Create a blooming watermelon centerpiece as centerpiece for the Fourth of July or your summer entertaining. A perfect way to use the rind after you’ve enjoyed the fruits of your labor ~pun intended!
Happy Friday! It’s the third Friday of the month and joining my blogging friends for Floral Friday.
You can find their links for their beautiful floral inspiration and flower therapy at the bottom of this post!
For this week’s edition of Floral Friday, our challenge was to incorporate fruits and/or veggies into the floral design. You can find a round-up of my favorite ways to add fruit or veggies in a flower arrangement, here.
Since this week is National Flag Week and with Independence Day on the horizon, I created a blooming watermelon centerpiece that you can enjoy as a centerpiece for the 4th of July or your summer entertaining. . . a perfect way to use the rind after you’ve enjoyed the fruits of your labor ~pun intended! ;)
To create a blooming watermelon centerpiece, choose a watermelon that has a flat side so it sits level. If it doesn’t have a flat side, trim the bottom of the rind to make it level. Scoop out your watermelon and reserve the fruit. I fit a plastic container inside the watermelon to serve as a vase and to hold water for the flowers.
To support the flower stems, I used a piece of chicken wire which makes arranging flowers quick and easy, is reusable, and ideal for supporting heavier stems like sunflowers.
For the flowers for the blooming watermelon centerpiece, I cut some garden foliage from the shrubs and Endless Summer Hydrangeas that are blooming. You can see in the photo below that the lip of the container sits above the cut edge of watermelon, so I placed the hydrangeas to drape over the sides of the container to conceal it.
Originally I was only going to use red, white and blue flowers, but when I went to the grocery store the sunflowers began to call to me! I was hoping to find some alstroemeria for the pop of red in the arrangement, but there was none available. Instead, I chose a bunch of $9 Freedom Roses that were standing at attention. . .perfect for a patriotic flower arrangement for Flag Week and Independence Day!
For the white in the arrangement, I snipped the flowering hosta stalks for some spikes of white blooms.
Tips to help your flower arrangement last:
Cut your flowers at a 45 degree angle for maximum water uptake. If you’re using garden flowers, cut them in the morning when they’re fully hydrated and not water-stressed from the heat.
Remove any leaves below the water line that will cause bacteria to grow.
To keep cut hydrangeas from wilting in your arrangement, use the alum-dipping method.
Use the floral preservative packets that come with your flowers from the grocery store to add to your vase water to prolong the life of your flower arrangement. If you don’t have any floral preservative, you can make you own with this easy formula.
Change you vase water every two days if possible and check on your water level to top it off. Hydrangeas are heavy drinkers.
Keep your flower arrangement out of direct sunlight (if possible and you’re not outdoors) to help your blooms last longer.
I set a table by the lake to celebrate the Red, White & Blue!
Flowers in a flag formation, blooming on melamine plates seemed appropriate for a patriotic table for Floral Friday!
They’re layered on nautical striped plates and wicker placemats.
Ball Stars & Stripes Keepsake Canning Jars hold straws, sparklers and American flags. . .
And join Americana flatware and Patriotic Beaded Bicycle Napkin Rings, reminiscent of Fourth of July parades.
source
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their floral inspiration this week:
Pam at Everyday Living
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Shirley at Housepitality Designs
Table Details:
Floral Flag Melamine Salad Plates / Pier1, used here
Ball Stars & Stripes Keepsake Canning Jars / Walmart
White all-weather wicker placemats / Bunny Williams for Ballard Designs
Pfaltzgraff Americana Flatware / Tuesday Morning
Patriotic Beaded Bicycle Napkin Ring / Pier1
Napkins & Tablecloth / HomeGoods
Enjoy your reserved watermelon from your vase and make some refreshing Land of the Free Lemonade
Or an American flag formation of Watermelon, Feta and Blueberries,
the creamy, salty cheese is the perfect partner to the sweet, juicy melon!
