Brighten up your winter days with a vibrant flower arrangement and table centerpiece that incorporates the refreshing and invigorating scent of citrus. This mood-lifting project will beautify your surroundings with flower therapy, as well as aromatherapy, to help chase away the winter blues.

Happy Monday and February!

It’s one of my favorite days of the month when I join my

Monday Morning Blooms’ friends to share some flower therapy.

We’re excited to welcome back Sarah, from Hyacinths for the Soul,

joining us as a special guest ‘bloomer’ today.

You can find my flower friends’ links at the bottom of this post.

This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Our common theme for this edition of Monday Morning Blooms was incorporating ‘Fresh Winter Citrus’.

Winter can be dreary for many of us, with the shorter days and chilly temperatures. You can combat the winter blues with a vibrant and aromatic citrus-infused flower arrangement! With a combination of colors, scents, and textures, you can bring a burst of sunshine into your home using simple grocery store flowers and fresh citrus fruits.

Fun facts and a double dose of ‘winter happy’:

🌸 Studies have shown that flowers have the power to improve our mood . . . not just receiving them, but growing them, arranging them or simply admiring them. The visual beauty of flowers triggers a release of ‘happy chemicals’ in the brain . . . dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.

🍊 Citrus fruit adds a welcome burst of sunshine in winter, at its peak of freshness, and when it’s at its sweetest and most juicy! The bright colors and tangy flavors of tangerines, lemons, oranges and grapefruit can be a refreshing reminder of sunshine and warmth, while the scent of citrus is energizing, which can enhance our moods, reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being.

🌸🍊 When flowers are paired with citrus, you have a double dose of ‘happy’ and I’ll take all the happy I can get in winter!

Here’s my ‘recipe’ to beat the winter blues:

To create a vibrant floral arrangement, you’ll need the following materials:

🌸 Flowers: Assorted large blooms like Hydrangeas and Lilies; medium flowers like Mums and Carnations; filler flowers like Alstroemeria or Charmelia that have lots of greenery

🌸 Citrus fruits: Such as oranges and lemons

🌸 Container of choice: I used a fluted bowl purchased from Pier 1 many years ago

🌸 Chicken wire: A reusable, eco-friendly alternative to wet floral foam

🌸 Bamboo skewers: For securing fruit in the arrangement

🌸 Flower shears: To cut flower stems

🌸 Flower food / preservative: Provides nutrients for your flowers and controls the pH for optimal water uptake, while also reducing bacteria in your water for a longer vase life

🌸 Optional but helpful tool: A Lazy Susan Turntable for flower arranging and easy viewing of all sides of your arrangement while working

To Make Your Flower Arrangement

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Wire

Start by cutting your chicken wire at least 4 inches wider than the opening of your container. This extra width allows you to bend and secure the wire against the container walls, providing a sturdy framework for your arrangement. I like to use for a coated or painted chicken wire, as it’s rust-resistant after repeated uses.

I purchased a white painted chicken wire several years ago which has since tripled in price, but this green coated wire is available and blends with floral stems. 

Step 2: Arrange the Flowers

Fill your container with room temperature water mixed with flower food / floral preservative. Begin by placing your hydrangeas as the base of your arrangement. Their full blooms provide a lush backdrop for the other flowers. Alstroemeria and Charmelia were added next, adding pops of color with multiple blooms on each stem. They have a long vase life and abundant leaves for filler. Mums and Carnations were added next, with Lilies added last for height, which add additional fragrance. Lily blooms typically open in a sequence, with the lower buds on a stem opening first, followed by the buds higher up. You can cut off the spent lily blooms as they fade to keep your flower arrangement looking fresh.

Step 3: Add Citrus Fruits

Incorporate your citrus fruits by using bamboo skewers. Insert the skewers into the whole fruits or halved fruits, then place them strategically throughout the arrangement. The bamboo skewers can be broken to the desired length, allowing you to adjust the height and position of the fruits. Tip: Give any cut citrus a spritz of water daily to keep it fresh and release more fragrance. Your flowers will appreciate the additional moisture too, especially in the winter months, when the air is dry.

Step 4: Enjoy the Aromatherapy!

With the citrus fruits nestled among the flowers, you’ll enjoy a fresh burst of aromatherapy. The combination of floral scents and citrus provides some welcome aromatherapy, helping to lift your spirits during the winter months.

Two products I swear by for long-lasting flowers are Floralife Flower Food,

available in individual packets, a 10 oz. container, or liquid for easy mixing.

and Crowning Glory Solution Floral Spray.

If you’re not familiar with Crowning Glory, it’s an antitranspirant spray that seals in moisture and dries clear. It’s safe to use on all flower types and is especially beneficial for flowers that are prone to wilting due to moisture loss, like hydrangeas.

Note: Remove your citrus before spraying your flowers so they’re food safe and can be enjoyed after your flowers fade. I usually cover my table with a towel to catch any drips before spraying. Crowning Glory dries in approximately 30 minutes depending on the temperature and humidity.

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 floral preservative packets to room temperature vase water.

🌸 Check your water level frequently, topping off as needed, especially if using thirsty flowers like hydrangeas, and change your vase water every other day if possible.

🌸 Remove any wilting and fading flowers as they produce ethylene gas, which can hasten the decline of neighboring flowers.

🌸 Keep your flower arrangement away from heat or direct sunlight.

Join me at the table by our Winter Nesting Tree, another way to beat the winter blues and

extend the *twinkle* season into the winter months, when it’s cold and gray outside!

Floral plates offer more blooms at the table for additional flower therapy. . .

While Mikasa Endearment teacups hold an orange that is hollowed out,

serving as a mini vase for leftover flowers from our centerpiece. . .

mini carnations, mums and alstroemeria.

I filled a bowl with oranges and tucked in some flowers. along with some sprigs of greenery. . .

Fun fact: Carnations and mums are known for their long vase life, and if you spray them with Crowning Glory, they’ll stay fresh without water for 4 – 5 days or longer, depending on the temperature and humidity in your home.

Table Details:

Dinner Plates, Bowl, Platter Cups & Saucers / Mikasa Endearment

Salad Plates / Grace Teaware

White Chargers / Deartis, HomeGoods

Flatware / Mikasa Cameo Gold

Napkins / HomeGoods & Pier1

Napkin Rings

Crystal Stems (Mother-in-law’s) Danish Princess by Heisey, 1939 – 1957

Faux fur throw for tablecloth / HomeGoods, several years ago

Gracie China Rose Chintz Porcelain Dessert / Salad Plates Set of 4

Not only does citrus offer vitamin C for our immune systems, but it provide a burst of fresh flavor in the kitchen!

Find a recipe for Whole Orange Cake with Cream Cheese-Orange Glaze 🍊

It’s made with whole oranges (peel included) to deliver a burst of citrus in every bite.

Bonus: It comes together easily in a food processor, making it a simple yet impressive dessert!

Visit my flower friends to see their mood-lifting and beautiful floral inspiration! :

Pam at Everyday Living

Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse

Sarah at Hyacinths for the Soul

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 Between Naps on the Porch