Fresh Cut Flower Ideas

Beautiful Fall Blooms
Hearty flowers that bloom in unbelievable color palettes thrive during this time of year. Brilliant orange to gold to deep purple and more — summer may be on its way out, but color remains. These flowers will give your planters or garden, not to mention your home décor, a rustic, earthy feel it craves for the new season. Harvest from your garden or visit your local garden center for:

• Sunflowers
• Heliopsis
• Slipper orchids
• Chrysanthemums
• Marigolds
• Aster
• Goldenrod
• Hydrangeas

Arrange Away 
With an array of flowers as close as your backyard, porch or other outdoor spaces you need the best way to set off your harvest just right. Use these tips to identify the perfect vase and help your flower arrangement reach its gorgeous potential.

• Bud Vases — These tiny vases fit in your hand but are perfect for a dramatic bloom such as a sunflower or a vibrant mum. Cut the stem short and place in the vase for high impact and a tasteful touch on end tables.
  
• Conical Vases — With a wide neck, conical vases provide a great stage for a large collection of flowers. Gather a fresh bouquet from the garden, place in the vase with some greenery or branches, and use as a fabulous table centerpiece.
  
• Cube Vases — Have one or more small cube vases? If they are small, arrange in groups of three. If you have bigger cube vases, let each vase stand alone. Pack cube vases tight with short-stemmed flowers to create an explosion of fall color that surely won’t be missed.
  

Vases From Nature
Quickly core a squash, a pumpkin, or even an apple to turn fruits and vegetables into quaint homes for flowers.

• Special Squash: For larger vases, pick a pumpkin or large squash with a relatively flat bottom. Cut off the top and hollow the vegetable with a spoon. Cover the inside of the gourd with a little water and bleach to help preserve it. Then add the finishing touches by placing your flower arrangement inside. Set on the porch, near an entry door or use as a striking centerpiece. For more details on creating your veggie-based vase, read our Festive Flowerpot article.

Tip: To make the most of the pumpkin or squash you’re hollowing out, use the vegetable you remove to make a delicious and savory Cheesy Polenta and Squash Bake.

• Adorable Apples: For short-term decorating, use sturdy apples like Red Delicious or Granny Smith to craft a cute bud vase. Simply core an apple as deep as you can, using a knife or a screwdriver. Keep your handiwork hydrated and fresh by spraying the inside and edges of the fruit with a mixture of water and lemon juice. Top with one large flower, or try a small bunch. Show off these delicious creations on a mantel, windowsill or atop a rectangular plate on the dining room table when entertaining.

Arrangement Accessories
These kinds of flower arrangements will let your garden shine from the inside, but don’t forget about adding the rest of the outdoors. Create fantastic texture in any of these pieces with fruits, vegetables, even acorns and leaves. Or give your piece some height by adding mini-squash, peppers, or berries skewered on bamboo or metal skewers. Feel free to think outside the garden when filling the smaller, more natural planters, too. Try adding a fun color contrast with small fruits like cranberries, blueberries, or rose hips. Or use foliage or small vegetables like mini-red peppers.

This season is too pretty for all those great colors and textures to simply stay outside. With a few quick scissor snips and some of your own creative thinking, you can bring the outdoors into your home décor for all to admire and share.