Last updated on September 12th, 2013
THANKS TO FLORAL-DESIGNER ERIN BRADY, the silver bowl that normally sits neglected on my dining room sideboard has been granted a new mission in life: It now resides on the games table near my staircase, holding common flowers and greenery obtained from the gardens here. Would you like to see how Erin made this Downton Abbey-esque centerpiece?
And speaking of Downton Abbey — when I watch this British series, I frequently hit the pause button in order to study the decorative elements in each scene. Like the flower arrangements. And the wallpaper. And the fabric that covers sofas and chairs.
Please forgive my weirdness.
To start, choose a container. Any decorative, water-tight container — a soup tureen comes to mind — will work. My sterling pedestal bowl, above, is 8 inches in diameter and 4 inches deep.
Place a block of thoroughly-soaked floral foam (a/k/a/ “Oasis”) in the bowl.
Secure the foam with a strip of floral tape. This special tape remains sticky even when wet.
It’s stem-sticking time! Erin used the following blooms and greenery, although you can use whatever you (or your local, independent florist) happen to have on hand:
Start, perhaps, with a few hydrangea stems. Erin used both large and small blooms.
Then add some purple buddleja and some lacy, green cedar. Arrange the buddleja so it will droop elegantly over the sides of the container.
Note: If your arrangement is for a dining table, or some other location where it will be viewed from all sides, insert stems all around the floral foam. Otherwise, if the arrangement will reside on a mantel or a table set against a wall, concentrate stems on the front and sides only.
Add some phlox, such as the purple-pink variety pictured above…
And perhaps a few stems of pachysandra. This common groundcover is long-lasting in a floral arrangement. Unfortunately pachysandra is all but ignored by most professional florists.
If you have some crabapple stems, and they are dripping with fruit, by all means insert them along the sides and front of the bowl.
You might like to add a fragrant yellow rose…
And some pink and maroon roses, too.
If you have a zinnia on hand, by all means add it to the mix. And for height, you can insert a rose-bud on a longish stem (the bud was partially cut off when I took this photo), as well as a not-yet-in-bloom hosta flower.
Finally, add water to the container, and then transport the arrangement to a prominent position away from direct sun. As mentioned earlier, I set my bowl on the games table near my staircase. You can’t miss it there.
Was this post helpful to you at all? Perhaps you can let me know by leaving a comment. As always, I love hearing from you.
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More Household Stuff:
Victorian Beauty from Common Flowers
Housekeeping 101: Cleaning the “Master” Bedroom
Restoring the Music Room: Part 2
Alan says
Magnificent! Kudos to Erin. And to you, too, Kevin, for taking pictures and explaining the process in such an entertaining way.
Lauren says
I had to laugh when you said you pause the television during Downton Abbey. I do that too. But it seems your house is already Downton Abbey-esque!
Cynthia Beaton says
“I want to thank you for those beautiful Flowers. They were lovely”
Sunflowers, my new husband always brought me Sunflowers from his garden and again on Monday morning cut me some for the office.
My family bussiness was a garden center growing up, I love the sent of fresh Cedar, like the sound it makes when you burn it around a campfire too. Lots of nuts on the Cedar trees this yr , they say that means a cold winter.
badger gardener says
Wow, that is beautiful. Can’t wait for Downton Abbey now that I’m addicted to the show.
This is off topic, but I need some advice. I made dozens of lemon bars and choc-cinnamon bars for a meeting tonight at which we’re recognizing our school administration for the completion of our campus renovation project. Problem is I just found out we’re actually having the recognition at our Sept. 24th meeting! I already added confectioners sugar to the tops of both sets of bars. Can I still freeze them or am I going to have to do all that baking again? I tried googling my question but get mixed advice so thought I’d see if you’ve ever tried freezing w/ confectioner sugar.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
badger – These things happen to the best of us. Here’s what I’d do: freeze the bars in air-tight containers. When needed, first bring them to room-temperature, and then dust them with more confectioners sugar. They ought to be damned delicious!
badger gardener says
Thanks for the quick advice!! That sounds like a good plan.
Karen at A Glimpse Into My Reveries says
Gorgeous and inspiring! Thanks for sharing the step by step!
Barb L. says
The arrangement is beautiful! It’s inspired me to make one using whatever I can find around the house and garden. I love the mix of the different colors and greenery!
Bett says
I love everything you do. And I thought I was the only weirdo to pause a period movie/tv show to take a closer look at the clothes, decorations and even the landscaping. Thanks for stepping us through the flower arranging. It’s taken a lot of the intimidation out of it for me, and I’m anxious to try it myself. You’re the best.
Beverly, zone 6 eastern PA says
Those harmonious colors are simply delightful!
I always take a centerpiece to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at my parents’ home, relying on what I can find in the yard at those times. It’s a fun challenge, from finding the right container to filling it up creatively.Your silver bowl is fabulous.
Casey Cavasher says
it’s getting to be the time of year when a pumpkin or gourd makes a great (albeit somewhat short-lived container into which you put a glass jar or squat vase to hold the floral block that then holds the flowers & stems. Very seasonal and very pretty for a dining room table…
Marlyn says
OOOOh, Casey I’ve done that with small pumpkins and squashes- hollowed them out and stuck in a small jar or vase. They worked great, even if they last just a few days before the mold starts on the cut edges of the pumpkins or squash.
I do like hunting down the interesting leaves from my yard, to include in an arrangement. Sometmes, like now when leaves start changing colors, is a good time to clip off some yellow or orange leafed branches to include in a floral arrangement.
Jennifer says
Thank you, I enjoy reading your blog and seeing your pictures!
Georgette says
Wonderful. What creative friends you have. Everything you bring us is so amazing!
Porter says
Beautiful arrangement! I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such perfect crab apples before. They add a wonderful element.
Mylitta Bradette says
Thank you for the down to earth, easy to follow directions! Using what is on hand and bringing inside the last of my blooms is a happy experience this time of year! I don’t have Pachysandra, so my Periwinkle and Lamium filled in nicely!
Paula says
Beautiful arrangement! Thank you for the step-by-step instructions with photos. Helpful as always!
Janet G. Metzger says
I second Paula’s comments.
janet
Jason says
Pausing Downton Abbey to study the decorations…that’s not weird, that’s having taste!
Carolyn Lawlor says
This arrangement looks low enough that it would be lovely on the dinner table. It could easily be “talked over” but never ignored.