Evergreen Holiday Centerpiece

Video Transcription 

Welcome to the Flower School .com video library. I'm Leanne Kesler, Director of the Floral Design Institute. And today we're going to look at evergreens in a wonderful centerpiece, perfect for winter. 

To prepare, I've hydrated my flowers, precut some of my foliage so that they're ready to work with. Then I soak the foam with flower food, secure it in place, and then we'll incorporate some Christmas ornaments. To do that, just cutting the cord off, and then using six-inch wood picks. I like to use two, thread them through and then just twist them and use that to support.

Placing the foliage first gives you wonderful draping, giving it a cut, removing the side needles, and let them drape outward. This is Douglas Fir. We're so fortunate here in the Pacific Northwest with great foliage. Fortunately for the rest of the world, they ship them everywhere oftentimes from right here in Oregon or Washington. I'm going to elongate, going a little bit more on trend and then keeping it low in the center, center PC. And coming in with some cedar, it has a nice ruffly needle, let that drape as well. And some Redwood Sequoia, it has beautiful draping. You can see the variation in the needle type and the growth format, makes it look so much more interesting. Coming around to the back, and then also some up towards the center. Then radiate from that central binding point and fill in until it's lush and full of evergreen.

Next, I nestle in the orbs to establish the focal emphasis, tucking them down, and the foliage just supports, holding them in place, finding the perfect hole for the sticks to go in, then extending outward adding glass balls. You can use them in clusters or divide them, kind of fun to go ahead and just nestle in the whole cluster. 

To add interest and contrast, enhancing the design with more foliage and artificial foliage. Using a broad leaf like eucalyptus gives contrast to the green and extends outward. Coming in with a metallic, artificial and enhancing, picking up the color of the orbs and carrying it out to the sides. And even gilded Magnolia leaves, cutting them down then they're a little too short, so picking them with a pick machine and adding in to add a little bit of glitter. 

When creating an evergreen centerpiece, I get it finished, done, all mechanics covered and beautiful because, this will last for weeks, it will dry and look beautiful so that they can save it throughout the entire season. But then to make it extra special, going ahead and adding flowers. And they are the icing on the cake, so they go in very last and just adding spots of color, might be a lily, removing the pollen, reaching in and plucking it out of the bud. Sometimes you can get in, sometimes you can't, but you do your best because the pollen will stain and you don't want that. So you get out what you can, giving it a cut, placing it in, making sure it gets down into the water reservoir well, so it will continue to drink. Maybe a hydrangea, again, cutting it. I'm dipping it in alum it'll last so much better. Makes it drink just a little better. And placing it down low, again, deeply into the water reservoir. And even miniature carnations, a very long-lasting bloom, nice stems that will extend out to the sides. Of course, as you finish, spray it down with Crowning Glory, that will lock the moisture into the foliage and the flowers, again, enhancing the life. 

The recipe, I used Douglas fir, cedar, and redwood sequoia as the base. You could use any evergreens, even things that you foraged possibly from your own yard. Then I added the eucalyptus and the faux foliage, some of the magnolia, and I would guess this is some sort of boxwood, but it's artificial. Then the flowers; three stems of the lily, three stems of hydrangea, and five stems of mini carnations. 

Today marks the beginning of glitter in the studio, nothing is more fun at the holidays than adding a little bit of glitz. Even if you're a naturalist, sometimes the holidays, just scream for a little bit of sparkle. 

You'll find more creative inspiration at our website, Flower School .com. If you have questions, you can reach just through there or pick up the telephone and give us a call at 503-223-8089. Now, it's your turn. What are you going to create using fabulous evergreens? Be sure to take a picture, post it on social media and hashtag Floral Design Institute that way we all can see what you do as you do something you love.