Design
34
October | 2021
Design
34
Step-By-Step
Bountiful Bountiful Autumn Centerpiece Autumn Centerpiece
D R I E D B OTA N I CA LS A R E I D E A L—A N D H I G H LY D E S I R E D—
CO M P L E M E N TS TO F R E S H F LO W E R S FO R FA L L D E S I G N S.
Floral design by Beth O'Reilly, AIFD, CFD, TMF \ Photos by Bill Doran Company; Houston, Texas
utumn is the season of harvest, and fl ower designs for
this time of year are most appropriate and beautiful
when they characterize the bounty that Mother
Nature (and our nation's farmers) provide. Gourds and squash-
es are particular favorites of this season, lending dramatic
colorations, shapes and textures to fall arrangements.
To that end, renowned fl oral designer Beth O'Reilly, AIFD,
CFD, TMF, creates this abundant composition of fresh and
dried botanicals, all beautifully woven into an exquisite
tapestry of seasonal hues and textures. With anksgiving, in
particular, just weeks away, take inspiration from this design to
create fresh, new off erings for your customers' homes this fall.
STEP 1
PREP THE
CONTAINER.
Thoroughly soak three
bricks of natural fi ber fl oral
foam in fl ower nutrient
solution, and secure them
into a triple-brick tray with
waterproof tape.
STEP 2
PREP THE GOURDS.
Twist one end of a length of
aluminum wire with needle-
nose pliers to form a loose coil.
Leave about 5" of wire length
beyond the coil. Bend the wire
at a 90-degree angle, dip the
spiral into hot-melt (pan) glue,
and adhere the spiral to the
bottom of a gourd. Repeat this
step for as many gourds as you
wish to use.
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