Workshop - Smelling the roses .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

One of the things I love about teaching at our flower-craft workshops is watching people begin to relax and enjoy the roses, herbs and flowers they are touching and smelling.  And the perfume, texture and colour of these gorgeous creations start to work their ‘magic’, sparking wonder and imagination. 

Invariably each person begins to slow down and look closely at the flowers and foliage they are working with, often commenting on how lovely they are.   It’s as if a world they had forgotten is again opened up to them.   

And people begin to re-awaken their latent creativity.  Often someone will start a workshop saying they are ‘not at all creative’.  Excitement grows as they see something beautiful emerge using their own creativity.  At the end of the workshop they have a new concept of ‘being creative’, recognising they have a unique creativity to contribute.  And their sense of wonderment grows. 

Time and time again I have seen this unfold as individuals from all walks of life, age groups and backgrounds realise they can create something beautiful using natural flowers and foliage.  Children intrinsically look at the world around them with wonder, but as we ‘learn’ to conform we begin to shrug off this God-given desire for wonderment, imagination and creativity.   

And we are the poorer for it, with anxiety-driven busy-ness rampant in our Western culture.  There is a real disconnect with the natural environment in our culture that is impacting all areas of our lives.  Research has shown that when we connect with the natural world, even if it is just to stop and ‘smell the roses’, we improve our well-being. 

Some of the benefits of engaging with the natural environment include improved emotional cognition, a sense of self and connectedness that eases loneliness, reducing physical symptoms such as pain, even a speedier recovery from major surgery (See ‘Green Nature/Human Nature’ by Charles Lewis for an overview).

So next time you see a beautiful tree or parkland, 

a bunch of gorgeous flowers, 

or even glimpse a lovely landscape through a window, 

take the time to slow down and focus for a moment; 

breathe in the peace and beauty 

and connect again with a sense of wonderment ... 

Flower-craft Workshop - Tussie-Mussies and Nosegays .. AT MY ROSE GARDEN

Tussie-mussies are tiny posies or nosegays filled with fragrant flowers and herbs gathered from cottage gardens and hedgerows.  The name ‘nosegay’ derived from medieval English,  immediately invokes the idea of something happy and pleasant for the nose to smell. 

Tussie-mussies were originally attached to the bodice, or a waist band to ward off disease in Elizabethan England when sanitation was less than ideal.   Interestingly, many of the herbs used, such as lavender and rosemary, are now known to contain volatile oils with antiseptic properties. 

                                          

During the Victorian era with improved sanitation, the humble tussie-mussie was used as a pretty gift to give as a token of appreciation and love.  The flowers were purposefully included according to their meaning.  Flowers have been attributed symbolic meanings across different cultures in literature and art throughout the ages.  In Victorian England, a whole language of flowers evolved giving each tussie-mussie a unique message for the recipient that could not be spoken in public. 

Around the 1970’s there was a resurgence of interest in tussie-mussies, with dried flowers bunched together inserted into the centre of lace paper doilies.  While pretty, they quickly lost their fragrance and colour. 

Today, it is possible to create pretty tussie-mussies or nosegays with fresh flowers and herbs that invite us to breath in their strong fragrance and take a moment to ‘smell the roses’.    And we can even re-create the ‘language of flowers’ and give these as gifts with our own special meaning.  

Of course, it might be useful to attach a card explaining this for the recipient as there are often multiple meanings for individual flowers.  For example, a rose may have meanings as diverse as ‘love, modesty or infidelity’ according to its colour. 

(See Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s Dictionary of Flowers for an updated list of meanings;  http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/vanessa_diffenbaugh//flower-dictionary/)

Tussie-mussies differ from posies in that they are arranged in concentric circles, with the most significant and meaningful flower placed in the centre.  To make your tussie-mussie, gather one perfect just-opened rose bud, and 3 or 4 bunches of fragrant herbs and flowers.  Lay these out in separate bunches in order of how you plan to arrange your tussie-mussie.  

Starting with the rose-bud, add a circle of contrasting flowers or herbs, then add concentric circles of herbs.  The final circle of fragrant herbs or flowers is finished off with contrasting foliage to frame the tussie-mussie.   Simply tie with twine or ribbon to make the perfect gift with a hidden message. 

Gorgeous!!