Create an easy and long-lasting floral arrangement with these time-saving shortcuts and tips, using harvest elements as a centerpiece for a Thanksgiving or fall table.
Happy Monday! I’m joining my blogging friends for some flower therapy and Monday Morning Blooms.
You can find my friends’ links to their floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
Our theme for this week’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was ‘harvest’. I pulled out my Harvest Pumpkin Turkey Salad Plates that are new this year from Williams-Sonoma and currently on sale. They coordinate with my Harvest Pumpkin Salad and Wreath Dinner Plates, which you can find at my Autumn Table with my DIY Blooming Pumpkin the Easy Way.
For a centerpiece for the table, I used a galvanized caddy, filled with a combination of autumn colored blooms from the grocery store . . . mums, alstroemeria and roses.
To complete the centerpiece, I added a few pumpkins, tucking them in to fill the empty spaces between the blooms. Here are the easy steps and tips to create a floral centerpiece using a caddy or long box.
I used mason jars inside the caddy to hold the flowers. Ball Elite Wide Mouth Pint Jars are just the right height (3.75 inches) for the caddy.
Plastic grocery store bags seem to multiply overnight despite using reusable shopping bags and returning them to the store to recycle. I used the bags to help space the jars evenly in the caddy and to keep them from shifting once they’re filled with water and flowers. Using individual jars instead of wet floral foam makes it easy to replace individual flowers in the arrangement as they fade.
Here are few tips to help extend the life of your flowers in your arrangement:
🍂 Cut your flower stems at a 45 degree angle for maximum water uptake and remove any leaves below the water line.
🍂 Always add the floral preservative packets to your vase water that come with your flowers from the store. If you don’t have any floral preservative, you can make your own with this easy formula.
🍂 Check your water level to top it off if necessary. Some flowers like hydrangeas are heavy drinkers.
🍂 If you’re using cut hydrangeas, use the alum-dipping method to keep them from wilting.
🍂 Change your vase water every other day if possible.
🍂 Keep your flower arrangement away from heat (like vents blowing) or direct sunlight.
🍂 To make your arrangement in advance, choose flowers with a long vase-life like mums, carnations and alstroemeria in particular, which is available in a variety of colors.
Once the flowers were arranged, I added some mini pumpkins. . . white, tiger-striped and orange. Pack the plastic bags (or use newspaper) in tightly so they can support the weight of the pumpkins in the arrangement.
To complete the centerpiece on the table, I added more pumpkins down the length of the table flanking the centerpiece.
Harvest Pumpkin Turkey Salad Plates were inspired by Dutch still-life paintings.
The glazed porcelain is decorated a proud tom turkey, acorns, leaves and chrysanthemums set against a black background.
Nuts were sprinkled down the length of the table, to pair with the nuts on the plates while ears of Indian corn lend a harvest note.
A Ralph Lauren Harvest Plaid tablecloth provides a foundation for the table. . .
With mini turkey tureens at each place setting, joining ribbon tied-napkins and hammered copper flatware to add a warm texture.
Table Details:
Galvanized Caddy / HomeGoods
Turkey Tureens / World Market, several years ago, used here
Harvest Pumpkin Turkey Salad Plates, Wreath Plates / Williams-Sonoma
Burnished copper chargers / Hobby Lobby, several years ago
Wood chargers / World Market, last year
Flatware / Cambridge Silversmiths Jessamine Copper, Amazon
Stemware / Mikasa French Countryside
Ralph Lauren Harvest Plaid Tablecloth / HomeGoods, several years ago, used here
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their harvest of blooms this week:
Pam at Everyday Living
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Our friend Shirley at Housepitality Designs is taking a break. We look forward to her return when she joins us next month to kick off the holiday season with a special giveaway, Monday, December 2nd, you don’t want to miss!
🦃🎄🦃🎄🦃
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
Mary, your table scape is exquisite.
Ann – my thoughts exactly!
Another great one Mary!
Very Thanksgiving!! Love, love those turkey plates and wreath plates…you have tempted my dish fetish!! The floral arrangement is stunning..and than you for the tips!! Always helpful!! 🦃🦃🦃🦃🦃
I just love all of falls abundance! Cute dishes, black has been speaking to me to, designs really pop!
Great floral arrangement, but let’s talk about that table! Beautiful Harvest Bloom turkey salads to complement the dinner plates. They make a setting look so rich. Love the soup turkey tureens also.The textiles, right down to the satin ribbons on the napkins, are gorgeous. Love the pattern play of the napkins against the RL tablecloth.
