Harnessing the beauty of naturally dried flowers for lasting farewells
by Sarah Breese, Sarah Breese Design, Machynlleth, Snowdonia, Wales.
Flowers have long been a way to express what words cannot, quietly carrying the weight of our goodbyes. Across continents and cultures, they have marked our partings, intrinsically tied to our lives on this earth and offered in love when it is time for us to leave. This ritual stretches back over 11,700 years—a gesture so ancient it feels woven into the fabric of being alive.
Sarah harnesses the understated beauty of dried ingredients in this wildflower style casket spray, punctuated by explosions of textural grasses.
I work primarily with dried flowers, drawn to their gentle, understated beauty and their ability to create something lasting in honour of a life. No longer tied to outdated notions, dried flowers have evolved into a distinct form of artistry, offering something entirely their own. They are not meant to replace fresh flowers but to stand beside them, ethereal and quiet.
An ethereal farewell sheaf includes dried orange ranunculus, preserved white peonies, honesty and wisps of grasses.
There is something captivating about flowers in their dried form. Their softer presence offers a sense of stillness and calm. For some, it’s this quality that speaks to them, while for others, it’s the comfort of something that endures—a tangible reminder of the people we carry with us. When the rhythms of daily life begin again and the world continues to turn, as it must, these delicate creations remain. A wreath can hang quietly on a wall, inviting remembrance without intruding. Posies from the wake can be shared among family and friends, each piece carrying memory to a different home and a different life. A loved object, adorned with dried flowers, becomes not only a tribute but something that takes a place in the everyday.
When I create farewell arrangements, each piece is crafted to reflect the individual being remembered. This might mean capturing their essence through subtle details, echoing their character in texture or colour, or drawing inspiration from something as intangible as a piece of music they loved. These arrangements aren’t bound by tradition - they can be as unique as the life they're created for.
Dried flowers can be meaningful as well as beautiful and Sarah considers the significance of the ingredients she chooses to reflect a life.
The materials I use often hold meaning beyond their physical beauty. Mugwort, a herb for dreaming and intuition. Rosemary, a symbol of remembrance. Bay, for courage and strength. Mistletoe, an ancient emblem of life eternal, bridging the heavens and earth. These plants bring layers of symbolism to each piece, creating something as thoughtful as it is beautiful.
When I lost a close family member unexpectedly, I had the bittersweet honour of creating his farewell flowers. I made a fresh wreath for his grave, along with tiny sprigs of winged everlastings and rosemary for loved ones to place as they said their goodbyes, and small posies for the wake. Later, these posies were taken home by his friends, becoming little reminders of a life well-loved. I also dried many of the sympathy flowers we received, preserving them and giving them a renewed meaning. This act of drying—of holding onto something fleeting and transforming it into something enduring- felt like a small but deeply significant way to stay connected.
Everything I create is designed to be fully compostable. The majority of the flowers I use are grown here in my garden, or on my mum's plot an hour away. Where necessary I source from a grower just over the border, choosing British where possible. I avoid floral foam, plastic, dyes and bleaches in all of the work I make, staying true to the purity of nature. These pieces return wholly to the earth and continue on in the cycle, a reminder of the beauty in both the impermanence and continuity of the world around us.
About Sarah
Sarah is based in the Dyfi valley, mid Wales. She creates dried farewell arrangements using predominantly plants she has grown and gathered from her local environment. Find out more about her work and see more beautiful images at www.sarahbreesedesign.co.uk
See our blogpost collection about dried flowers for funerals
