The first time I made my own greenery arrangement was not planned. We had company coming for dinner and I thought I was totally prepared. The food was prepped, the table set, I had on a fabulous outfit and then I realized I didn’t have a centerpiece on the table. Now the world would not have ended without one and the dinner would have still tasted delicious but….well, I just felt like I NEEDED a centerpiece. With about ten minutes to go before our friends arrived, I went outside and clipped a few branches of pretty leaves and put them in a vase. Our guests commented on how pretty (and clever) it was and I’ve been making arrangements from our own yard since.
Now if you don’t have a backyard with trees, you can always ask a friend or neighbor if you can “prune” a tree or bush. Or take a pair of scissors or clippers with you on a hike and clip a few branches. *There are national parks and places where it’s against the law to take anything from the area…make sure you check first.
This arrangement looked great on my dining room table but it’s way too big to keep there while dining…your table centerpiece should always be low enough that guests can see over it.
When you put branches (or even flowers) in a vase, you want to make sure you clip off the lower leaves so they aren’t standing in the water. My arrangements don’t show that because I was putting them in different heights for this post.
Even weeds can look pretty when put in a cool container. This colorful vine is actually a weed that was growing in our yard. You can make unusual arrangements by arranging your flowers/greenery INSIDE the vase. I added just a drop of water for the root….this will last about a week.
Simple branches with leaves and then I added twigs and branches I stripped the leaves off….in a pretty vase (that I got from an estate sale). Dramatic and FREE!
I found these containers at Safeway on clearance for $1.49 in the floral department. (This week.) You can fill up any glass container with pinecones or acorns for an interesting touch indoors. *You could also make these for a unique hostess gift.
Whenever I’m at a thrift store I look for glass jars and containers that I can use for gifts and decorating ideas. I found two of these candle holders at Goodwill for 79 cents each. I will change this up later in the month by putting candy corn in the bottom in place of the pinecones and acorns. You could also use a small glass bowl and set a votive on top. *When using anything that can burn, make sure you set your candle on top and that the flame can’t touch anything it could set on fire! Yes, I know this from experience!
My neighbors can look out their windows and see me outside doing “weird things” pretty much all the time! This was one of those days where I’m roaming the yard and street with clippers, have tons of vases in the backyard and I’m taking pictures (and probably talking to myself…out loud).
One of “our” foxes came by for a visit and to check out what I was doing. Roxy is very well-behaved and friendly!
Even if you don’t have access to a tree, bush, or ornamental grasses…. you can simply pick up some pretty colored leaves and fill up a bowl.
This is mint I have growing in abundance that has turned to a pretty purple shade.
Simple branches and ornamental grasses.
I have this plant (you can see one green leaf) that I am trying to save but the pot looked bare. I just poked a few branches in the dirt and it filles out the planter…you can add any branches to a plant to add instant color and a feeling of “outdoors”.
You don’t have to fill up the entire container to make a statement. I thought these leaves were pretty and just a couple of branches look great. Smokey (on the left) and Fergie agree!
As you can see, it’s easy to make an interesting arrangement using anything you can find in your own backyard (or park or friend’s house.) And you probably already own at least one vase, bowl or planter that you can use….easy, cheap and “different”.