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Sharing with: Tablescape Thursday
As I scroll down reading your beautiful post, I can hear the sound of fireworks as you always create the atmosphere as if we were sitting at your table, enjoying the “fruits of your labor.” The flowers in the watermelon vase are perfectly chosen … I can see how the sunflowers were calling your name! Thanks again for all of the tips, recipes and beauty by the lake. It is so much fun participating in Floral Fridays with you!….Have a most wonderful weekend Mary!!
This is just fantastic. Your tips on making a great floral arrangement with just about any vessel are remarkable too. Fun table, beautiful view, livin’ the dream, Mary. Happy weekend.
Good Morning Mary! I so look forward to Floral Fridays and seeing what your girls are up to. Your blooming watermelon is beautiful and I love your bright pop of yellow from the sunflowers. Thank you for the tutorial, I can see I need to get some chicken wire to have on hand. Happy Weekend!
You know I’m lovin’ your patriotic table by the lake. So many great ideas on your table and a beautiful floral arrangement. Happy Flag Week, Long May She Wave!
Mary, Another beautiful Floral Friday and beautiful table by the lake! Thank you for your great tutorial. I’ve pinned so I can attempt to recreate this for our 4th of July. I can see a trip to Pier 1 for those cute napkin rings is in order!
Still lovin’ those flag plates Mary! Very pretty ~and tasty too! Have a great weekend:@)
Mary,I just want to come and sit at this gorgeous table and take in the wonderful lake views! Your blooming watermelon is the perfect centerpiece for summer. The addition of sunflowers to your patriotic red, white, and blue is a great pop of unexpected color! Your easy to follow instructions are so helpful! The bicycle napkin rings are so much fun. The lemonade looks so refreshing for a hot and humid day! As always, I look forward to spending Floral Friday’s with you, enjoy your weekend! ❤️
My fav, by the lake!!! Love the watermelon vase! Just such an inviting table! Makes me want to stay a while!!! Happy Friday, Mary! 🇺🇸 👏👏👏👏🌻🇺🇸
This is the year of the Red, White & Blue!! The watermelon vase is beautiful!! Can’t wait for all my flowers to bloom..they are growing right now but not all are blooming..soon though! I’m checking out the Floral Fridays..be back on Saturday! Have a great weekend …on the lake!! 🌹🌼🌸🍇🍒🍓🇺🇸❤️
What a super adorable spot on the lake. I love gardening, so this post really caught my eye this morning.
I love the pop of yellow from the sunflowers! It seems even more American and less formal~ your picnic style setting is so all American too, it just makes me smile. I love that you can have your watermelon and eat it too! It’s all Red, White & Beautiful Mary! I couldn’t resist those bicycle napkin rings either :)
Jenna
Your bloomin’ watermelon makes for such a pretty centerpiece, Mary! The melamine patriotic plates, the tablecloth and napkins, and the flatware, with the bicycle napkin rings are just perfect I want to sit at your table by the lake.
Mary, I have run out of adjectives to describe all the beauty that all of you have created. Your watermelon with the patriotic colors and sunflowers is perfect for your table by the lake. The tree that seems to be iconic makes every setting more beautiful. I hope my message gets to you. The last two or three have failed.
It is a treat to see what you Floral Friday girls are up to! You make the water melon vase seem so easy and maybe it is because you have done it often but it would take me a week to get it done! Thank you for your tips. I’m wishing I had some refreshing water melon to enjoy this humid morning. I think you have put the idea in my head. I saw a video at the doctor’s office that water melon has more potassium than a banana.
I’m glad the sunflowers were calling your name and that you could eat the fruits of your labors! Your arrangement is striking and looks so good with your tablescape. You find the best tablecloths.
We are getting so much rain. At least my back can rest because I can’t get outside and work!
