Create a Blooming Watermelon Centerpiece and find 10 sweet and savory watermelon recipes for summer.
Memorial Day is the unofficial kick off to summer! I have a watermelon vase centerpiece, just in time for your Memorial Day celebration or ideal for summer entertaining, along with a round-up of 10 watermelon recipes for summer!
Let’s make a watermelon vase, a festive way to use the rind after you’ve enjoyed the fruits of your labor ~pun intended!
Take your watermelon and hollow it out for a vase. I picked a watermelon that had a nice flat side to it to sit, but you can cut the rind to level it up. I cut the opening large enough to fit a plastic container inside to hold water. Arrange your flowers however you like, you can use clear floral tape, taping off a grid pattern to arrange your flowers, chicken wire, wet floral foam or just gather your flowers in a loose bouquet in your watermelon vase.
I gathered some flowers from the garden for a red, white and blue centerpiece. Our hydrangeas are just starting to show signs of blue and I added a few clips and snips from the shrubs. If you don’t have access to any flowers growing, grocery store blooms~ alstroemeria, carnations, daisies would make a cheery centerpiece. Tuck in a few American flags and you have a patriotic centerpiece!
After you’ve created your centerpiece, here are some sweet and savory ways to enjoy your watermelon! Click on the links for the complete recipe and a taste :)
Land of the Free Lemonade
A refreshing combination of pureed watermelon & lemonade, garnished with watermelon stars and blueberries.
Watermelon Goat Cheese Bites
The sweetness of summer paired with tangy goat cheese for a cool & refreshing bite!
Shrimp Salad over Zesty Watermelon
A keeper recipe. . .light, flavorful and perfect for hot weather!
Watermelon Salad
Perfect for a picnic with the fresh summer flavors of basil, lime and the addition of salty feta cheese.
Watermelon Fruit Boat
Hoist a sail with a dowel and scrapbook paper to transform a watermelon into a vessel for serving a medley of fruit!
Watermelon “Cupcakes”
Watermelon makes a fun frosting-delivery method for a star-spangled celebration!
Watermelon, Pecan, and Gorgonzola Salad
A refreshing summer salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette (boat not required :)
Watermelon Gazpaucho
A summer twist on gazpaucho that’s refreshing, light, and flavorful for summer!
Watermelon Mojito with Mint Simple Syrup!
This refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) starts with fresh watermelon puree and an easy mint-infused simple syrup.
And last but not least,
An American flag formation of Watermelon, Feta and Blueberries, the creamy, salty cheese is the perfect partner to the sweet, juicy melon!
However you celebrate, spend a few moments to remember and give thanks for those who have sacrificed to serve and protect us.
Wishing you a Safe & Happy Memorial Day!
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Metamorphosis Monday
A very patriotic, colorful and delicious looking food!🍉 will have to serve some of these this weekend. You always make everything look so appetizing ! Thanks for sharing. Have a great and safe weekend.
Watermelon…🍉..my favorite!! Sliced, with salt &a pepper but it looks like I’ll have to try some of these tempting recipes!! Maybe I’ll have some watermelon 🍉 lemonade 🍋 while I listen to the Indy 500.. 🏁.. safe race fellows and remembering all that have given their all so we can enjoy these Memorial Days🇺🇸 ..Thank you for your service to us and our country!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
What a bounty of watermelon love, Mary! You never fail to inspire all of us with your creativity. Happy Memorial Day weekend to you!
Very cute, happy holiday to you and your family~
This is so fantastic, Mary! And to read that this arrangement all came from yours and your neighbor’s gardens – just so perfect. Thanks for sharing this collage of goodness.
Beautiful! Puts me in a great mood to kick off the weekend! Thanks!
Beautiful and delicious – you never disappoint me with your photos, blogs and your table displays. You are the best. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
You have one of the most beautiful blogs I have ever seen! Every occasion, recipe, setting and photo are always magazine worthy! Thank you for all the hard work you put into it, it brings me such joy in every post!
Mary, this one is a masterpiece! Thank you for sharing your ideas and amazing talent with us eager readers! Happy Holiday!
Hi there, I stumbled across your blog through pinterest, I’ve never clicked onto a blog site before but yours just seemed so inviting! So glad I did! Lovely photos, delicious recipes, helpful information & some pretty darn cute dogs all in one bundle! Thank you for sharing with us. Have a happy Memorial Day weekend :)
I just printed the shrimp sald and will be making this at OBX when we go in June! Thanks for rounding up all these wonderful recipes in one post! Have a great weekend, hope you have something planned. We have a picnic at the clubhouse today and then going to friends tomorrow for another picnic!
You have served us summer… all bundled up in one appetizing red, white and blue post…
Happy and safe Memorial Day to you, your handsome himself and of course, Chloe and Gracie!
Love seeing your red, white, and blue. All my Uncle Sam guys are packed away. ;-(
Rain here again today and likely all weekend. The lakes are rising which is good. Hope you and the girls have a beautiful weekend with time on the water.
I really love the idea of that watermelon centerpiece! I didn’t realize I would also find so many other wonderful watermelon ideas! Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!
Lovin’ your perky patriotic centerpiece Mary! We do have watermelon on the menu for dinner tomorrow and I wouldn’t mind saving a little for a special drink! Happy Memorial Day:@)
Beautiful Patriotic table. I love EVERYTHING! The flower arrangement is so lovely and the food looks scrumptious. Happy Memorial Day!
I love the idea of using a watermelon as a vase!
Oh I wish I had your watermelon centerpiece on my table Mary! It is so perfect to kick off the summer! We do have watermelon on the menu! All or your watermelon recipes and creations are just mouthwatering~ I hope you have a wonderful red, white and blueberry weekend!
Jenna
Such fabulous ideas! thanks so much!
YUM! Thanks for sharing these amazing recipes and pretty photos today!
You are like a sparkler..lighting the way with a glorious display of all so many amazing ways to serve and use watermelon!….Who knew how watermelon can be so beautifully presented in so many ways…pleasing to the eye and palette!! Hope you had a grand Memorial Day!
Mary, you were so thoughtful to give me a shout-out for the centerpiece–thank you! I absolutely love the flowers and flags for a festive touch. Your melon-themed recipes look fresh and appetizing, and I love the variety. Have a wonderful week!
I’m off to the store for a delicious watermelon, blueberries, flowers, oh my! What a fun post!
Mary, this post makes me want to stand up and salute. You deserve an award! Everyone of these ideas are wonderful. I couldn’t begin to pick a favorite, but that shrimp salad has me hungry for sure! Happy Memorial Day weekend.
Oh wow Mary! These recipes all look delicious!