Cure the last of the winter blues with a luscious spring bouquet. Going it alone? Take a few cues from florist Jil Schlisner, owner of Denver’s Moss Pink Flora & Botanicals. Begin by buying single, unusual stems from a flower shop—even if you get your basic greenery from the grocery store. “We’re specialized in what we like to work with,” says Schlisner, whose shop is known for high-quality, long-lasting blooms.

Tips

• When you choose your blooms, think of the room where you’ll display them. Stay within the warm or cool family, and don’t try to overmatch to your decor.
• Anchor your bouquet with the most voluminous blooms as the center focal point and work your way out to the frondlike botanicals for tapering bulk.
• Your flowers should overpower the vase, not the other way around.

5280 Home Spring 2015
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From left to right:

1. Green Hanging Amaranthus
This exotic-looking bloom is also known as tassel flower. “This is one of my favorite elements to incorporate to create that dripping movement,” says Schlisner.
Substitute: Lily or bear grasses
2. Feather Acacia
This lovely foliage is from the immense Acacia family of shrubbery. Use these stems to add texture and depth to your greenery.
Substitute: Dusty miller
3. Iceland Poppy
Surprise: These pops of pastel are not native to Iceland. They are, however, “one of the most spirited and whimsical blooms in the petal world,” Schlisner says. “It’s no wonder the flower’s Victorian-era meaning is ‘imagination.’?”
Substitute: Mini Gerbera daisy or parrot tulip
4. Ranunculus
These longtime favorites, with layer upon layer of papery petals, come in an array of colors and have a good shelf life. “They are really showstoppers,” Schlisner says. The ranunculus pictured here was grown locally by Jordan’s Floral Gardens in Fort Collins.
5. Quince
One of the more delicate springtime blooming branches, “quince are at the same time formidable and lovely,” Schlisner says. Word of warning: The stems are prickly.
Substitute: Cherry or Prunus
6. Peony
The peony is a classic beauty. “It has a short and glorious season from May to June,” Schlisner says, although you can find them (for a price) from the Southern Hemisphere in late fall to early winter.