bring summer inside

One morning stroll through your yard and one quick trip to the market are all you need to make these arrangements.

Flower lovers, take heart. If you're looking for obvious abundance in the garden right now, you may come up short. But don't go indoors just yet. While this month may appear lean on arranging options, you'll find ample supplies if you search with a creative eye. "Gather the things your garden has to offer, and then add a few more from the grocery store," says Ryan Gainey, noted Decatur, Georgia, garden designer.

Don't think elegance translates to difficult. From the walk in the garden to completion, these are all just 30-minute arrangements.

Take a Walk

As you peruse the garden with clippers in hand, go first to the obvious-maybe you have late-blooming brown-eyed Susans, globe amaranths, or hardy begonias. Then, take another look. "It isn't always when the flowers are at their peak that they're at their best," Ryan says. "Many times, when they go to seed, their true beauty comes forth." Crepe myrtle seedheads, fern fronds, and black-eyed Susan cones all contribute charm to your arrangements. Focus on the entire landscape. Then fill in with a few store-bought blooms.

Pretty All Around

Vase selection plays a significant role in Ryan's arrangements. Even though the sizes and styles vary, they share a common element: Each one is made with pockets to cradle stems in small openings. "These are containers designed specifically to hold only a few flowers," Ryan says. "Many of the new ones are based on old favorites." The benefits are simple: Fewer materials are required, and they stay where you place them. Arranging is easy, and the results are stunning.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2006
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