“An homage to the harvest season, this seasonal centerpiece will satisfy the appetites of both traditionalists and those wanting something a bit out of the ordinary.”
Pay tribute to the very first Thanksgiving Day by getting back to your roots – root vegetables, that is. Floral designer Lori McNorton, owner of Blooms on Boswell in Topeka, Kan., found inspiration at a local farmer’s market to create this texturally diverse harvest-themed centerpiece, which will add a festive fall touch to any rectangular or oval table – coffee, console or dining – throughout the autumn season, including Thanksgiving Day. In addition, a one-sided version would make a beautiful seasonal statement on a mantel.
Lori chose a wide variety of colorful and textural “garden” blooms (plus some tropical pincushions for unexpected emphasis) to complement the rustic veggies, furthering the garden/farm aesthetic and expanding the color harmony, both of which were established by the vegetables. The distinctive boat-shaped container, fashioned from slats from an old whiskey barrel, complement the rustic appeal.
Have fun combing the produce aisle of your favorite supermarket to spark your creativity. If carrots and potatoes don’t inspire you, look to colorful autumn fruits, like apples, pears, pomegranates, persimmons, beets, cranberries and more.
NOTE: Make sure to hydrate vegetables (by soaking) before designing with them, for optimum life expectancy, and advise customers that these garden delights are used for decorative rather than consumptive purposes. This feast is for the eyes only.
Step 1: Cover the top edges of the wood container with waterproof tape or painter’s tape to prevent the rubber sealant from getting on any exterior surfaces of the container.
Step 2: Spray the interior of the wood container with liquid rubber sealant to make it watertight. Allow to dry thoroughly.
Step 3: Place bricks of black floral foam (Oasis® Midnight Floral Foam), on their sides, into the container.
Step 4: Prepare the vegetables for placement in the arrangement. Tie bundles of carrots with twine, and attach a wired wood pick to each bundle; insert wood picks into the stems of stemmed vegetables; and insert wood picks into the bottoms or sides of nonstemmed vegetables, depending on the position or angle you want them to have in the design .
Step 5: Arrange the vegetables into the design first, before arranging the flowers. Position them at angles and with spacing that follows the principles of design and is pleasing to the eyes.
Step 6: Arrange flowers, foliages and grasses in the spaces between and atop the vegetables, at varying heights and depths, to create a harmonious and visually interesting composition. With intention, minimal foliage is required in this design because of the black floral foam and to focus attention on the textural qualities of the florals and vegetables.
