Brighten Up Your Summer with Florals

Summer is here, which means it's time for outdoor gatherings galore! Florals are always a great choice to complement decor (or add a little extra oomph if all out decorating isn't your thing) at parties, but they needn't be complicated nor pricey. This time of year it is easy to find naturally bright, tropical or classic flowers at the grocery store, and when it comes to presentation, a little creativity is all you need to wow your guests. In fact, take a look around your kitchen or home and you can find a number of ways to reuse items that already exist there.

Take, for example, a pineapple—it makes a perfect summer vase! Here's how you can create this arrangement with total ease:

First, choose your flowers. You can visit a local florist, a grocery store, or cut some fresh flowers from your own garden or a nearby meadow! My local grocery store offers constantly changing 3/$12 bunches of flowers. I chose a mixture of bright, complementary colors and varying textures and sizes. I was able to pickup a large pineapple at the same time. I also clipped some greenery in my backyard for some accent pieces.

Once your supplies are in order, start by cutting off the top of the pineapple. Use a corer to cut out the center of the pineapple (and have a snack!), leaving the skin intact but with a nice hollowed out space in the middle. Line the pineapple to help keep it fresh and add water and plant food/preservative.

Set aside the smaller stems to use as filler.

Now it's time to start your design! Cut your flowers under running water at a 45-degree angle to allow them to better drink the water. In this arrangement, the stems were shortened significantly, but if you're not sure of your overall look or height, it's better to start off long and gradually go shorter—after all, you can't add length! Strip any foliage that would be covered by the water to help prevent bacteria growth.

Add the largest flowers first, working in a circle for balance, and then add what will be the next focal flower type. In this arrangement, I used three of each for the two main focal types. For flowers with multiple stems, like both of my complementary varieties, pull off the lower stems and set them aside to tuck into small gaps.

You may have extra flowers, and that is OK! If you are making multiple centerpieces, use the extras for the next, or make a smaller accent piece if you don't have enough for a full bouquet. Once you are happy with the way your arrangement looks, do one last inspection. Finally, find your pineapple paradise bouquet the perfect place for your personal enjoyment or as the life of the party!