Red, White & Blue Centerpieces

Beautiful centerpieces are a lot like wonderful guests. They add a festive ambiance, lure the eye, and spark interesting and inspiring conversations. With the summer’s abundance of fabulous florals, fruited stems and branches, anyone can easily assemble an arrangement that's dynamic, alluring, unexpected… and it might even become the talk of the table.

Consider hosting a 4th of July gathering and set the scene with a colorful arrangement fashioned with gorgeous proteas and array of other fabulous flowers and foliage. The good old red, white and blue is a classic color combination that will never go out of style, especially if you're gathering is on the 4th of July. Take the arrangement pictured above, for instance: The patriotic color scheme is vibrant and cheerful and the basket conveys a picnic vibe which is perfect for the occasion.

One of the best ways to get inspiration for centerpieces is to look to your table settings and consider the food you plan to serve… they can all kindle great ideas. You could echo the blue in a tablecloth or incorporate the same fruit you use as a garnish on desert.

Scroll down for a little more red, white and blue inspiration.

Banksia Speciosa - Showy Banksia

As the name “Showy” suggests, this large shrub or small tree puts on quite a display with its long, chartreuse cylindrical spikes and leathery, saw-tooth leaves that fan out in a circular pattern from each flower’s base.

This stunning species is also called Green Banksia and Mint Julep due to its refreshing and revitalizing hue and Ricrac Banksia for its ridged, textural foliage.

Flowering off and on all year round, speciosa peaks June through August creating amazing natural designs to be enjoyed in both the garden and when featured in floral designs. These proteas aren’t just for pretty décor, they’re for standing out… and this showy banksia certainly does that.

Proteas Designed with a Spring-Ready Twist

In springtime proteas abound, which makes them easy to include in your everyday decor. Among the season’s most beloved proteas are pincushions and banksia with warm color palettes in lively hues of orange, yellow and green.

For this spring protea arrangement, I mixed bold, hardy Leucopsermum Flame Giant + Brandi dela Cruz and Banksia Speciosa with some roses, alstroemeria, yarrow and eucalyptus. And, for a playful touch, I added a delicate stem of foxglove. The results made for a vibrant centerpiece with a tropical-feel and put a spring-ready twist on the proteas. The sherbet color palette added a sense of softness that resonates with springtime and the new beginnings.

Materials

• Leucospermum ‘pincushion’ Flame Giant and Brandi dela Cruz 
• Banksia Speciosa 
• Orange roses 
• Purple yarrow 
• Alstroemeria 
• Foxglove 
• Eucalyptus Baby Blue 
• Eucalyptus Blue Gum 
• Round ceramic container 
• Clippers 
• Waterproof floral tape

Steps

1. Create a tape grid across the top of your vase using waterproof floral tape. 
2. Begin designing your arrangement by creating a base of the eucalyptus Blue Gum foliage. 
3. Continue to build the base by adding the Leucospermum and Banksia. 
4. Once you have a nice base and shape, insert the roses. Make sure to cut the stems at an angle to allow maximum water absorption. 
5. Next, insert the alstroemeria and yarrow stems randomly around the arrangement. 
6. Add color and a new texture with the mint green eucalyptus Baby Blue. 
7. For the final touch, use a stem of foxglove to bridge the color palette of the arrangement. Keep the stem long so that the bell-shaped flowers perch up over the arrangement.

Flowers truly feed the soul!

Anigozanthos – Kangaroo Paws

Colorful and unique, kangaroo paws are an Australian Icon which have become famed the World over! Vibrant flowers perch on long stems adding color to the garden and attracting birds. And they also make superb cut flowers!

Anigozanthos (pronounced an-ih-go-zan-thos) or more commonly known as kangaroo paws produce clusters of fuzzy tubular blossoms that do indeed resemble kangaroo toes. The size of the flowers, stem length and color vary depending on the species and cultivar. The coarse hairs growing around kangaroo paw flowers and their stems determine their eventual color. Weather also plays a role in color variation. In cooler climates, kangaroo paws will develop more intense colors. Some kangaroo paws can grow over 6 feet in height!

Because of their novel appearance, kangaroo paws are used to symbolize uniqueness and individuality.

Post-Harvest Care:

• Select well-branched stems with some of the flowers open. Flowers should display clean, vibrant color. Avoid stems with limp flowers or browning petal tips. 
• When processing, strip foliage that falls below the water line. Recut stems about ¼” at an angle (45-degrees) and hydrate them in water for about five hours before use in designs. 
• Stems can be re-cut under running water or in a bowl of clean water. Cutting under water may reduce the risk of air pockets forming at the stems’ base and allows the flowers to absorb water right away. 
• Kangaroo paws are also heavy drinkers, so good hydration is essential when processing and designing.

Strap into your pouch as we hop through some of our favorite designs where we mixed kangaroo paws with proteas and other vivid flowers.