When I arrive at my upland home after time away, I typically do two things first: I light a beautifually scented candle and then I head outside with my pruning sheers to cut branches and assorted plantlife. Few material things in life make me feel more content than a home that looks and smells fabulous. And while I still appreciate flowers, the drama of a large branch cliped from a tree on our property and leaning strategically from the top of an equally large vase? Has stollen my design heart.
Bringing something organic into a space that has been unused for any length of time instantly helps bring it back to life. And when money is quite literally no object? You can place these thoughtful arrangements throughout your entire home.
Currating a Collection of Vessels
Because I have rather tall ceilings throughout my home, I lean heavily into tall arrangements. And to accommodate tall branches, I must use tall, heavy vases, jars, bottles, etc. I believe the rule of thumb is that the vase should be 1/3-1/2 the height of the contents. So finding vases appropriate for branches can be a bit of an ongoing hunt. I find that my tastes skew toward transparent class because I love the sculptural element of branches and seeing them in their entirety is part of the joy. But as long as they are heavy enough to hold the branches? Frankly anything will suit and it’s entirely up to your personal taste. The same rule applies for smaller vases to hold branch clippings, which I reserve for bedside tables and bathrooms as the scale of the rooms makes them more appropriate and they command less table/countertop space. Even a fern frond looks absolutely beautiful in a smaller vase and has a similar, sculptural quality.
This beautiful, handblown vase by Napa Home and Garden available through Perigold is perfect for showcasing a single long branch, especially those you need it to stand a bit more upright thanks to its narrow opening. These look fabulous with branches that have multiple stems and are not asymmetric. And leaves needn’t always be green! A large red-leafed oak branch in the fall would look spectacular in this beauty.
While I have a sizeable collection of vases, I’ve not yet bought one that is black. But I think this is so attractive and rather neutral. Plus this matte terracotta vase available on Wayfair will look absolutely fabulous stuffed with next spring and summer’s bright green beech tree cuttings from our front yard. Stay tuned for photos!
Keeping Things Fresh
Another bonus for decorating with branches is that I find they last far longer then flowers and require little to no fuss. This is particularly nice if you’ll be away from your country house over the week. Just change out the water when you return and give the base of the branches a fresh snip; you may find you get another week or so out of them (depending on the type of tree or shrub).
As a rule, I always strip leaves from the branches that will be situated below the rim of the container. Firstly, it will keep any focal greenery above the rim vibrant for longer because water will not be initially diverted to leaves at the bottom of a branch. Secondly, it keeps leaves from falling into the water and promoting bacterial growth. And finally, I think it simply looks nicer this way–whether I’m using one branch or seven.
Branches do love water, but I seldom fill too much (unlike a vase of cut flowers which I prefer asthetically to be full). You can also add more water over time as needed. Just be aware, these large vases are heavy and can be cumbersome, so keep that in mind when purchasing a vase. You’ll still need to be able to carry it with water inside, so weight matters. If you have time, you can hammer the very ends of thicker branchs a bit; this will help them take in more water (although admittedly, this is not a step I practice often.) And frankly, with tree branches still holding leaves? I don’t mind if they dry out etirely. Especially in the fall and winter. In our breezeway hall–which is paneled in reclaimed barn wood–I had a large vase with the same five oak branches for months! And they looked moody, dramatic, and beautiful.
Dress it Up!
Don’t think branches and greenery are only for informal decor. We have inherited lovely piece of silver over the years that lend beautifully to displaying bunches of boxwood branches. At the holidays in particular, I polish old trophies and ice buckets and fill them with holly, rhododendrum, and pine. Absolutely stunning next to a silver bowl filled with clementines or pommegranates for a pop of color that lasts.
Photo: Miss Mustard Seed
