Garden Girl & DIY Flower Bouquet

Is it obvious The Secret Garden was one of my favourite books growing up? This weekend I spent time frolicking around in my mom's gorgeous gardens picking fresh peonies, and also went to The Toronto Flower Market. I felt as though I was living Mary's tale. This floral maxi dress is beyond romantic; it feels like such a dream to walk around in. The slit opens, the wind blows the light fabric aside and suddenly you're walking in a fairytale with the dress billowing in the wind. The print is summertime perfect and it pairs so well with that heavenly, golden hour shimmer. The price point also makes it so easy to justify adding another floral dress to my wardrobe. (Bonus-- from June 12th-14th you can score this dress with free shipping worldwide!)

Fresh cut flowers are my weakness. I love picking them and setting them up all throughout the house. There is just something so romantic, intoxicating and lovely about them, and I'm sure you can relate. The look, the feel, and most definitely the smell. But, I didn't just spend time prancing around in gardens for the sheer joy of it (although I could have); I also had a purpose. I love giving flowers as gifts. If your lucky enough to have the resources, like a garden, it can be so easy to put together these arrangements for friends and family. Taking a little bit of extra time to curate a sweet, little bouquet makes the gift that much more special.

Here are my tips on making the assortment of flowers in your garden come together in a beautiful bouquet.

Also, what do you think of this maxi? I paired it with a purple, moody lip (MAC- Hang Up) to add a touch of romance!

Flower Picking

1. Bring a large vase full of water outside with you to prolong the flowers' life.
2. Choose a colour scheme or a few colours you want to work with. 
3. Pick 3-5 blooms of each flower variety. (In this case I was working with all peonies, but once the others bloom I will be mixing and matching!)
4. Don't be afraid to add in a touch of greenery to really hone in on the natural beauty.
5. Leave a big enough stem so you can adjust the length afterwards.
**If you are picking peonies be sure to allow yourself enough time to hang upside down, or to lay flat so that the ants will work their way out of the blooms. Be sure to do this away from the house! You can also give them a good (gentle) shake!

Making The Arrangement

1. Group the flowers into individual piles so you can see what you're working with.

2. Pick your focal point (1 bloom) and add greenery/foliage encircling that bloom. 

3. Add different varieties of flowers around the greenery. 

4. Finish off the last layer with greenery. 

5. Re-cut the tips on an angle to your desired length. 

6. Tie with raffia or garden string right above your hands. Keep in fresh water until you are leaving, or set aside in vase for display.

What I'm Wearing

Shein dress (free shipping worldwide from June 12-14!) c/o

Old Navy sandals (on sale!!)