I always have enough food on hand to invite friends over for an impromptu dinner. The good news is that I don’t have to stop at the grocery store for food. However, I’m a fan of setting a nice table and prefer to not have to make a special trip to the store for fresh flowers.
I have some go-to casual centerpieces that I can quickly put together and have figured out that it’s all about the vase. If you have some low vases with narrow necks, it’s as simple as adding water and a single stem for an instant casual centerpiece. It’s so easy and that’s what impromptu gatherings should be.
Use Cuttings from Houseplants for Easy Centerpieces
Yes, it’s as simple as walking through your house and pruning a house plant for some greenery. My plants seem to grow so fast and I am always needing to prune them.
Instead of throwing the clippings away, I gather them and put them in a vase. If I am not entertaining I end up with a nice arrangement at my kitchen sink to enjoy.
I have several bud vases that I love. These glass vases with a narrow opening make it ideal for displaying one to three stems. A single stem in a bud vase is enough to add a pop of color to a bathroom, coffee table, nightstand or desk.
I like using all three vases as a centerpiece in my sunroom. The greenery will last a long time as long as you keep the vase filled with water.
Use Greenery From Your Garden for Casual Centerpieces
Now that it is summer I also like walking around my yard to take clippings for my centerpieces. My ferns are plentiful (they spread like crazy) so I never hesitate to cut as many stems as I need. They are light and airy looking and I love the look of a single fern in each vase.
If you are interested in more centerpiece inspiration, click on my previous post, From Garden to Vase – Summer Floral Arrangements. Do you know what a floral frog is? In this post I share how it will help keep your stems in place. It’s a great tool for putting floral arrangements together.
You may also enjoy How to Arrange Flowers with Lots of Style and Little Fuss.
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Beautiful & simple.
I think the garden no matter what size, an estate or a few pots should include plants & flowers ready to be snipped for entertaining or to fill a simple bud vase on the night stand.
Some favorites… helleborus, an early bloomer good for flower & foliage, of course peonies, pansies for spring. If you have the space Lilly of the Valley.
Summer, veronica, hydrangeas & zinnas. Fall & winter, boxwood goes with everything, it is like a little black dress, it goes with everything!
Thanks Regina. I love lilies of the valley – they remind me of my mom’s yard when I was little.
You’ve done it again! I adore all of these! I love the vase in the 2nd photo and your glass bud vases! The silver vase is so unique!! Do you mind my asking where you got them?