Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season

by Erin Benzakein, Chris Benzakein (Photographer)

National Bestseller— New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Publisher's Weekly , Washington Post

Learn how to buy, style, and present seasonal flower arrangements for every occasion from world-renowned flower farmer Erin Benzakein.

Brimming with indispensable tips and hundreds of vibrant photographs, this companion volume to the bestselling Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden is an invitation to live a flower-filled life. With sections on tools, flower care, and design techniques, Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers presents all the secrets to arranging garden-fresh bouquets.

Featuring expert advice from the bestselling author and floral designer, this is a gorgeous and comprehensive guide to everything you need to make your own incredible arrangements all year long, whether harvesting flowers from the backyard or shopping for blooms at the market. It is the perfect gift for anyone who loves flowers and home décor books.

EXPERT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT Floret Farm's A Year in Flowers offers advice on every phase of working with cut flowers—including gardening, buying, caring for, and arranging fresh flowers. With simple-to-follow advice on flower care, material selection, and essential design techniques, it features an A - Z flower guide with photos and care tips for more than 200 varieties.

FLOWER DESIGN FOR ALL In this definitive guide to flower arranging from the biggest star in the farm-to-centerpiece movement, Benzakein shares more than 25 how-to projects, including magnificent centerpieces, infinitely giftable posies, festive wreaths, and breathtaking bridal bouquets.

A YEAR FULL OF Flower lovers, avid and novice gardeners, floral designers, wedding planners, florists, small farmers, stylists, designers, crafters, home decor aficionados, and those passionate about the local floral movement will love this book.

Perfect

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Nature, Art, Coffee Table Books, Design, Horticulture

312 pages, Hardcover

Published February 11, 2020

About the author

Celebrated flower farmer Erin Benzakein is known for her lush, romantic floral designs. She is the author of Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers, a New York Times bestseller, and Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden, winner of the American Horticultural Society Book Award. Her work has been featured across notable publications, including Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset Magazine, The New York Times, Magnolia Journal, and Country Living. She lives in Mount Vernon, Washington, with her husband, Chris, and their two children.

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. What a beautiful book. I am not a gardener nor a flower arranger. But the cover of this book drew me in...and I'm so impressed. With practical lists of supplies, excellent step-by-step instructions, and (most importantly) lush, beautiful photo examples of flowers and greenery -- OMG. I think the long, cold winter added to my appreciation of this eye-candy escape. I forgot how lovely and diverse flowers can be. This book brightened my week!

Bravo. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to my gardening buddies.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. What a beautiful book. And more than beautiful, inspiring and informative. I've never really known what to do with flowers, why my attempts at filling a vase we're missing something. This book breaks down the elements, the construction, the color palettes, the plant varieties to buy or plant... so much empowering information. The most useful part for me is the "formula" if you will for constructing a beautiful bouquet - like how in baking once you understand what each ingredient does and the ratio to combine them you become a better baker. I also appreciate the seasonal examples of bouquets, finding beauty in each season. And the permission to use almost anything in the bouquets, like herbs and tomatoes! I live in Washington nearish where her farm is so I find the local info particularly useful.

[Glenda Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those special books where you can't wait to finish reading the page you're on so you turn the page and read the next one ... at the same time not wanting to finish the book because it's such a joy. The book is so well written, the photographs are spectacular and I learned so much. I have read both Floret Farm books now and I can say without hesitation that they have changed the way I think of a vase of flowers and what can go in it !!
The perfect book to read during this period of madness in the world ... to be reminded of all the beauty that exists in it ❤️

[L.M. Maretti · Rating 5 out of 5]

stunning book, inspiring photos just like her previous book.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the step-by-step guidelines on putting together arrangements the most helpful, I wish they had continued doing them for each arrangement instead of just one seasons worth.

Although she does try to speak in broad terms I think this is a resource best used for those in similar climates. I live in the same state but on the east side, so many of the flowers don't bloom for me until much later.

Lots of practical advice for cut flowers and arranging, but still mostly a coffee table book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I “read” this as more of a look through as the photographs and the flowers are so stunning!

