Bittersweet

A few weeks ago, CC and I ventured out to one of our favourite spots to harvest Bittersweet for dried flower arrangements and we were not disappointed!  We got there early enough to beat the old ladies, who, like us, think it's ridiculous to pay a florist $20 a branch for something that grows wild.  There are two species of the vine in the genus Celastrus - American bittersweet (C. scandens) and Oriental bittersweet (C. orbiculatus).  The former has larger, orange berries, and the latter has smaller, yellowish berries and is considered invasive.

American bittersweet

Oriental bittersweet

10 minutes work = $300 worth of bittersweet!

Once we got it home, we brought all the branches into the back yard and proceeded to remove all of the leaves, untwine the branches, prune off any unwanted bits and organize the branches into the two types.

CC then arranged the various branches in different pots and urns.  No water is required, and the arranging needs to be done before the berries open up, which is triggered by heat and dryness.

Table centrepiece

Large arrangement

Small arrangement with Honesty and Lavender

Open berries

Open berries