Happy Summer, everyone! I love warm weather, and I love nature’s bounty that comes with it. Arranging flowers from my garden provides another outlet for my creative energy. Fresh flowers are the perfect finishing touch for any space or tablescape.
I’ve taken a few floral-arranging classes over the years, but, honestly, you can’t go wrong with fresh-cut flowers in a simple vase. I picked these peonies from my garden:
This small red table is just inside our front door. I like to place a pretty arrangement there to greet guests.
I created this arrangement of peonies to complete a tabletop vignette in my living room:
These, again, were straight from my garden. I love to visit the farmers’ market on Saturday morning to pick up fresh cuts, too.
Word of my passion for floral arranging has gotten out among my friends, who often ask me to help dress their tables for special occasions. I’m happy to oblige! I created this arrangement — mixing peonies, hydrangeas and roses, among others — for a dear friend’s wedding:
Another friend asked me to help with flowers for a dinner party in May, right around the Kentucky Derby. For a dinner table setting, I like to keep the floral arrangement low, so it doesn’t interfere with conversation. Here I opted for a cluster of several small arrangements, in lieu of one centerpiece. These vibrant zinnias reminded me of fanciful Derby hats:
This is an easy yet dramatic approach. A single orchid is another no-fail but stunning solution. Orchids are both simple and exotic at the same time, and I love their sculptural quality. Here is a close-up of one I grew.
It doesn’t take a green thumb or special skills to bring the beauty of flowers into your spaces and onto your tabletops. What are your favorite ways to showcase nature’s bounty in your home?
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