pretty. Here’s what I learned: keep only what you love.
Each room in your home has one focal point. I tend tograb the same one or two vases for these spots because I know the scale and lighting are perfect for them. When you buy a new vase, make sure you know where it will go andthen edit what you have. Less is more,which
makes life less complicated.
On that note, flower vases are hidden all throughoutyour home.Trust me, Ihave so much fun thinking outside the box and what’salready inmy house that can be repurposedfor flower containers. It’sfun, creative,
and unexpected!
So where canyou find them? The kitchen is a good place to start. How abouta copper meatloaf pan or white casserole dish? A white water pitcher, a glass wine
carafe, or a silver ice bucket? Startsaving your glass
VASES
& containers
creamer bottles so thatwhen you have enough, you can parade them downthe diningtable or make a circle with them and fill with garden flowers. Candy and nutdishes are great for floating flowers. Seeing the roots from several smallherb plants placedinside drinking glasses
work perfect for an inside garden.
Look around your living room and notice the candle holders. These come in many sizes and colorsand always look pretty for small bouquets. My go-toglass hurricane candle holder looks beautiful for floating flowers. And if I like a prettyretailbag, whynot reuse it
for a flowering plant?
Don’tforget the bathroom. I’ve used a decorative trash can and a toothbrush holders as flower vases because
they’re the perfect size fora sweetbouquet on the sink.
You can find vases anywhere.If it can hold flowers,
that’s all you really need.
CHOOSING
the container
Cute bags, boxes,
baskets, trash bins
Milk bottles, drinking glasses,
yogurtcups
16
GETTING STARTED
Here are some fun containershidden around my house that I like touse for flowers. Repurposing home items provides endless options to display flowers
in unexpected ways. It’s convenient and easy. Give it a try!
Glass bowls and hurricane
candle holders
Toothbrush holders
or any small container
Waterpitchers,
carafes, ice buckets
GETTING STARTED
17
18
GETTING STARTED
A bag is perfect for a potted plant. If the bag is too deep, put something inside to raise up the flowers so they
just peek over top.
These milk bottles displayed together in a circle are a clever way to bring your garden
into your home.
FILLING
the container
GETTING STARTED
19
Floating flowers are simple and beautiful inclear containers. Play with the waterline to create a
variety of looks for your flowers.
Small containerslike this toothbrush holder work beautifullytogether
with posy bouquets.
These are lovely statement vessels. Let flowers like these tulips and jasmine hang over
the container for movement.
Once you find a container you like, it can inform the type of flowers you put in it, or vice versa. Small containers work well for simple posies, and big containersare
great for large arrangements. But just go with what inspires you.
TIPS
TRICKS
&
To clean watermarks inthose narrow, hard-to-clean vases, roll up a sheet of paper towel and slip it in the opening. The paper towel absorbs the water and leaves
the container free from water spots.
20
GETTING STARTED
There are so many things I wish had known from the beginningabout flowers.
Let me save you some time! Here are some top tips for getting started.
Notice how the word “hydrangea” sounds like hydrate? These beauties need a lot of water! If you find your hydrangeas start to wilt prematurely, totally submerge them in a bath of water for about 45 minutes or longer
since hydrangeas also drink through their bloom.
Use a baby bottle brush to clean hard-to-reach,
narrow flower vases.
GETTING STARTED
21
Invest in an inexpensive Lazy Susan to place your container on top and go to work. It gives you easy viewing from all angles so you can see if you have
any empty spots that need filling in.
Beware the pollen of Casablanca lilies. The pollen is quick to stain most everything they touch, but they can be easily removed. Use a wet paper towel and gently pull them off from the lily. The lily still looks beautiful,
but now there’s no risk of stains.
Have your phone ready to take photos of your arrangement. It’s amazing how helpful this is in determining where to add flowers or what to remove
to create balance.
Tulips are fragile and can droop quite easily, but did you know that can be remedied with the help of vodka? Add a splash to the water in the container
and the flowers should perk up again.
Get a lush, full effect by slipping a silk orchid in
with the real flowers.
Creating a garden arrangement in your own backyard? Cut your flowers first thing in the morning, which is when they are most hydrated, and immediately submerge the stems in a water-filled vase