Red, White, and Blooming

Clip backyard blooms or grab a few grocery bouquets for a simple and patriotic summertime arrangement.

By Kate Karam

photography: Robbie Caponetto

Cottage Living Magazine

Just in time for summer holidays and cookouts, homegrown flowers are filling backyards. Some—like these hydrangeas—are ideal for an easy yet spectacular 15-minute arrangement.

We stacked hydrangeas ‘Glowing Embers’ (red), ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’ (white), and ‘Nikko Blue’ for a fresh patriotic look, but many other large-headed flowers such as peonies, mountain laurel, rhododendron, or garden roses would also work.

Just grab your clippers and celebrate your independence with a low-maintenance, long-lasting tabletop display.

1. Line basket with a layer of sheet moss.

2. Cut stems of flowers to one length and at an angle. Remove any leaves that will be below water level.

3. Fill cups two-thirds full of cool water, place in basket, and add flowers; surround with moss to cover cups.

Done! To ensure a lasting arrangement, change water daily. If flowers start to wilt, give the stems a fresh cut to reinvigorate them.

What You’ll Need

Tiered basket

Sphagnum sheet moss (available at florists and crafts stores)

Clippers or scissors

Fresh-cut flowers (about 15 to 18 stems)

Plastic or glass cups to fit your stand (we used 6-ounce cups)