DIY Woodland Trayscape + Floral Arrangement and High Country-Inspired Table

Beat the summer heat and escape to the High Country! You’ll find the steps to create a woodland trayscape and floral arrangement. You’ll also find additional summer floral and table inspiration from my Monday Morning Blooms friends.

Happy Monday,

I hope you had a wonderful Fourth holiday and weekend!

🇺🇸 🎆 🇺🇸

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 Monday Morning Blooms friends’ floral inspiration 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 July’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was ‘Summer Living’.

I was planning a nautical-themed centerpiece and a table by the lake, but hauling my tableware to the dock or boat with the spike in summer heat and humidity was more than I bargained for! 🥵

Instead, I’m inviting you to escape the heat and join me for a getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Blue Ridge Mountains derived their namesake due to their bluish color when viewed from a distance. The distinctive blue hue is caused by the release of isoprene gas from the trees in the region, which creates a hazy effect that scatters blue light from the sun.

The High Country of North Carolina is a two hour drive from the lake, making it a frequent getaway in the summer. At an elevation of 4,000 feet, the temperature drops a delightful 15 degrees, providing some welcome relief from our 90+ degree temps.

While recovery from Hurricane Helene continues in the mountains of North Carolina, most destinations are ready and enthusiastically welcoming visitors! If you’re considering a trip to the High Country to beat the heat, you can find a Western NC travel advisory guide with links to specific areas, HERE.

Eastern Hayscented Fern is native to the Blue Ridge / Appalachian Mountains and abundant in the region. It’s so named for its sweet, hay-like scent when crushed and is deer-resistant. It spreads via rhizomes to form colonies, thriving in well-drained soils, especially in woodland edges and open woods.

In addition to fern, blankets of sheet moss can be found in the shade,

and where the canopy of trees filter the sunlight.

To make a woodland trayscape and centerpiece,

I harvested some moss as well as some lichen and bark . . .no trees were harmed as

there are plenty of downed trees from Helene.

I started with a rectangular seagrass tray, and lined it with pieces of moss, filling in with bark and lichen.

I placed my vase in the center of the tray to work around,  leaving a space for my floral arrangement.

I removed some of the individual lacy fern fronds to sit on top

so they appeared to be growing from the moss.

For my woodland-inspired floral arrangement, I gathered some Hayscented Fern,

 Oakleaf Hydrangea, Rhododendron and Dappled Willow foliage (Salix Integra).

This Pillow Floral Cage Arranger is my new favorite eco-friendly flower arranging tool!

It works like chicken wire without the sharp edges, and is made of plastic so it doesn’t rust.

It’s 6 inches wide which is the diameter of my vase. I placed it on top of the vase without taping it in place, but you can use waterproof floral tape to secure it for flower arranging if needed. It’s also available in a 4-inch size.

I started with the fern and foliage to provide structure for my arrangement.

Hydrangea and rhododendron were added next,

strategically placed along the edge of the vase to conceal the floral cage.

 A green tablecloth is bordered with ferns and leaves  . . .

Faux bois plates topped with a fern are framed by woven chargers,

providing some warm texture to pair with our woodland tray . . .

And fern napkins join twig flatware, adding more woodland details.

Flower longevity tips:

🌿 When cutting flowers and or foliage from your garden or landscape, cut your stems in the early morning with they’re fully hydrated and not stressed from the heat.

🌿Cut your stems at a 45 degree angle for maximum water uptake and remove any leaves below the water line. Place them in a clean bucket of water mixed with flower food / preservative, in a cool spot, away from sun.

🌿 Allow flowers and foliage to condition, preferably overnight, or for a minimum of 4 hours, to prevent drooping or wilting of your stems.

🌿 Always use the flower food packets that often come with grocery store flowers to give them their longest vase life.

Flower food / floral preservative provides nutrients for your flowers and controls the pH for optimal water uptake, while also reducing bacteria in your vase water.

🌿 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 dries clear, sealing in moisture.

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.

I’ve had flowers that lasted for two weeks that were sprayed with Crowning Glory.

Details:

Seagrass tray / HomeGoods

 Faux Bois Plates, Roscher / HomeGoods, several years ago

Woven Square Chargers / World Market, several years ago

Napkins and Napkin Rings / Pottery Barn, several years ago

Wild Fern Tablecloth note: very thin

Twig Flatware / Pier 1, many years ago

Visit my flower friends to see their summer floral inspiration:

Pam at Everyday Living

Sarah at Hyacinths for the Soul

Our friend, Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse, was unable to join us this time. We look forward to her return in August.

Our thoughts are with those in Texas affected by the catastrophic flooding.

Prayers for the missing girls from Camp Mystic and their families,

as well as first responders in their search efforts. 🙏

Sophie and Lola want to know what you’re doing to stay cool this summer?

Thank you for your visit, sharing with:

 Between Naps on the Porch