One of the top florists in Paris, Clarisse Béraud creates a wonderfully happy bouquet for us, using huge peonies alongside more simple flowers.
Clarisse’s pretty store Maison Vertumne is a stone’s throw from the Tuileries Gardens, down a tiny street that has become a favorite address for Parisians in the search of beautiful floral creations.
Besides selling flowers, Clarisse also gives lessons in floral art. These classes are conducted in small groups and can be privatized for events or special occasions. Clients learn how to create a stunning bouquet, which they can take home and recreate themselves.
Read on to find out how to make her beautiful countryside-style bouquet.
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To make this bouquet Clarisse used:
6 sweet peas
2 peonies
3 astilbe
2 achille
10 long grasses
2 osmanthus
3 butterfly ranunculus
2 larkspur
3 hellebore
4 branches of redcurrant leaves
Start with a good sized recipient, Clarisse uses a ceramic jug in a complimentary color. The first stems – hellebores and achille – define the lower part of the bouquet.
Add in some longer stems to give the height and the outline of the bouquet. Clarisse likes to group the flowers together according to variety, making the colors more impactful.
The grasses give additional depth and body, and add a country touch.The aim is to create a bouquet of flowers that could have been picked while out on a walk and used as a backdrop for the peonies.
The peonies go in last of all, in asymmetric positions. Clarisse adjusts the height of some of the taller stems to create an overall effect that is relaxed and well balanced.
Read next: Tips for Growing Dahlias
This article originally appeared in the May/June 2019 issue of My French Country Home.
Photography by Sharon Santoni