Staying Connected to Flowers in Winter

The days are gray and short, the air crisp, bitter. Though the holidays are over, there are still a few months before the daffodils peek up from the cold soil, their cheery, yellow trumpets harbingers of spring and its welcome warmth.

I love the winter. I long for cold, moody weather, and cherish the permission it provides to rest and recharge and wear all of my turtlenecks. In recent years I’ve tried to lean into the seasons, using nature’s rhythms as a guide for my own. 

But in the depths of winter, I eventually start to miss the bright, lively abundance of spring and summer blooms. When the flower markets are quiet, and the weather is gloomy, finding ways to continue to engage with flowers can provide the necessary mood-boosting energy to get through these slow and dormant months.

Incorporate Floral Products Into Your Skincare Routine

From facial oils to hydrating masks, flowers are abundant in skincare products. Not only do many flowers have healing and rejuvenating properties, their fresh fragrance and color can brighten your mood and awaken your senses.

Lo and Behold Naturals’ Neroli and Chamomile Facial Serum is one of my favorite facial oils, and has such a captivating, floral scent. For a simple refresh, try a rosewater spray in the morning (Heritage Store is my go-to) or treat your skin to a gentle mask, like Good Flower Farms’ Flowers and Rose Clay Botanical Face Mask with calendula, rose, and hibiscus.

Lately I’ve also been leaning into the mental and creative benefits of aromatherapy, and I’m loving this Harmonizing Aromatherapy Oil from Palermo, with geranium and white lotus. Before starting work, like writing or designing, I apply to my wrists and take a moment to ground myself in the moment and clear my thoughts for the creative work ahead.

Brew a Floral Tea

If you’re cutting back on caffeine or looking for a way to warm up on a chilly winter evening, why not drink your flowers! Floral and herbal tisanes can calm and soothe, and are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that make an afternoon cup beneficial for both the mind and the body. Besides chamomile this winter I’ve been brewing a Korean white lotus tisane–we were gifted this Kinto teapot a few years ago and it’s perfect for brewing a cup or two at a time. To take in both the flavor and the beauty of flowers, The Qi’s blooming floral teas are made with full flowers and look particularly stunning in a clear glass mug.

Decorate With Dried Flowers

Dried flowers allow you to bring nature directly into your home without the wilting and fading of a fresh bouquet. If you didn’t get a chance to dry flowers during the growing season, you can purchase some from a local flower shop or off of Etsy. Place dried blooms and greens in vases around your home to enjoy flowers year-round.

All flowers will handle drying differently, but I love dried statice, elderflower, and gomphrena, and have stems and bunches scattered throughout our apartment. Strawflowers, in particular, dry incredibly well, maintaining their color and shape without much effort. Sometimes I pluck the flower heads from the stem and place them in a bowl on the center of the table to enjoy their unique, energizing colors—a visual potpourri.

Burn a Floral Candle

I always have a candle going at home, particularly in the winter, and though I love the woody scent of a campfire candle or something frasier fir, floral candles bring the brightness of fresh flowers into your home until you can grab that first spring bouquet from the market. 

Brooklyn Candle Studio’s Sunday Morning candle has middle notes of sweet Jasmine and Gardenia, and Rosy Rings Botanical Candles are adorned with pressed flower petals and greens to complement their bright floral scents.

Here are a few other ideas for incorporating flowers into your daily routines and rhythms, and staying connected to flowers during these cold, winter months:

• Set out floral table linens to brighten your dining room.
• Make your grocery lists or keep track of your schedule on floral notepads.
• Wear a birth flower necklace.
• Brew a floral bath tea.
• Read a flower book (more recommendations coming soon!)