It's easy to make one of these stunning floral arrangements for your bonfire night dinner. Florist Paula Pryke shows you how
These eye-catching floral decorations are simple to create at home. The arrangements use seasonal bouquets which are available from Waitrose shops. Although the fiery colours lend themselves to a bonfire night table, these arrangements can be adapted according to your taste and used for any occasion, or as a treat to brighten your home.
Rustic terracotta pot
12cm or 14cm terracotta pot
Plastic bag
Florist's foam, soaked in water
1 Waitrose Exotic Germini Bouquet
1 Waitrose Green Dill Bouquet
1 Waitrose Hypericum Bouquet
3 Indian ornamental corn cobs
Wire
2 small gourds
2 bamboo skewers
Line the terracotta pot with plastic and fill with florist's foam. Make sure the foam is at least 3cm above the edge of the terracotta pot and then add pieces of foliage, including the berried hypericum, all round the foam, radiating from the centre at different heights and depths.
Use the leucadendron to cover the florist's foam. Twist wires around the base of the corn cobs. Pierce the flesh of each gourd with a skewer, and push them and the corn cobs into the florist's foam. Add the pin cushion proteas and fill any gaps with the dill. Add the gerberas by holding your hand close to the foam and gently placing them into the arrangement. Top up the foam with water mixed with flower food.
Floral pepper pot
1 large red pepper (with a flat base)
Florist's foam, soaked in water
1 Waitrose Seasonal Bouquet
Cut off the top of the red pepper, remove the membrane and seeds, and fill with florist's foam. Arrange small sprigs of hard ruscus foliage and the berried hypericum around the foam and add carnations. Fill gaps with sprigs of carthamus.
Pumpkin candle
1 small pumpkin
Plastic bag or polystyrene food container
Florist's foam, soaked in water
2 bamboo skewers
Roll of floral foam tape
1 pillar candle (about 15cm x 5cm)
1 Waitrose Rose and Hypericum Bouquet
1 Waitrose Santini Chrysanthemum Bouquet
1 Waitrose Green Dill Bouquet
1 Waitrose Hypericum Bouquet
Remove the top and core from the pumpkin, making a hole about 12cm across and 8cm deep. Line with plastic or a clean food container and fill with florist's foam. Make sure the foam rises above the pumpkin by 2.5cm. Cut the bamboo skewers in half, tape them onto the end of the candle and push firmly into the
centre of the foam. Next cut the salal and berried hypericum into small sprigs about 6-8cm long and stick them into the foam, radiating from a central point. When the foam is covered, add the roses around the candle at different heights. Cut the chrysanthemums into sprigs and place around the arrangement, also at different heights. Fill any gaps with green dill and top up with water mixed with flower food.
Gourd tea lights
Several small gourds
Bag of tea lights
Using a sharp knife, cut the round top off each gourd and hollow it out to the width and depth of a tea light, so the light sits flush with the top.
Take care when using candles in a floral display. They should never be left unattended or placed where they can be knocked over easily.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in September 2001.