By late summer, you likely spend more time indoors than outside. Heat simply forces many of us to seek protection from the sun. This is a challenge for most gardening enthusiasts. When inside, we miss our regular interaction with nature!

 For a joyful solution, try crafting a floating flower bowl! If you’ve vacationed in an exotic locale, chances are you’ve seen one of these “mini gardens”. In the tropics, people often build refreshing floral displays by growing, floating or securing flowers, seed pods and foliage in water. These water gardens are assembled in bowls, fountains and containers of all sizes. Unlike formal floral arrangements, their creation does not require specialized training or tools. Here’s how to get started:

First, choose the right water-tight container. Wide, shallow bowls produce pleasing displays because they provide plenty of room for the flowers to spread naturally. For your first project, start with a bowl measuring 10-18 inches across and only 3-8 inches deep. Clear glass bowls have a light, contemporary appearance. White ceramic bowls or bowls with dark insides make flower colors pop. Stoneware, copper, brass or hand-thrown pottery adds personality to your arrangement. Even inexpensive kitchen bowls make excellent containers.

Selecting plant materials for your arrangement will give your inner artist a chance to shine. Harvest garden plants early in the morning when plants are better hydrated. If your garden isn’t flowering, visit your local market or grocery store to purchase cut flowers. Use clean, sharp pruners to cut stems, trimming their ends at an angle. Immediately place stems in a bucket of cool water. For longer lasting blooms, experts suggest leaving the cuttings indoors to “rest” in water a few hours before arranging them.

Texas gardens often contain resilient summer flowers, such as sunflowers, zinnias, roses, crape myrtles, cannas, cosmos, salvias, periwinkles and more. You may mix your own garden flowers with purchased blooms, such as carnations. Flowers with pleasing scents also make nice additions. Include flowers with broad faces, which typically float. Use support structures such as floral frogs and floral tape to secure plant materials that do not float to the container’s bottom in such a way that the flowers, seed heads, etc., appear to float above the water’s surface.

Generally, flowers are the stars of a floating garden, but foliage adds depth to arrangements like “fillers” in bouquets. Foliage also helps to hide stems and supporting structures. Greens to consider include magnolia leaves, holly or rosemary sprigs and bits of Texas sage. Experiment to see what floats versus what must be secured.

Design approaches vary, but ideas include complementary color schemes, decorative patterns, smaller bowls placed inside larger bowls with contrasting plant materials and a live water plant such as a water lily placed amid floating blooms. You may crowd the bowl with blooms or take a minimalist approach by leaving plenty of water uncovered, which will create a reflective surface. 

To start, fill a bowl about three-quarters full of cool, clean water. Insert vertical elements, such as spiky blooms, into a floral frog or inside balled chicken wire (black) for support. It’s best to add these plants prior to floating any blooms. If desired, add decorative marbles or stones on the bottom of the container. Next, snip flowers from stems and place them on the water to float. Large leaves, such as palm fronds, may be used to wrap the perimeter of a bowl as decoration or to hide submerged supports.

Refresh the water every other day and remove faded blooms promptly. Keep the bowl away from direct afternoon sunlight and drafts. Most arrangements will remain attractive 3-5 days. Monitor for pests, algae, etc., and promptly clean bowls to eliminate issues. Floating minis look great at the dinner table, atop a buffet, on the patio, at special events or most any place where you’d otherwise place a standard floral arrangement.

Written and Photographed by LGMG Phyllis Webster