[Vio Stoian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book, ohh 😍😍
The best beautiful and most practical book I've ever seen approaching this subject of flowers. So impressed 💚

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never really was interested in flower arranging but this made it somewhat interesting

[Alysan Azman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Photographs are stunning - there are flowers in here I’ve never heard of before. There are many great ideas for flower arrangements - many using ‘ingredients’ I wouldn’t think to put in a bouquet. This book is a feast for the eyes!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is your best dreams back-lit by golden hour.

[Pamela Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mainly enjoyed the pictures.

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all her books, as an avid gardener putting in new gardens this was just the eye candy I needed to spur on my spring fever.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here for the gorgeous photos, pleasing format, and essential techniques. Going to skip growing 13 varieties of chrysanthemums though.

[Laura Marazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a visually beautiful yet practical book! Highly recommend!

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few books on flower arranging, and none of them compared to the clarity, precision, and usefulness of Benzakein's book. While it is overflowing with lush photography, it has more than that--patterns (?) for making bouquets and arrangements, methods for floral design, and tables of seasonal flowers to inspire the aspiring floral designer. The photographs enhance this, rather than detracting from it. My library has a few other books by Floret Farms, and I'm eager to check them out now.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fellow Washington State resident, I appreciated a book featuring flowers and foliage that I recognized and would be easy to find. Having read a number of flower arranging books in the last few months, this is a good one. I really appreciated the six categories to use for an arrangement (but don't ask me to name them because I'm still learning!) and simple rules of thumb on how to blend colors and how to tell warm vs. cool. Another feature of this book I appreciated was a broad range of types of arrangements, but it focused a bit less on the commercial (read: wedding) flowers and more on arrangements you could make with a wide variety of flowers. I wasn't into all of the edibles mixed into the arrangement (kale? tomatoes? raspberries?) and she goes pretty hard on the foraged foliage, but all in all it was a helpful book with enough examples to learn the principles and how to apply them.

[missjz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a flower farmer or a florist, but I enjoy growing beautiful things in my garden. I feel as though the cut flower book was useful in setting up the garden, but this is really lovely for ideas on how to make your flower arrangements more layered, full, and sophisticated. The step-by-step instructions next to the numbered pictures of arrangements, posies, and bouquets make it so that I actually understand how the "ingredients" work together to make a difference.

Last year, I just cut straight zinnias or rudbeckia and plopped them into a vase. This book gives your tons of options for fillers, focal flowers, and lists of everything in-between. It details so many varieties of flowers and how to pick, clean, and lengthen vase time. So now I can keep an eye out when I'm buying seeds and also be a bit more creative in picking plants, natives, grasses, branches, ect.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best flower-arranging book I've ever seen. She uses kale, even! She uses absolutely everything that's growing as part of arrangements, so merely looking through the beautiful pages that show every single thing in every type of design illustrated in the book will open your mind to possibilities.

I also found flowers I'd love to grow, so I took notes and will find out more about those. There are instructions about basic techniques, such as leave the center of the arrangement open while you fill in around the edges so you end up with more focus on your key flowers. I doubt anyone will or can copy any specific arrangement, and I doubt that's the point. It's to convey the concepts, techniques, and help you become more creative.

This book is a treasure.

[Ligaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and informative book with amazing photos of impossibly lush floral designs. I am not that interested in flower arranging—mine typically go into tall glass vases of which I found none of in this book!—but found this book an interesting read nonetheless. I first read Floret Farm's Discovering Dahlias, as I've just been bitten by the dahlia bug, and couldn't get enough of the photography. Also surprising because I don't consider myself that into photography, either. So, these folks can pull you into things you didn't think you were interested in, apparently! The writing is friendly and accessible and the step-by-step instructions seem foolproof. The A-Z Ingredient Guide and the list of Resources in the back are treasures.

[Morgan Feher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was suggested to me by a local floral designer who grows most all of her own blooms.

If you are looking to become a floral designer or simply love putting arrangements together I would highly recommended this book.

