Cauldron Floral Arrangement

Savor the changing seasons with late summer blooms nestled in a cauldron

The season turns a corner in August with crisper air, late summer crops, and crunchy footsteps on the dying grass. I am a disciple of the seasons enchanted by the changing colors and savoring the dwindling blooms. I am not a pink-o-ween girlie, but this year, I planted a palette of pink zinnias and amaranth flowers to match a new wallpaper installed in the farmhaunts hallway. Zinnias, especially, are a great intro to cut flowers - easy, prolific, long-lasting. Using a Halloween themed container like a cauldron is a fun way to hint at the upcoming holiday without going full spooky-scary-skeletons during the remaining days of summer. I love combining beautiful, natural elements with dark, spooky details. I dare you to try a glass skull, pumpkin or beaker to Halloween-ify your next cut flowers.

Materials:

cauldron container

chicken wire

flowers (for this project I used ‘Polar Bear’ zinnia, ‘Vintage Wedding’ zinnia, and ‘Coral Fountain’ amaranth)

greenery (for this project I used false indigo stems and dusty miller)

clippers or scissors

water

Step 1: gather flowers and greenery

Notes:

cur flowers in early morning or late afternoon

choose blooms with long, sturdy stems

cut flowers in the right stage (zinnias, for example, should be fully opened)

decide on a color palette (monochromatic hues are an easy way to get started when you’re not sure what works together)

Step 2: prepare work station and fill container 2/3 full with water

Notes:

separate out flowers into containers by color and style to make working easier

place flowers in warm water after cutting to help them take in more water

store flowers in a cool place if not ready to use right away

Step 3: wearing gloves, cut a section of chicken wire and wedge it in the container to serve as a framework for the flowers

Notes:

if using a small container, skip this step

if chicken wire is unavailable, use clear tape to create a grid over the top of the container to support the flowers

Step 4: remove extra leaves from the bottom of all floral stems to prevent decay in the water

Notes:

cut the stems with a sharp knife or clippers for cleaner cuts to allow stems to continue absorbing water

Step 5: start by adding some greenery and the largest, sturdiest blooms (aka focal flowers) to the container to make a supporting framework

Notes:

it’s ok for it to look silly at first!

rotate the container to see the various angles throughout the process

trim the stems as needed to get the right length with some shorter and some longer

Step 6: fill in blank areas with additional small sprigs of greenery and smaller, delicate flowers (aka filler flowers) to hide the wire and ensure tiny flowers are visible

Notes:

keep adding and trimming until the cauldron is bubbling over with flowers

Step 7: fiddle with it until you like it and enjoy!

Notes:

flower lifespans will vary but zinnias and amaranth generally last a week

change out water every couple of days to assist with longevity