Filling your space with beautiful things is part of making a house a home; making it your
own. One way I love to do that is with florals and greenery. In the interest of full disclosure, I
do NOT have a green thumb! I applaud all the plant nurturers out their but I am not in that
category. Typically, I use cut flowers and branches or silk flowers and the possibilities are
endless!

I love arranging flowers and I have found that it’s something that anyone can do if they will
do it. What sometimes seems to hold people back is the feeling that what they create doesn’t
“look right” based upon a comparison to photos or the work of professionals, etc. Well guess
what? Who cares?! I promise you, the floral standards judging panel is not going to appear in
your house to critique your work. Just give it a try! You might surprise yourself.

Step one, what you think is beautiful or meaningful is beautiful and meaningful. Brightening
your home with things that move you or please you, is the name of the game. Step two,
choose a container that you have. That can literally be anything. I collect teapots so I use
teapots. I have a little silver plated pot that I bought because I liked its shape and I keep
different little bouquets of silk flowers and greenery in it year round. I love it and it brightens
any little spot it’s in, adding a pop of color and a finishing touch. My fig tree needed some
strategic pruning so a small branch found its way into a white ceramic teapot that I got second
hand for next to nothing. By choosing containers that I have on hand, I am getting them off the
shelf and sharing them with anyone who sees them, including me. A pitcher from an antique
bowl and pitcher set (the bowl was broken and couldn’t be salvaged) got a new life holding
happy, colorful silk hydrangeas. An antique butter churn with a chunk missing and a crack in
the edge, is about to be filled with the glorious colors of Fall (stay tuned for that
transformation).

Step three, not only can anything be used as a container, just about anything can be used in
your “arrangement”. I was giving a little impromptu cocktail hour a few days ago and I wanted
a little pop of green. Coincidentally, a tree off my deck needed a bit of a trim and, Voila!, fresh
greenery. I placed some of the trimmed branches in a simple glass vase (unexpected contents
can elevate even the plainest vase!) and it was the perfect finishing touch. One of my favorite
things is a simple glass container I had under my sink that I partially filled with marbles (for
stability) and some sticks, yes sticks, from my yard with a strand of tiny, battery operated
lights. I love it and it was beyond economical. I add little ornaments to it for Easter,
summertime, Halloween, etc. and it gives me joy every time I see it. Take a look around your
yard, a local park, your neighborhood for some fresh items that you can use to bring the
outside, inside. If you rather, grab a bouquet from the market or pick up some silk or dried
flowers from the craft store. The important thing is to give yourself, your family, your friends
the gift of beauty.