Dramatic Centre Pieces

Tinted water and tropical foliage make a dramatic center piece.

-- Use liquid food coloring to tint water in ocean hues.

-- Tie bundles of foliage or grasses with waxed linen thread and place in vase or vases.

-- An oversize split-leaf philodendron leaf makes a natural table runner.

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LIVING CENTERPIECE # 2

Make a portable oasis to enjoy outdoors on your deck or patio or indoors as a centerpiece.

Tools + Materials

• terra-cotta 16-inch saucer 
• floral foam 14-inch ring
• plastic saucer 15-inch 
• water
• calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) 
• burgundy sedge (Carex spp.)
• golden sedge (Carex spp.)
• corkscrew rush (Juncus effuses ‘Spiralis’)
• hosta (diminutive variety) 
• ornamental sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)
• creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Goldilocks’)
• bronze Dutch clover (Trifolium repens ‘Atropurpurea’)
• blue star creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) 
• moss
• tabletop submersible water pump (available at crafts stores) 
• stones
• resin turtle or frog



1. Place the floral foam ring and plastic saucer in the terra-cotta saucer. Saturate the foam by pouring water into the plastic saucer and allowing the foam several minutes to absorb it. 

2. Decide on a plant arrangement, experimenting with different groupings to find one you like. This one features tall plants (calla lily, sedge, and rush) at the back of the ring, midsize plants (hosta and sorrel) on the sides, and the lowest growers (creeping Jenny, bronze Dutch clover, and blue star creeper) in front. Alternate and repeat plants to create interesting texture and rhythm. Leave about 1/2 inch between plants to maintain the foam ring’s integrity.



3. Press planting holes into the floral foam using your fingers. Remove each plant from its pot and divide it by gently pulling apart the root ball. Guide the roots of each section into a planting hole, tucking them in with a bit of the nursery plant’s potting soil.

4. Camouflage areas of exposed foam with pieces of dampened moss.


5. Set the submersible pump on the saucer inside the foam ring, placing it as far back as possible and hiding the electrical cord among the plants. Conceal the pump by piling stones on and around it. Place a few stones among the plants to give the arrangement a more natural look.
 
6. Add a realistic resin turtle, frog, or similar water-loving creature for a finishing touch.

7. Fill the saucer with water. Plug in the pump and adjust the water flow. This fountain can lose water by evaporation, so be sure to check the water level before each use.



More Centre Pieces



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portable oasis