shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias

More and more, I’ve got sunsets on my mind. It’s already the month of August and I can feel the days incrementally getting shorter. It feels like the pressure is on to eke out the last enjoyable bits of summer before the warm days disappear. And with that feeling comes this desire to bask in the glory of as many sunsets as possible. While I was at the flower market this month, I noticed that even the tones of the flowers (especially the dahlias) reflected the color palette of a sunset back to me… sorbet-toned corals, rich burgundy and purple, even pale pink dappled ivory.

shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic

The flowers I used in this arrangement are:

  • dahlias, 3 different colors.
  • baby’s breath
  • eucalyptus

shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic

I started my arrangement off with a base of green, or more specifically the perfect dusky, grey-ed out color of eucalyptus branches. I knew this color would continue the sunset-hued theme I had in mind  — sort of like when the sun is low in the sky and some colors POP while others fade away into the background.

shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotasticshoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic

Once I was happy enough with that layer, I started to mix in the dahlias, starting with the most important color: coral! We’ve been having some damn exquisite sunsets here in Seattle and this tone of coral is actually the best representation of the colors in the sky.

shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotasticshoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic

To soften the arrangement just a littttle bit more, I mixed in small sprigs of baby’s breath. I love the way the tiny scale of these blooms soften the larger blocks of color within the arrangement. I also wanted to arrangement to feel a bit more abstract and have a certain movement to it, so I opted for an asymmetrical arrangement. I feel like this keeps your eye moving and interested in the total look of the arrangement — what do you think?

shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic

The result is a floral arrangement fit to grace the table for brunch with your girlfriends — or in my case, on my vintage bar cart at home! And, once the dahlias have wilted, I plan to dry the eucalyptus to hang in my bathroom to make it feel like a spa.

shoulda been a florist // sunset hued dahlias jojotastic.com @jojotastic

More flower inspiration, right this way.

My outfit: Free People crop top, jeans from a sample sale (probably vintage), and vintage ring. Vase by Molly Hatch for Anthropologie.

Photography by Meghan Klein. Styling by Jojotastic.

Leave a comment and let us know what you think of this flower arrangement tutorial! And if you make one similar, be sure to post a photo and tag @jojotastic on Instagram so we can see.

Behind The Blog

Joanna Hawley-McBride is a Pacific Northwest-based social media strategist, content creator, and former textile designer. Joanna is the founder and editor-in-chief of Jojotastic, a lifestyle blog focused on Joanna’s work-in-progress cabin, finding the best pair of underwear through #UnderwearThesis, and empowering women to explore nature — all in her signature unfiltered style. Her work has been featured in Domino, CNBC, and Eating Well.

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