Some of the basics I already had prior knowledge of but I did learn a lot. I enjoy that the author finds it important to put together arrangements in an environmentally friendly way. She also stresses the use of using local blooms and foliage.

If you like old school, retail arrangements this book is not for you.

If you’re not interested in floral design at all but you like pretty books for your coffee table this could also be that book for you.

[Michelle Selman -Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read and gift to self and others

This book is so informative and offers a wealth of relevant information with photos! Erin and husband are truly putting their hearts and souls into sharing their love for flowers their videos on IG are life enhancing as they are informative and their generosity with their blog and library of flowers on their website is a testament to their commitment to share their information with the world! It was because of their generosity I bought their books and without hesitation will continue to recommend them as well as gift others!
Lastly they offer online and in person classes! May their books continue to be a blessing to the world!!!

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOA. If you have even the smallest interest in flowers, or you are like me and just go gaga when you see amazing arrangements, this book is a real delight. I want to rush out to my closest local flower farm right now and just buy armfuls! It's also VERY cool that she takes us behind the curtain and shows how to actually make those out-of-this-world arrangements, complete with lists of tools, tips and flower instruction. Do yourself a favor and take a moment to stop and smell the FLOWERS(ha ha!) in this gorgeous book!

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, beautiful designs. I don’t like bouquets to be quite as asymmetrical as hers, but I understand and appreciate the trend. I love the unique, local plant she uses to create her arrangements. I’ll never be able to look at a grocery store bouquet again without turning my nose up.

Erin has a real gift. This book has inspired me to make more arrangements myself. I have not yet been able to make one for every month or every season, and they are not as varied, but it gives me hope that one day I can reach her level!

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book. It’s full of gorgeous photographs, helpful step-by-step instructions for floral arranging and personal antidotes. I love that the author talked about how flowers are associated with memories and shared some of hers alongside her breathtaking seasonal bouquets. This book is great for anyone wanting to try their hand at floral design. I wish this would have been around 7 years ago when I first started out.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!! I also have Floret Farms Cut Flower Garden. This one (I got from the library but now I know I need my own copy) goes more into floral design/arranging than Cut Flower Garden, which focuses on how to grow a number of flowers for cutting. A Year of Flowers gives great instruction on arranging and covers many more types of bouquets and ingredients than Cut Flower Garden does. Both are such great inspiration and just beautiful to look through!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book the last time I was out and about before the Pandemic. For that alone it's historic for me. A friend and I had lunch and went to see the Emma movie.
Afterwards I stopped at the book store as I often do before leaving the city. I spied this book on the way to the checkout. Immediately picked it up to buy. I'm a big fan Author's Instagram. Inspiring Eye Candy.

It's been delightful to read along with the Seasons.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful. Love some of the arrangement techniques like using the chicken wire instead of that wasteful floral foam!

It was a bit more business oriented than I was expecting. I assumed there would be more information on the actual growing aspects of the flowers and subsequent arrangements, but that wasn’t the case.

If you already have access to flowers, via home grown, wholesale or farmers market than you may get more out of this.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book! Pure escapism, as I love gardening but am not a floral designer or make bouquets.

This was an easy read, informative and straightforward. The step-by-step process of how to create natural bouquets of locally sourced flowers made complete sense and was reinforced with examples from all 4 seasons of the year.

If you love locally sourced flowers, are interested in bouquet design, or want to oggle gorgeous flower photos, this book is for you.

[IE · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounding up to a 4. Enjoyed the ‘warm vs cool’ coloured flowers, and the photos of the dahlias and peonies were spectacular. I didn’t really like a lot of the arrangements though, too formal for my tastes. They are made using some wild ingredients, but they are often in footed vases or arranged low, and that to me looks more formal rather than casual. Some were truly elegant but I draw the line at using raspberries and tomatoes in floral arranging, please just no!!! So wasteful..

[Brooke Byars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does not disappoint. There are so many beautiful images that those alone would make this a five star book. However this also has great tips and walk throughs on creating your own beautiful arrangements. If you are a flower lover or if you are looking for a great gift this is the book for you. Also do yourself a favor and follow this farm on Instagram.