We all love fresh-cut flowers. Apart from their natural beauty, there’s something that’s stirred in our minds and in our memories when we see a bouquet of flowers. Whether or not you’re a romantic, flowers remind us of timeless objects of beauty–a lush English garden, a field of wildflowers, a wedding, a colorful market stall, etc. However, unless you’re cutting them from your garden, flowers can cost a precious penny, and depending on where you live and what time of year it is, they can also carry a relatively large carbon footprint.
In my home, we used to buy fresh-cut flowers each week. Tulips in the spring. Sunflowers and gerbera daisies throughout the summer. Lilies in the winter. But now, with the exception of special occasions, we simply cut branches and weeds from our garden or from the sides of the roads and paths we walk on, and place them in vases around the home. We also use low bowls and platters with fruits and vegetables to decorate our long dining table. A vase can obstruct our view of one another, and there’s something beautiful about the simplicity of a bowl of lemons or a platter of plums sitting on the dining table. I think it works best to display one kind of fruit–all in one color. For example, bright green Granny Smith apples, or deep purple plums on a platter make for a pretty and artistic centerpiece. I bought a few pale, chalk-green gourds at a farmers market several weeks ago. The color is gorgeous and just three make a striking centerpiece. What’s more, they have lasted for more than 2 months!
So the next time you’re in your garden or out and about for a stroll or run, take a closer look at the flora around you, and consider what might be just the thing for your dining table, kitchen island or mantlepiece.
Here are some examples of (un)floral arrangements.
Eat Well, Be Well, Live Well 
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