biophilic design: flower and greenery arrangements for spring
in biophilic design
Spring is definitely the season that’s most commonly associated with flowers and – consequently – with flower arrangements.
But as we’re seeing in this series, every season has something special, something that greenery and flower arrangements can celebrate.
After fall and winter, today we’re looking into spring from a biophilic design perspective, reflecting on how floral compositions can help create a genuine connection between our living spaces and the natural world.
colours
Spring is the season where nature wakes up, painting the world in colour. New leaves cover branches with shades of green and flowers bloom in every corner.
To celebrate this richness, spring arrangements will be the most colourful of the year. Vivid greenery will recall newly grown leaves while the mix of greens and flowers will reproduce the abundance of a blooming meadow.
shapes and textures
Big or small, with wide petals or pendulous structures…flowers introduce a variety of shapes and textures in nature. When making an arrangement, different shapes and textures can be mixed together in landscape-like compositions. Or – when wanting to direct the attention to smaller details – they can be surrounded by negative space.
But flowers represent only the “final outcome” of spring. And a biophilic arrangement might also want to celebrate the process that makes this season so special, the growth of new life.
Buds can then become the star of a less conventional yet equally beautiful spring arrangement. As a plus, noticing daily changes and seeing blooms appear will carve a moment of contemplation, an occasion to connect with a fascinating natural process, a time to consciously appreciate it.
This might seem minor, but when life moves as fast as it does in our times, these slow changes go mostly unnoticed. A mindful arrangement can direct the attention back to them, turning a simple floral composition into a moment of reflection, celebration and genuine connection to the natural world.
sourcing locally
The best way of creating a biophilic arrangement – meaning one that builds a deep connection with nature – is relying on what’s readily and locally available. This can become the occasion to discover new species, less known plants and flowers that are typical of the local environment. The resulting arrangement won’t just bring the outdoors in, but the local outdoors in, strengthening the sense of place and belonging.
For city dwellers, this would also be an opportunity to experience urban greenery in a different way, to observe rather than passing by, to slow down rather than running away.
As a note, prioritizing local species becomes even more important when choosing greenery for outdoor spaces. Every plant attracts wildlife and native plants help support local biodiversity. A drop in the ocean you might say, but if everyone did it we would have way fewer problems with invasive species!
Spring is the season where the power of life is most evident in nature. Greenery and flower arrangements can bring some of this energy indoors, connecting people with seasonal processes while strengthening the relationship with local natural surroundings.
