Before the days of greeting cards this was a way for people to declare their love, condolences, good luck or other feelings they wished to express. Tussies-mussies are designed with a central flower that sets the theme, surrounded by two or more types of flowers or greenery. Historically, fragrant herbs were the predominant ingredients.
Larger leaves provide the border.
These tiny bouquets can be a circle as small as 1 inch or as large as 15 inches. The stems should be bound tightly, then backed by a doily and tied with ribbon. If made from fresh material these bouquets can be dried upside down in a dark, dry location to use as a keepsake. A nice touch when giving these as gifts is to add a card listing each herb and flower and its symbolic meaning. Copyright Blue Moon Gardens, Inc. , 2000.