Victorian Nosegay

Victorian Nosegay

Traditionally each flower in a Victorian nosegay had a special meaning. Roses meant love. Lilies meant devotion. A nosegay is made of rings of several types of flowers, which creates a stunning circular design.
Just as it was during the late nineteenth century, today the nosegay is a truly romantic arrangement, perfect for wedding celebrations. Make nosegays for yourself and your bridesmaids. You might want to make a petite version for your flower girl, too. These sweet bouquets are charming and easy to carry.

Here are the materials you will need to make one Victorian nosegay:

• one stem of purple ranunculus
• five stems of paper whites
• twelve stems of grape hyacinths
• eight stems of lavender sweet peas
• 34 (86.5 cm) length of 2" (5 cm)-wide decorative ribbon
• floral wire
• floral snips

STEP 1. Discard all of the flower foliage so that you are left with only sterns and blossoms. Hold the stem of ranunculus and gradually add stems of paper whites to surround the central flower. Keep turning the bunch to form a neat circle.
STEP 2. After you have added all the paper whites, wrap wire around all the stems, just under the flower heads, so that the blossoms hide the wire.
STEP 3. Next, add the grape hyacinths, placing them slightly lower than the paper whites to create a lovely dome shape. Make sure you place the hyacinths at the same height all around to define the shape of the circle.
STEP 4. Wrap the hyacinths with wire as you did the paper whites.

STEP 5. Now add the sweet peas. Again, be sure to turn the arrangement so you distribute the flowers evenly. The sweet peas should be slightly lower than the hyacinths to keep the dome shape uniform.
STEP 6. Wrap all the flowers with wire, cut the wire, and secure the end.
STEP 7. To add the ribbon, make large loops and attach them to the trunk with wire, arranging the loops evenly.