The Grocery Store Florist

The $20 Statement Bouquet

Create a lush, artistic look by pairing greenery (snipped straight from the yard) with a few dramatic blooms. Secure loose stems with florist wire, and wrap with twine.

MATERIALS: mixed bouquet + greenery + florist wire + twine

VASE: any tall glass cylinder

The $35 Centerpiece

Adding showy produce in purple hues turns these blooms into a masterful still life.

MATERIALS: artichoke + grapes + eggplants + purple cabbage + wired florist picks + purple mixed bouquet + florist water picks

THE VASE: shallow wooden bowl lined in florist foil and wet florist foam

The $35 Centerpiece

STEP 1

Group the flowers by color and type. Take bunches of blooms, and place them in florist water picks.

The $35 Centerpiece

STEP 2

Create a base for the arrangement using the heavier produce. If items aren't staying put, secure with wired florist picks.

The $35 Centerpiece

STEP 3

Insert flower bunches in florist foam, filling in the gaps with single flower stems and greenery. Create "movement" by allowing a bunch of grapes to cascade gracefully onto the table.

The $15 Quartet

This two-minute tableau is as simple as separating stems into individual vases or jars. Stick to three or four colors in this grouping, but don't waste the rest—a single petite vase can stand alone on a windowsill or nightstand.

MATERIALS: bouquet of mixed fall flowers (goldenrod, sunflower, statice, alstroemeria)

VASES: small glass vessels

The $25 Rose Display

A classic florists' trick gives roses a dramatic arc.

MATERIALS: one dozen roses + florist tape

VASE: glass pitcher

The $25 Rose Display

STEP 1

Prepare the roses by cutting the stems so they are 2 inches taller than the container. Next, create a grid of florist tape across the mouth of the pitcher to hold blooms upright and evenly spaced (as in the photo for Step 2).

The $25 Rose Display

STEP 2

Make sure stems look great below the waterline by paying attention to the placement: Arrange the flowers in a clockwise or counterclockwise motion, moving your way around the vessel and crisscrossing the stems as you go.

The $25 Rose Display

STEP 3

Change the water every other day. First, remove a few stems from the center of the arrangement. Flip the pitcher to drain it, holding your hand on the flowers to keep them from toppling out. Fill with fresh water, and return roses.

The $10 Tiny Wonders

This genius technique requires zero water: Sugars in the pears naturally feed the flowers. Use a skewer to prepoke holes in pears, and then insert flower and berry stems. Keep the blooms in a tight cluster to avoid hiding too much of each pear's pretty golden hue.

MATERIALS: skewer + Bosc pears + bunch of spray roses + berries

VASE: none needed!