In a former life, Southern California urban homesteader and blogger Kate Richards worked in the floral event industry. Now she raises chickens, manages a large tribe of dogs and cats and maintains cut-flower gardens that include Salvia at her city home dubbed Farmhouse38.

But Kate still loves to create bouquets and offers tutorials about how to copy some of her country-style compositions. These include the Orangey Arrangement in which a few well-placed spikes of violet-blue Salvia cool off an array of orange roses and tulips.

Richards notes that monochromatic arrangements make bouquets stand out. But she says that you shouldn't worry about making the colors match, because "it is a battle you cannot win." One more tip: Richards suggests tucking in the Salvia asymmetrically and randomly to avoid a "contrived" look.