.

Dahlias

The dahlia carries the last of the warm season, blooming up before the first frost. In soft blush, deep plum, or coral, it brings a generous, slightly theatrical beauty to any arrangement. Dahlias are best but often arranged loosely among foliage, never too neat.

For Winter

Amaryllis

The amaryllis is winter’s showstopper, tall and sculptural, with great trumpet blooms in crimson, white, or soft blush. A single stem makes a statement on a mantel or table. Let it stand almost alone, with just a little greenery, and let its architecture speak.

Paperwhites

These delicate white narcissus are a winter classic, prized as much for their heady fragrance as their simple beauty. A cluster in a small vase perfumes a whole room. They are inexpensive, widely available through winter, and quietly elegant.

Tulips

By late winter, the first tulips arrive, a welcome sign of the season turning. Their colors are endless, and their form is graceful, curving and stretching toward the light even after cutting. Arranged on their own in a simple glass vase, they are effortlessly chic.

Arranging Them Beautifully

The secret to a French arrangement is that it should never look arranged. Gather more foliage than you think you need, let the stems fall at different heights, and leave room for a little movement. A sprig of something seasonal- eucalyptus, berried branches, or bare twigs- brings the whole thing to life. And always, a beautiful vessel: a silver vase, an old pitcher, or a piece with a little history.

Flowers are the simplest way to bring warmth and beauty into a home through the colder months- the same instinct that runs through our November Box, Winter Chic, filled with luxurious pieces to make your winter evenings feel a little more considered, from the first cold night to the last celebration of the year.

There are fewer than 10 Boxes that remain – be sure to reserve yours before they are gone!