fall to pieces

My day job has been competing with my care job, leaving little space for anything else. I can tell my battery is really run down. In times like these I know it’s important to carve out a few moments to take a beat and see the beauty that is all around us. So last weekend I decided to take a break and go to the farmers market. I was stunned that the sweet corn was replaced with pumpkins. Where had the summer gone? As I took in the scene I choked back a few a tears, ate two buttery slices of a croissant sample and decided to buy some gourds. Fall was obviously here and it was fine time I brought some autumnal beauty into my home.

As I’ve mentioned before I’m not much of a flower arranger but I have many colleagues who are. I mercilessly beg, borrow and steal their ideas. The key for me is that all the components can be easily procured and that the arrangement can be created in less than twenty minutes. Here’s a tip- when creating an arrangement think of odd numbers and series of threes.

For my centerpiece I picked up seven lively gourds.

Next I headed to Trader Joes and bought two bunches of complimentary mums.

The perfect balance- some coleus I had growing in my courtyard.

I have a mirrored runner on my dining room table. It makes everything I put on it look exponentially better. And it’s the perfect support for my gourds.

Next I pulled out two trios of small vases, so that I could make two sets of mini arrangements to set among my gourds. Vases like these can be found at Target or a craft store.

Trim the flowers so that the petals rest just above the lip of the vase.

Make a tight bouquet of the mums.

Repeat with blooms from the second bunch.

Place a sprig of coleus in each of the remaining vases.

Here is your floral lineup.

Now nestle the vases among the gourds. This beautiful arrangement featuring all that fall has to offer is a guaranteed pick me up.