Bunches of Style

Fresh flowers add life to a room, whether they’re dressing up the dinner table or adding a finishing touch to a mantel or nightstand. Easy-to-arrange bouquets are yours for the picking with these artful arrangements that are anything but garden variety.
 

Heavenly Hydrangeas
For a plucked-from-the-garden centerpiece that’s always in season, pick a nice-sized bunch of multicolored hydrangeas (5-6 blossoms) and show them off in an elegant silver container, like a mint julep cup or a petite urn. You don’t even need to add water — just tier the stems so the flowers are higher in the center, giving a beautiful bouquet effect.

Terrific Topiary
Give simple ivy an air of refinement by shaping it into a topiary and planting in an inexpensive distressed urn. To make, plant trailing ivy in an urn filled with potting soil (or use faux ivy for low maintenance decor.) Hot glue dried Spanish moss over a twig topiary form and insert it into the center of the urn. Twirl the ivy around the topiary base and weave it between the twigs of the ball top. As the ivy grows, continue weaving it around the topiary, until the moss is completely covered. One large or medium-size topiary anchors a buffet table or mantel, or line several small urns down the center of the dining table to make a conversation-friendly centerscape.

White on White Centerpiece
A cool blend of creamy shades and textures make this sophisticated centerpiece the crowning touch to an all-white table. Start by selecting three different kinds of white flowers, such as roses, hydrangeas and peonies. Bunch each type of flower into a graceful dome and bind the stems with floral wire. Clip the stems to a height 1" – 2" higher than the vase. Instead of mixing the flowers into a traditional arrangement, position the three separate bouquets around the perimeter of a white vase. Unbind the bouquets and loosen the flowers, letting the stems overlap slightly. Fill in the center of the arrangement with a few stems of greenery.

Roses are Red Bouquet
Roses make any occasion special, especially when they’re mixed with exotic orchids and graceful coxcomb. Using a sharp knife, cut the stems of 4-5 dozen red sweetheart roses at a 45-degree angle to increase the flower’s life. Roses are very susceptible to mold, so shear off all leaves, except those just under the flower’s head. Fill a tall glass vase with water and add the roses, positioning six red coxcombs several inches apart to make a symmetrical bouquet. Finish with six pale pink orchids interspersed evenly throughout to add drama. Twine the flowers together with floral wire to help the bouquet stay in a tight bunch. Refresh the water every two days to keep the arrangement looking fresh.