Ahhh, what a lovely patriotic table, I could sit here all morning and just enjoy it and the view. Everything is perfect and in order for an awesome red, white and blue celebration! GO U.S.A.! And God Bless her! And You! 😊♥️🇺🇸🍉☀️
WOW! Love it, love it, love it! Every year I look forward to your table settings. Such inspiration. I have 25 years of collecting vintage and other patriotic dishes and decorations. Yet, your combinations are the best! Thank you for all your ideas and inspiration. It is a treat. Happy Independence Day!!
Mary, this is so pretty! I can never turn down sunflowers, either! I love the pop of yellow with the patriotic colors. I am swooning over your hydrangeas. We have planted several, and I am patiently waiting for them to grow. Enjoy your weekend!!!
Another awesome patriotic table setting and arrangement. Thank you for the inspiration and tutorials to help us make our corner or the world more beautiful and yummy.
Beautiful my friend! Oh so beautiful!
Hi Mary-Love the watermelon “vase”; such a good use of the rind while getting to enjoy the actual melon! The sunflowers are so pretty and would have definitely had the loudest voice in the floral section! Sunflowers & watermelon are summer staples it seems and paired together they make a relaxing bouquet with the other beautiful flowers mixed in. I do believe the roses added a luxurios element to the arrangement while still keeping it casual. What a clever idea! The floral arrangement is gorgeous! The colors just pop in the watermelon and the arrangement is perfect for a relaxing meal inside or outside. I pinned it for future use. I love both the tablescape and location setting by the lake. It’s so very inviting! The bicycle napkin rings are adorable and the tablecloth/napkins are a perfect color mix for summer holidays or just an impromptu summer gathering with family or friends. The other floral arrangements are pretty as well and I love that beautiful pinkish/yellow rose in the French country one! I am afraid if I tried to replicate the one with strawberries there would only be stems left around the vase after the hubby & I ate the strawberries while dining on both the meal and the arrangement! LOL It is an elegant pink arrangement & I wouldn’t have thought of using radishes & strawberries with roses & peonies! The pineapple one reminds me of the tropics. Each of you had a very different take on fruits with flowers so each was a feast for the eyes! Thanks for the Floral Friday treat! Enjoy your weekend! Clara ☺️ 🌻 🍉 🍓 🥀 🍍💐 🇺🇸 ❤️
Beautiful Mary, I love using watermelon as a vase and your idea to use “the other end” was novel. I always use the oblong sliced in half which is so old news these days. I envy your hydrangeas, they are lovely.
This is all so pretty! I love the chicken wire idea, your floral flag plates and the bicycle! As always, I find something beautiful on your site!
The photo of your table from above puts the whole show on parade. You could easily have made it as a kindergarten teacher. . . .nice theme coordination.
Mary, sitting beside your beautiful lake must be heaven on earth! I see that you already have my wicker garden chairs there, now can you magically transport me there also? What a lovely, and fun arrangement you’ve created for our Floral Friday. Beautiful!
Mary I love the watermelon vase. Quite unique.
Marion
The flowers are beautiful. A nice variety. You have a green thumb.
Joan
Mary what a lovely post. I love the mix of flowers,vegetables and patriotic things.
Marilyn
Oh my…how pretty & patriotic!!! Lovely display & lots of great tips…thanks Mary for showing us how. ♥
Fabulous fun, the broke touch is adorable and love your linens!
Bike touch, autospell can scare the heck out me AFTER I see what posted 😟
Fabulous!!! the 4th of July is a big deal here, at our lake – they have a big fireworks display. We are having about 20-25 people over for it. If I can make my little party half as cute as this post – I will be thrilled!!! I love your blue paisley print tablecloth with that bandana border – perfect with those adorable Pier 1 plates!!
That looked fabulous. Love the contrast of the watermelon and the flowers. Those hydrangeas were fantastic!
So beautiful Mary! I love everything about this table – and this post! Heading off to your friends’ as well. Thanks so much for the beauty this morning!