Holiday Gatherings Rooted in Beauty
With Thanksgiving next week and holiday festivities marked on our calendar, we’re thinking about how to enhance our gatherings with beautiful centerpieces that incorporate natural plant material from our garden. At MGD we are always mindful of the connection between indoor and outdoor living. One guideline I live by when working in my design lab (aka my home) is to continually be conscious of the view: whether inside or out, I always strive to create landscapes that provide interesting and delightful views from every angle.
When setting a table for my guests, I like to bring the view inside and make my garden work double duty for me by incorporating some of the greenery from my plants into my floral arrangements. This is a great way to bring the outside in and create a more personalized table. There’s also a sense of pride that comes from harvesting your own plants from the garden to make the table more distinctive. It’s a great conversation starter and a way to share your garden with dear friends, even if you never leave the table.
Let us inspire you…
We asked one of our colleagues to collaborate on lovely vignettes that could be used for our entry hall console, dining room table, sideboard, or living room coffee table. Rebecca Wasserman of Hydrangea Bloom Designs stepped up to the challenge.
Wasserman chose fall branches and Protea in rich burgundy tones to greet guests in her entry.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Rebecca at her own beautiful home to watch her create floral magic and even got to assist by adding some garden greenery to the arrangements.
“When designing the perfect holiday tablescape, I always like to take cues from my clients’ homes, such as textiles and color palettes. China patterns are also a great source of inspiration to complete the design in a way that feels more personal,”
— Wasserman
Here are a few of our favorite plant materials that lend themselves wonderfully to appealing compositions for decorating inside or out.
Some of the greenery we recommend using that offer double duty:
Pittosporum
One of my favorite shrubs, Variegated Pittosporum, creates a wonderful texture and backdrop in the garden, but also serves as a great filler in floral centerpieces. The rounded leaves with beautiful arched forms and variegated striations provide an understated elegance when added to a floral centerpiece or even alone as a sprig or accent to a table setting or small vase.
Photo Credit: Livelearnandexplore.com
Azalea
A sprig of Azalea adds a soft accent on the end table at the Lakeside Retreat.
Many people think of Azaleas only for their spring blooms, but the arched leaves with pointed edges also provide a beautiful texture that would brighten any tablescape.
Photo Credit: Stephen Karlisch
Eucalyptus
Whether laid flat on a table or placed upright in a vase, Eucalyptus is a wonderful addition to any table.
Eucalyptus is one of the most recognizable types of winter greenery. It is known for its minty aroma and distinct form and shape. I love to place Eucalyptus along the center of the table, as a living runner, or include the gentle leaves in vases to add an accent to a floral centerpiece for a more naturalistic look.
Photo Credit: Stephen Karlisch
Magnolia
Magnolia trees produce stunning flower blooms in summer, but even in winter, their glossy green leaves are striking. This glossiness of the foliage adds texture to a centerpiece and table and is a perfect complement to any holiday table.
Never hesitate to ask your floral designer to mix in your favorite elements from your landscape. It is a charming way to elevate your holiday gatherings and make them feel intimate and welcoming. Provide your cherished cachepots and urns, too.
Supplementing your floral centerpieces with natural elements from your own garden adds a special touch that is both meaningful and exclusively yours.
Looking for more inspiration? Follow us on Instagram or download our Guide to Creating Extraordinary Outdoor Spaces.
