We’re less than 2 weeks away from Thanksgiving.  I’ve been planning and organizing for the holiday.  And thinking about my table centerpiece.  Doesn’t everyone spend days wondering how to decorate their Thanksgiving table?  With no flowers left in the garden, it’s time to turn to my local grocery store.  I want to show you how to set your holiday table with grocery store flowers.

You can actually make some lovely floral arrangements with flowers from your local grocery store.  People often think that store bought flowers are not very special, but you can find some nice flowers to work with.  Check out the different markets in your area and you might be surprised at some of the quality of the flowers.

Making your own floral centerpiece can be very easy.  And you don’t have to spend tons of money on a bouquet from the florist to have a lovely bouquet.   Before we get started on the centerpiece, here are a few tips for handling those grocery store bouquets.

How to prepare grocery store flowers…

1. Start by purchasing healthy looking flowers.  Choose the bundles that still have some partially closed buds if possible.  If you choose flowers that are at their peak, then you won’t have as much time to enjoy them.
2. Some flowers such as mums, carnations, and daisies do have a longer shelf life so look for mixes or bundles that contain these flowers.  Also look for flowers that have sturdy stems.
3. How much should you buy?  That depends on the size of the container you need to fill.  Make sure to purchase enough flowers so that you don’t have to go looking for more.  A full-size bundle or several smaller bunches should be enough for one table centerpiece.
4. As soon as you get home from the store, trim the ends of your flower stems and put them in a bucket of lukewarm water.  This helps them to re-hydrate and acclimate to the temperature in your home.
5. Trim off the leaves on the stem bottoms as you prepare to use your flowers.  Any leaves below the waterline can start to rot and will minimize the lifespan of your bouquet.

Related:  Simple Tips for Arranging Flowers

How to create your bouquet with grocery store flowers…

Choose your container

The first thing that you want to do is to choose the container for your table.  I like to choose a simple container so that the flowers will be the center of attention.  However, if you have a favorite container, a vintage vase or a pitcher that matches your decor then, by all means, use it.  Also, remember that for a holiday table you’ll want a shorter centerpiece so that guests can see each other over the flowers.

Gather your supplies

Gather the materials that you’ll need to create your centerpiece.  Here are some of the basic items you will want to have.

• Container
• Wet floral foam (not the dry floral foam…there’s a big difference in how the foam holds moisture)
• Flowers
• Floral tape (optional)
• Scissors
• A long metal skewer (use this for poking holes into the floral foam when working with more delicate stems)

Steps to a lovely bouquet

1. Step 1…The first thing that you’ll want to do is cut your floral foam to fit your container.  You want it to fit snugly.  Now place your foam in a sink filled with lukewarm water and allow it to absorb moisture for about 5 minutes.  This is key to making sure that your bouquet stays hydrated.  You might need to place a heavy pan on the foam to keep it submerged.
2. Step 2…Place the moistened foam into your container.  It might need several strips of floral tape across the top to hold the foam in place.  I tend to use floral tape when I’m not using foam, but if your foam won’t stay put you can hold it in place with the tape.
3. Step 3…Begin to select and place your flowers into the foam.  Start with the largest of the flowers.  You want the height of the flowers to be about 11/2 times the height of your container.  However, this does not have to be exact. Start by placing the largest flower toward the center of the vessel but at a slight angle.  From there you’ll want the flowers to taper down toward the sides.  Add in 2 more of the largest size flower creating a triangle.  We want an odd number of these flowers for a pleasing arrangement.
4. Step 4…Choose another type or color of flower to continue filling in with.  Intersperse this flower between the first flowers while maintaining the height.  With smaller flowers add in small bundles of 3 or 4 flowers rather than singles.
5. Step 5…Continue filling in with your various flowers.  You’ll want to have a variety of flower types to provide a nice contrast.  This keeps a little excitement in your bouquet.  Also, consider adding in some green filler to your bouquet for contrast and to fill in the bare areas.
6. Step 6…Mix your floral food packet according to the package directions.  Pour this water into your arrangement being careful to not overflow the container.  Check the moisture level each day and add a bit more water as needed.  With this style of bouquet, you won’t be able to replace your water with fresh.

What to do with leftover flowers

If you have any flowers leftover then use them to make a smaller bouquet for your sideboard.  Create this smaller arrangement in a cup instead of a vase.  You can also sort the flowers by color into several small pitchers, vases or jars. You can use these mini-bouquets as decorations throughout your house.  Or create a lovely floral centerpiece to give to a friend for her holiday table.

Fresh flowers are a wonderful way to set your table for a holiday meal.  Since there are no longer flowers growing in our gardens, we’ll need to rely on store-bought flowers.  It’s really easy to create a bouquet for your holiday table with just a few supplies.  And you’ll be amazed at the lovely floral arrangements that you can make with just a little bit of practice.