A Vivid Display

Summer is the perfect time to find inspiration in the world around you. This year turn that inspiration into a practice of mindfulness through the art of flower arranging.

Photographs by Marvin Moore, Styling by Miyako Ballesteros. Materials used: Hydrangea, Solidaster, Kangaroo paw, Pincushion, Billy button, Kiwi vine

The peak of summer, when the sun beams down and flowers abound, is the perfect time to find inspiration in the world around you. This year, why not turn that inspiration into a practice of mindfulness through a vivid display art of flower arranging? It’s fun, pretty, and full of opportunities to tune in to your surroundings. Here are a few basic guidelines, along with some gorgeous floral creations by 20-year veteran ikebana artist Miyako Ballesteros, to get you started

Less Is More

You don’t need dramatic arrangements or fancy, costly materials to bring life and color into your home. Embellish a windowsill with a few small blooms from your backyard, placed in delicate jars like the ones pictured below. If you’re using clear containers, add a few drops of food coloring to the water for a subtle flourish.

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When using more than one container, consider how they work together to fill the space.

Tool Time

Flower arrangements can be so much more than placing stems in vases. These tools used by professional florists can open up new possibilities.

Clockwise from the top: clippers, floral tape, floral wire, flower frog

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As you arrange, place each flower as…

GROW YOUR MEDITATION PRACTICE


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About the author

Claire Zimmerman

Claire Ciel Zimmerman is the deputy editor of Mindful.