Mary, Your table is a thing of beauty. I love you how paired your floral material to match the colors and chrysanthemums on the turkey plates. I haven’t seen those Harvest Turkey Plates from WS, I’m going to have go take a look since they’re on sale. Thank you for sharing your flower arranging tips and talent with us. I’m going to keep my eyes out for a long box or tote I can use for the table. Kathy P
Mary, I have been pondering those fabulous WS harvest pumpkin turkey salad plates! After seeing how beautiful they are on your table, I may give in! As always, your table is a masterpiece of colors, textures, and patterns. The galvanized caddy is perfect for your lovely harvest of blooms, I love the addition of roses. The turkey tureens add another rich layer to your tablesetting. I don’t remember seeing the copper flatware before, it adds so much warmth. It is always a pleasure to join you for MMB’s and stunning flower therapy! ❤️
Gobble Gobble Mary, your guests are certainly in for a treat when they sit at this bountiful harvest Thanksgiving table! The turkey plates are so fabulous as well as the turkey tureens, the copper flatware and the gorgeous ribbon tied napkins. The flower and pumpkin filled caddy is gorgeous not to mention cleverly done. A beautiful way to start the week! I do not have 1 turkey plate, that must be illegal for a dishaholic like me :) I hope you enjoy your 2 Thanksgivings, double blessings!
Jenna
Mary your centerpiece is lovely. I also love dishes and those turkey plates look gorgeous on your table.
Your floral arrangements are beautiful, the table displays are insperational. I can’t afford all the fancy fixins but love to look at all you do.
Wow, Mary! Your table is exquisite! So rich in texture and beautiful fall hues! I love your flatware and lovely paisley napkins tied with satin ribbon! Your plate stack is dramatically pretty.
Your centerpiece is stunning and thanks for your tips in putting it together.
With being out of town I had forgotten this is the week for MMB. I was pleasantly surprised to see your post. Always a treat to see what you have created.
Just beautiful. Spectacular. Those black plates with the turkeys are just works of art….oh Williams Sonoma — why do you and Mary Taunt me so? Thanks for a great start to the week!
Your Latte lover’s pumpkin spice bundt cake with kahlua- cream cheese glaze was a hit at my dinner party last Saturday night!!! Fabulous! Thanks for sharing.
So glad to hear that…Thanks for letting me know Patricia🍷🍂🍁
Mary, what a delightful table! Everything is just right, and a delight to all senses. The flowers? Spectacular, arranged in their hidden glass vases they will last long, and are perfect to do ahead! Those turkey plates are stunning! It’s always a joy to share this Monday Morning Blooms with you friend. Xo Lidy
This IS one of my favorites yet!!! Gees, it is SO PRETTY!!! franki
Thank you for always sharing your tips and tutorials on creating a centerpiece, Mary, and your galvanized box looks stunning! Those new turkey plates with the black background are fabulous!!! I also LOVE the hammered copper flatware and the pretty bow tied napkins. Why can’t Fall last longer??!!
Beautiful! And thank you so much for the tips on keeping the flowers fresh.
I always so enjoy your easy/peasy tutorials with common sense ideas for setting up arrangements. I reuse ALL my grocery bags for either shipping garbage, sorting and protecting fragile seasonal items being packed away, so I’m always happy to see a ‘green’ idea incorporated with a home project. Lovely table and florals!
What a lovely table, Mary! And such beautiful flowers! Thanks for the tutorial – I learn something new from you every time! :) Love the plates, and those little turkey tureens, and so glad I now have a use for those plastic bags! 💗 Happy Monday!
Absolutely beautiful table. The colors are gorgeous. I think the best part is the pretty brown satin ribbon. Such a very pretty Southern Belle touch. I’m a Southern gal, too!
Lovely— you always create such wonderful decor and table settings (and delicious recipes to!). Any suggestions on how to store all those wonderful things when not in use? My husband is worrying that we’re going to need a bigger house soon if I try to keep up with you😉.
Mary you have out done yourself with your tablescape. Gorgeous.
Marion
I love the table cloth is beautiful. Everything looks lovely .
Marilyn
Thank You Mary for sharing your beautiful tablescape. Love the turkey.
Joan
That’s a very welcoming setting Mary! I’d be thankful to join your dinner party:@)
Those plates are stunning, so vivid! Everything with this tablescape is beautiful, love the copper chargers and then the wooden ones along with the pretty flatware. The centerpiece is lovely, so Autumn! The turkey tureens are special and the ribbon tops everything off. Love it all! 🍊🍂
The new turkey harvest plates are so pretty. I love the stack with the metal, wood, and the ceramic plates. Beautiful rich colors against the wonderful RL plaid tablecloth. I have admired those plates at WS this year, but couldn’t justify buying them. They certainly set a gorgeous table! Happy Thanksgiving.
I marvel at your never ending creativity.
When I ponder over all your “Thanksgiving Awesome-ness” I never want it
To end! I love the colors, crispness in the air and of course family and
Friends gathering together for the feast of the year.
I confess Thanksgiving is My fondest of holidays.
Thank you for sharing this holiday season with caring and sharing of so many
beautiful ideas it is so needed!!!
Blessings to you and yours.
Hi Darlene, Thank you for your visit. Fall is my favorite season and love this time of year too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family❣️🦃