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The joy of sprigs!
Celebrate spring blooms with simply stunning DIY flower arrangements
It’s such a delight to see the first hyacinths or tulips gradually bud, then flower. How could you not want to have them inside, brightening your home? But rather than buying or cutting an armful, celebrate each bloom with a simple arrangement using pretty containers you already have. Click through the slideshow below to get inspired by some simply stunning flower arrangements by the Hallmark Photo Studio—less really can be so much more! And don't miss our tips on how to make your flowers last longer.
Simply stunning flower arrangements
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Ranunculus have so much personality that they eliminate the need for a complicated arrangement—especially if you put them into an intriguing container like a weathered soda crate. You can also try gerbera daisies or any kind of wildflower, the brighter the better.
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Even the smallest buds (like freesia and grape hyacinth) can create the feeling of sweet abundance. The trick is to use appropriately proportioned containers, like some of the many glass votive candleholders or shot glasses you probably already have.
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Pale-pink French tulips, which are longer stemmed and more glamorous than standard tulips, can be exquisite in small numbers. Indulge in a few stems, and pair them with a striking glass container to enhance their elegance.
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Pair baby’s breath or Queen Anne’s lace with an assortment of old-fashioned medicine bottles or small, tinted canning jars already in your home for a creative display that costs next to nothing.
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One small flower or a sprig cut from a bigger branch of spray roses can be just as romantic as a dozen. Cut each stem short, so it reaches just above the rim of a piece of your crystal glassware.
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Set a stunning table with simple bouquets in crystal glassware at each place setting. TIP: To make store-bought roses look as if they came straight from a lush, blooming garden, gently pull out some petals from the center of each blossom.
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Wake up and smell the roses (and dianthuses and chrysanthemums)! Put a bouquet of beautiful blossoms by your bedside to enjoy your own indoor garden every night—and morning—of the week.
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Full flowers, like peonies and hydrangeas, can overwhelm a simple vase. Catch the wave of blooms in a large round container (like this glass fish tank) to provide visual balance.
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Indulge in several stems of your favorite variety, like these French tulips in their delicate shade of ballerina pink. Display in a sunny window ledge to let their easy elegance shine through.
- Buy local flowers at your farmers’ market to get plants at their seasonal peak. They are likely to be of a higher quality—and they’re certainly fresher since they won’t have spent days in transit.
- Wash your container with warm soapy water to remove any debris or bacteria, which can quickly compromise the health of your buds.
- Fill your containers with lukewarm water, which will enter the stems more rapidly than cool water.
- Cut the base of your flowers under water on a sharp diagonal to help water penetrate the length of the stem.
- Trim off any leaves or shoots on the part of the stem that will fall below the waterline. Submerged leaves attract bacteria and can contaminate the water.
- Take special care to avoid air-locks, which form especially easily in flowers with hollow stems (tulips, for instance). When you finish cutting a stem, immediately turn it upside down and fill it with warm water. Then plug the end of the stem with your thumb as you place it into a water-filled container.
- Add natural flower food by putting two tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar in each quart of water. The acids also help kill any bacteria that find their way into your vase.
- Cooler rooms (or even the fridge) can provide a nighttime respite for your flowers. Try to keep them away from heat-radiating appliances like televisions and computers.