Welcome to Monday Morning Blooms! This time our theme was Easter, you can find the links to more floral inspiration at the bottom of this post. I know my flower friends will be inspiring with their gorgeous Easter floral creations.
I designed an easy Easter centerpiece in an antique garden trug, but any basket will work perfectly fine for this. It's so easy to assemble using a few potted plants and flowers from the market.
To make your own blooming Easter garden basket centerpiece, start with a basket you love. I used this antique garden basket that is huge, but really any size or kind of basket will work. If you are worried the basket might get wet, you can line it with a layer of plastic- grocery or smaller trash bags as a precaution. I didn't do this, since the only vase I'm using is an antique crock for the tulips, ranunculus and hydrangeas.
Using a block of dry floral foam helps stabilize the elements on the bottom. I used the special florist tape from our FGH Flower Arranging Kit to tape a grid on the crock that will hold the flowers in water to help them stand up better. Mr. Rabbit is nestled on one side.
I love cabbages with flowers, so large green cabbages from Trader Joe's join pink tulips, a potted white freesia, a few ranunculus and some blue hydrangea flowers. {Besides, it's a well-known fact that rabbits love cabbages, so my little bunny is thrilled!}
The cabbages I used are ornamental cabbages that are specially grown for the flower industry, they have extra long "roots" or stems. I put them in a small glass jar with water in front of the potted plant. You can easily substitute small cabbages from the vegetable market, you will need to look for some that are either not tight or simply gently peel open a few layers. You don't need to put these in water, just nestle them in the open space in front of the potted plant.
After stripping all the leaves from your flowers that would be below the waterline, cut your flower stems at a 45 degree angle for maximum water intake. If using, add floral preservative, and give the water a little stir. Because tulips only really like cold water {unlike all others that prefer luke-warm water} I added cold water for all the flowers in taped-off container.
“Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair
to strength and beauty and happiness.”
Floyd W. Tomkins
I had a few blue hydrangeas left from last week's flowers, and added those. But...there were only two...and an uneven number always looks so much better. A tiny blue faux hydrangea came to my rescue! {Don't tell the other flowers it's not real!} A basket like this is so wonderful, you can fit in more plants if you have room. A trailing ivy would look spectacular. The other bonus of a floral arrangement like this is that once the tulips and friends are done, you can replace them with other flowers. This basket can give you joy all season long!
You can cover things with moss but I didn't have to since the plants and flowers covered all the spaces and no pots show.
I had such fun setting this table! I began with this beautiful airy white ruffled linen tablecloth from Pom Pom at Home, classic and romantic, the Lily Tablecloth is a subtle showstopper for your table. This pristine white cloth is an heirloom piece that adds opulence to your table. I love the large 4" ruffled edge, so luxurious! {ps. it's on sale!}
I wish I could show you layers of plates in a "plate stack" but while I adore how that looks, in our real life here it's just not practical. Two plates on top of each other is the most I can give you...and only if we eat salad before the main course.
For this outside table I used my favorite romantic lace plates from Arte Italica at each place setting in two sizes, a dessert|salad size and a dinner size plate. They are not only stunning, they add another layer of texture. The pink organic linen napkins have a tiny ruffle, a dressmaker detail that I love. We've had napkins like this for over ten years at home, and I wash them in the washer and then toss in the dryer. I don't iron, just smooth and fold when they come out.
Mr. FrenchGardenHouse sometimes goes crazy and irons them, but I love the casual rumpled linen look and just have them as is. My Grandmama probably wouldn't approve, but I know she's in heaven thinking thank goodness I married a man who irons them sometimes!
The French Country Hare Gift Tags make a delightful name tag at each plate, for Easter I'll write a personal message on the back and a Scripture. The flatware is the ever popular Napoleon Bee pattern from Wallace Silversmiths.
{P.S. some of you have asked if there is still time to order something from our SPRING COLLECTION for Easter. The answer is YES! And we've added a few new things to the mix!}
I hope you are planning some spring beauty for Easter this year. Do you go all out with decorations for the holiday or keep it simple and let Mother Nature speak for herself?
Please visit my friends for more Easter inspiration:
Shirley at Housepitality Designs
and me, Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
A BIENTOT
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
31 comments
Renae, thank you! It’s super easy to do too, you can literally make it in any basket with any combination of plants and flowers. Hope you have a beautiful week!
Thank you Liz! It’s so easy, and actually would look great at any time of year with different plants and
“accents” don’t you think?
Linda, what a very sweet idea! I know your neighbor will be so cheered!
I’m going out now to buy some plants and stop at Trader Joe’s to make a smaller one of these for a neighbor with reoccurring CA.
Great idea.
The basket arrangement is fabulous! I’m glad you showed how you built it. Truly a inspiring design! The dishes, napkins and place cards are Beautiful too!
I absoluteley love this idea! It’s just gorgeous.
What a great basket full of spring goodness! I love how you loosely arranged all of your items, and how it pairs up so nicely to the white ruffled tablecloth, especially against the amethyst glassware. It highlights the pink ribbon and tulips. Perfect for spring and very nice!
Good morning Lidy, and thank you for the smiles and inspirations! I adore your bunny basket arrangement, so perfect for Easter and Spring! Love the purples, soft pinks, white and yellow of your table and the candy eggs scattered is perfect :) Cabbage and tulips and a bunny combine to make delightful Easter eye candy! So pretty in your beautiful garden setting…I hope you have a blessed and happy Easter!
Good morning, Lidy. The garden trug is a beautiful statement all by itself, but you have arranged the perfect spring garden flowers to fill it. The ornamental cabbages are fabulous and the addition of the sweet bunny adds whimsy. How do you keep the bunny from eating the cabbages? (Lol) The ruffles on your cloth and napkins gives it a romantic feel, and who wouldn’t appreciate that?! It is always a pleasure to join you in your garden for Monday Morning Blooms. Have a lovely Monday!
Happy Monday (Morning Blooms) Lidy! Where do I begin? Oh that awesome basket!! Such a most fabulous basket for your table and of course the arrangement. I so love how you curated the various flowers/plants/veggies. How wonderful that you are able to obtain the amazing cabbages at your flower market. Yes, you won’t see them at your grocery store!…I considered trying to grow pretty cabbages; however, the wildlife here love them and I cannot put a fence around the garden in our backyard (ARB rules ?. Oh that gorgeous tablecloth!…I love the ruffles! So very romantic and perfect for Spring! Yes, the gift tags also make wonderful place cards as I have used yours just for that reason! Also, in love with those goblets! Gorgeous color!….So happy to join you for our Monday Morning Blooms days my friend!! Have a wonderful week Lidy!