Light up your home with gorgeous seasonal arrangements.
Take your inspiration from nature this autumn. Combine rosehips, sweet chestnuts and twigs with flowers and foliage from your local Waitrose, then simply add a touch of imagination
Autumn Lights
Presoak a floral foam ring (available from florists) and place in a shallow waterproof container. Put a large candle in a glass vase or bowl that will fit into the centre of the ring. Gradually encircle the candle with seasonal flowers and foliage to match your mood or your room decor, making sure all the foam is covered. We used stems of hydrangea, carnation, carthamus and spray roses.
Keep the floral foam damp by carefully topping up the water regularly.
Chinese Lanterns
Arrange a combination of twigs, rosehips and decorative Chinese lanterns in a tall simple vase for a striking design that will light up a dark corner.
It's a Gift
Make a hand-tied bouquet of hydrangeas and single bloom chrysanthemums as a special present. Hold one stem straight and add more stems, one at a time and slightly at an angle, keeping the bloom to the left and the stem to the right. Twist the bouquet one quarter of a turn each time you add a new stem to create a spiral shape. Tie the flowers together with raffia at the point you were holding them. Wrap in opulent fabric and tie with ribbons. As an alternative, combine several bunches of roses into a single bouquet using the same method.
Sweet as a Nut
Cover the sides of a plastic container with rows of sweet chestnuts (use a quick drying glue or a glue gun). When dry, paint the nuts with clear varnish. Allow to harden then plug any gaps with dry moss. Fill the container with presoaked floral foam and press autumn blooms into it, creating a dome of flower heads. We have used large bloom chrysanthemums; lily heads would look equally attractive.
This article was first published on Waitrose.com in September 2005.