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Go for the Greenery!

From Beyond Bouquets

By Leah Hennen, special to HGTV.com
Delightfully unexpected, cut foliage arrangements — whether spare and minimalist or full and lush — "grab your attention in a really dramatic way," says Max Gill, a floral designer in Berkeley, California. Even better, botanical material — tropical leaves, arching fronds, singular stems, gnarled branches, mounds of moss, expanses of green grass, twining vines, striking succulents and even veggie clippings — can be found in your own backyard and on neighborhood wanderings ("we call it Road-side-ia," jokes Sharon McGukin, a Carrollton, Ga., arranger and a spokesperson for the American Institute of Floral Designers), or snapped up for just a few bucks from your local florist or flower market. And unlike quick-fading flowers, these cuttings will look fresh for weeks or even months. Some ideas to help you go for the greenery:

Leaves
Fronds
Swords and spears
Stems, shoots and stalks
Fresh branches
Succulents
Veggies
Dried branches and wood
Moss and grass
Plumes
Vines
Pods

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