Fresh Ways With Flowers

Southern Living, Mid-Apr 2005 by Anderson, Sara

We gathered three blooms we love-hydrangeas, roses, and gardenias-and made easy, bragworthy bouquets.

Stacked for Impact

Sometimes, just the flower is all you need for a stunning display. We filled three clear glass bowls with an inch of water, placed a gardenia bloom inside, and then stacked them. You can find inexpensive bowls like these at a crafts store. To the side, a hydrangea bloom stands tall in a slender vase. We wrapped cast-iron plant leaves around the not-so-pretty stem. (Note: Leaves decay faster underwater, but this arrangement will keep for a few days.)

Pail Full of Posies

One way to proudly display your prettiest, poofiest hydrangeas is to place one or two stems in a low container with the petals resting just above the rim. Here, we surrounded the flowers with fresh-cut rosemary to add fragrance. To turn your container into a cute bucket, create a handle by twisting together thin twigs or ivy vines (after stripping off the leaves). Place each end inside the container so the strand forms a semicircle above the flowers.

Smell the Roses

Rather than bundling blooms together, try layering them. Cut florist foam to fit inside a pedestal-style bowl similar to the one shown here. Soak the foam in water for a half hour before placing it in the container. Stick hydrangeas in the center of the foam, and then circle them with roses. Add a border at the bottom with leaves; we chose galax.

Pitcher Perfect

You can never go wrong putting blooms in a pitcher. Almost any flower cluster looks great peeking out the top or drooping a little over the side. Try pairing white or soft-green hydrangeas with magnolia leaves. Set smaller blooms in eggcups or bud vases around the pitcher. SARA ANDERSON