THE FUTURE’S POSY

To preserve a flower in its innate state of beauty, holding it in a moment to extend its natural lifespan, is an art that has been practised for millennia. The ancient Egyptians experimented with drying flowers in sand, the Greeks and Romans used air-dried flowers and grasses for decoration, and in more recent history dried flowers were used as inspiration and ornament in the Arts and Crafts movement. In the 21st century, however, they have held less appeal; the year-round availability and increased choice of imported cut flowers has put dried plants in the shade.

But now, a growing band of eco-aware, artisan florists are setting new trends, working with locally grown, seasonal flowers, and filling the gaps between seasons with arrangements of dried flowers and berries, twigs and seedheads. These longlasting, low-impact blooms are the obvious next step in sustainable floristry. Better still, it