Foliage - The Unsung Hero of the Bouquet (and What That Has to Do With Creativity)

The other day, I was printing with some leftover foliage from my Bloom & Wild flower subscription - honestly, I’m so impressed with how long their bouquets last each month!! As I was arranging and pressing the foliage stems, it hit me just how overlooked foliage often is. We’re all drawn to the blooms - the bright blousy colours, the textures, the shapes, the drama. But what about the foliage? That’s the quiet bit in the background, giving structure, rhythm, and support. It fills in the gaps. It lets the flowers pop. But as I examined it I realised it holds its own beauty.

And as I was playing with these bits of green, I started thinking about creativity. About how much of the work that supports our creative lives isn’t always seen or celebrated either. It’s easy to focus on the final painting, the finished piece, the colourful ‘bloom’ of our creative output. But what about the bits in the background — the foliage or the things that support out creative lives — that allow creativity to happen?

Things like…

A walk in the woods that clears our heads.

A cup of tea and a quiet hour alone.

That friend who always listens when you’re unsure.

A playlist that lifts your mood.

A tidy-ish space.

Boundaries that protect your time and energy.

The courage to rest when your tank is low.

I actually asked this question recently on Instagram — what supports your creativity? And the responses were beautiful. People shared everything from nature and journalling to good quality sleep and rest, dogs, yoga, silence, snacks, messy play, and simply being around other creative people.

It reminded me that creativity doesn’t just happen. It’s held, tended to, nourished — often by things that look quiet or ordinary. Just like the foliage in a bouquet, these background supports might not get the spotlight, but without them, the whole arrangement would fall flat.

So today, here’s a little nudge to notice your own creative foliage. What’s in the background, quietly holding space for your blooms?

And maybe, if you have a moment, drop into the comments below or head to the instagram post to add to the conversation, or message me and let me know — what’s supporting your creativity these days?