Try something different this summer instead of the usual flowers. Why not replace some of the flowers you would ordinarily use with some freshly cut stems of herbs.

Freshly cut stems of herbs have so much to offer in floral design. They can add a wonderful fragrance. By using a variety of different herbs, you can end up with a richly colored and textured design. Here are some suitable herbs for such an arrangement.

Whether they’re in flower or not, rosemary stems are a welcome addition to any bouquet. The tiny, blue-green leaves are needle-like. They release a delicious fragrance that can’t be beat.

With the mints, you can take you choice from all the different kinds. Along with the ordinary ones like peppermint and spearmint with their rich green foliage, there are other unusual ones, such as variegated mint. Curly mint is simply wonderful for floral design. With leaves that are folded and intricately curled along the margins, this adds an unusual feature to a bouquet.

The sages are as numerous and varied as the mints in terms of colors and textures. Personally, I’m partial to the Tricolor and the purple sage. Even the ordinary culinary sage adds a touch of color and texture to a bouquet. With its gray-green, rough foliage, this gives off an unmistakable scent.

Santolina or lavender cotton has very small, very finely divided foliage that looks very delicate. It is almost fern-like. The daisy-like flowers of the plant tend to be rather inconspicuous for the most part.

Parsley foliage adds a robust look to an herbal bouquet. As with some of the other herbs, there are various varieties in addition the common culinary one. Some are flat-leaved, while others have a curly or feathery look. Parsley flowers also work nicely in bouquets. Being a biennial, this will bloom the second year and die.

Scented geraniums are just wonderful for herbal bouquets. There are many kinds available. For floral design, I prefer the ones with smaller leaves, such as the apple scented geranium. The shape, texture, and overall appearance of the foliage can vary greatly from one variety to another. Some of these have very attractive flowers as well. However, they tend to be less spectacular than those of the common red flowering geranium.

Summer simply wouldn’t be complete with some lavender stems. These freshly cut stems are an all-time favorite for herbal bouquets. They can be saved and dried. So, don’t discard them when you’re throwing the bouquet away.

If you want to add some additional color to your herbal bouquet, use some German statice, or perhaps some flowering heather.

Depending on the bouquet, eucalyptus stems may or may not be appropriate.

Lady’s mantle is also used in fresh herbal bouquets. Its foliage has a delicate appearance. Ivy of all sorts is also a suitable choice.

When oregano is in bloom, it is so beautiful. It bears dense clusters of pale pink blossoms during mid-summer. This is an excellent choice for herbal bouquets.