NEWS

Tussie mussies perfect for special events

By DOT WILBUR-BROOKS
N.C. Botanical Garden

CHAPEL HILL -- A wonderful way to recognize a friend, relative or co-worker for a birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day or other special event is to make them a tussie mussie.

Originally, tussie mussies -- small bouquets made of fresh flowers and herbs -- were carried by both men and women to ward off diseases and mask the foul-smelling odors of city life. By the Victorian era, tussie mussies had taken on additional interpretation when the "language of flowers" became popular.

Over hundreds of years in many cultures, flowers and herbs have been given attributes such as honesty, love or remembrance so that when a little bouquet is made with a particular theme, the recipient receives a message in addition to the cluster of flowers and herbs. A quick trip to your local library will provide a list of plants and their meanings.

There are several approaches you can take to making a tussie mussie. If you have herb and flower gardens with lots of choices of materials, you can create a tussie mussie with a number of traditional flowers and messages. But perhaps you have a shaded yard with ground covers and shrubs. These, too, can be used to create a wonderful tussie mussie that you complete with a quick trip to the grocery store or florist to pick up a few colorful flowers.

Some folks begin with a central flower such as a rose. Surround the rose with green leaves such as rosemary or periwinkle. Forget-me-nots and lily of the valley would look beautiful next. I usually make piles of my plant material so if I have only a few forget-me-not sprigs, I will put them nearest the center and add the more prevalent lilies next. I finish up with whatever is left and surround it with leaves such as violet, scented geranium or ivy. You can also make a beautiful tussie mussie with only one of each flower mixed with boxwood or rosemary. Rarely will two tussie mussies be alike.

The stem ends should be evenly cut. Left uncovered and held with a twist-tie, a tussie mussie can be put in a small vase by the recipient. In fact, during the Victorian era there were elaborate tussie mussie vases to hold the little bouquets. If the tussie mussie will be carried, you may wish to cover the stem ends with plastic wrap and secure it with a twist-tie or rubber band.

A simple bouquet can be composed of flowers and greenery, with or without an explanation of the meaning of the flowers. To make a fancier tussie mussie, antique or new lace can be added around the base with long color-coordinated ribbons to finish it.

Try making one of these very personal expressions of your feelings for someone special in your life.

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Botanical garden contact: Dot Wilbur-Brooks, 962-0522
News Services contact: Karen Stinneford (email: kstinnef@email.unc.edu)