Photography by Justine Hand.
When my husband and I lived in Manhattan we’d often question, as we beat our way through endless traffic on the Merritt, why we bothered to make the four- or more frequently seven-hour trip to Cape Cod.
Finally arriving some time after dark, we’d open the car doors to be greeted by an intoxicating wave of sea air mixed with honeysuckle and roses.
My rose-covered cottage in June, when blooming New Dawn roses and honeysuckle frame the porch door.
A rugged Cape Codder: though most rose are finicky about Cape Cod’s sandy soil and salty air, this hearty climber seems to love the less-than-ideal growing conditions here. Organically grown New Dawn Roses are available at Stargazer Perennials; $19.89.
For me, the sweet smell of honeysuckle is synonymous with the Cape.
The inspiration for my bouquet is the way New Dawn roses and honeysuckle intertwine above the door of my cottage.
Another feature of a Cape Cod landscape: grapes often grow wild by the shore.
For the DIY arrangement, I cut long stems of each of the roses, honeysuckle, and grapevines.
For more tips on smashing stems to prolong the life of cut flowers, see DIY: Hydrangeas Gone Wild.
Step 1: Make a base with the long grapes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
While wearing gloves, prep your rose stems in the same manner as the grapes, with a long cut.
Step 2: Focusing on the center of the composition, place an abundant grouping of roses.
Step 3: Finish off your bouquet with a few strategically placed pieces of honeysuckle. Their bits of yellow also complement the sunny center of the roses.
My finished bouquet has an abundant but wild aspect that captures the rugged beauty of the Cape.
A detail of the bouquet shows that expressive power can be achieved with a very simple palette.
In this detail of the lower part of the arrangement, you may note that I didn’t try to tame the drooping forms of the grapes and roses, but rather let them inform the structure of the bouquet.
Now my cottage smells as sweet inside as it does out.