Don't throw those filler flowers away. Put them on display all by themselves.
They can make outstanding arrangements on their own.
A simple and elegant decor idea.
It's no secret that I love flowers.
Besides telling you that I love them on an almost weekly basis, I feature them often, both here on my site and in my home.
They're in my header, in my profile picture and on my business cards.
Around my house, they hang from the windows, over the sink, they cover the beds and my garage wall.
They're even on my family room sofa.
In fact, a vase full of bright red tulips was the inspiration for the first blog piece I ever wrote.
I spotted them on my kitchen table, when I was in a particularly low place, and realized that while things looked bad, there was always, always some bit of simple beauty to be found, if I were just willing to recognize it.
It's a lesson that's served me well in the years since.
So. I DIY and feather and fluff and create beautiful views in my home that bring me joy and make me smile.
Hence the flowers.
And while all my faux, fabric and wallpaper blooms are delightful, nothing packs more of visual eye candy punch than a bouquet of fresh.
Which is why I have them in the house all year round.
I know, they can seem like a splurge, but with so many places, like grocery stores, to grab them, they really can be very affordable.
I never pay more than $5.99 a bunch. Much less than the florist, especially when your arrangements are made mostly from flowers in your backyard.
As I've said before, that's the price of a decent box of cookies...but much better for my waistline. A very sensible swap.
Now, if you look at my vases closely you won't see any filler flowers tucked in between the roses or tulips. I prefer to simple arrangements.
Generally, just one type of flower and its own greenery.
There's something very elegant and clean about the look.
But that doesn't mean I toss the fillers. In fact, I don't think I've ever mentioned it, but I always look for bouquets with extra stuff tucked inside.
They're usually the same price as the ones without, but they come packed with extras.
Like Baby's Breath.
It's not my favorite flower and I wouldn't buy a bouquet of it alone, but I'd certainly never throw it away.
Waste not, want not, like my mom used to say.
During spring, before I start growing grass in my tiny galvanized pots - like these 2x2 inch cuties - in the kitchen window, I welcome the season with Baby's Breath in bottles.
In years past, I placed the whimsical sprigs in old soda bottles.
However, this year, thanks to my peanut butter trick, I had a bunch of clean mini milk bottles like these on the counter when the roses showed up and thought the combo might be pretty.
I wasn't wrong.
Mine are real, but you could easily use these faux Baby's Breath sprigs for the same look..especially if they were in these charming bud vase bottles.
I snipped those dainty stems down so they fit in the short vases, added water and poof...instant fabulous.
The delicate white buds in the vintage looking glass give whatever room I place them in a light, fresh feel.
And that fits my vintage home very well.
Free filler flowers.
Making me smile as big as the bright blooms they came home with.
And I think that is priceless.
How do you use filler flowers?
Ps- Can you imagine how charming these arrangements would be on a rustic wedding table?
Or an outside baby or bridal shower?
For that, of course, you'd have to buy whole bouquets...but so worth it.
Cheap and charming.
Best of both worlds.
Happy Decorating, Friends!
I'm with you, Kim--not a fan of filler flowers mixed in my bouquets but love them on their own. I have also discovered that baby's breath looks lovely dried. I often display it when fresh blooms aren't available. Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip, Cecilia! I hadn't really thought about drying, but I will say, those buds last forever in the vases. I think those little bottles have been there, looking happy for weeks! So I can see how they'd be fabulous dried!! I need to look into that process for sure. Happy Easter!
DeleteOooh - I love flowers, but never thought of using the baby breath that way. It looks so cute!
ReplyDeleteWhen my daughter got married, we made kraft paper cones and put babies breath in them, tied along the middle aisle of the church. It looked so pretty, and was an economical way to add some beauty!
That sounds so beautiful, Mari. There’s something very ethereal and elegant about those tiny white flowers…especially in a church. And the fact that it was economical is such a bonus!
DeleteHow pretty and delicate they look! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny! I think those sweet little flowers would look great in your kitchen!
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI grew baby's breath for about four summers. It is fun to create fresh cut flower arrangements with, adding a little pop of white for a delicate look. I liked to pop it into sunflower bouquets.
TIP ~ when growing it in the garden, be sure to have it mulched well, because if it rains heavy, the soil would spray up on the flowers. Sadly, I lost a bouquet of the baby's breath because of that.
I do love your sweet bottles, they make me smile.
Thanks Carla! I love those little bottles, too...and love the gardening tip. I can see how that could happen, they're so delicate. However, I never would've know how to protect them. Thank you!!
DeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful way to display baby's breath flowers!
So glad to hear from you... Happy Easter,
Judith
Thanks Judith! I love popping by your blog, I don't always have time to comment, but the view is consistently delightful! I hope you had a lovely Easter!
DeleteThe bottles look like the Starbucks Frappuccino bottles. This is a twofer. The labels are hard to remove so I will try the peanut butter trick on them.
ReplyDeleteMyrna
What a great way to upcycle those frappuccino bottles, Myrna! And I hope the peanut trick makes easy work of removing those labels, so you're ready for flowers in a jiffy!
DeleteSo pretty, Kim. We have a large bushy Gypsophila in our garden and she's my go to plant when I need some fresh flowers in a hurry. We used to have a pink one too, but I think she's been overgrown or overcrowded by some of the other plants. Me thinks, I need to do some digging or cutting back :D
ReplyDeleteOh...pink sounds delightful! I don't think I've ever seen them...I'll be on the lookout now!
DeleteI have loved Baby's Breath since high school when they were in every football season/fancy dance corsage I got. So delicate! I mostly have faux flowers out at my house. I used to buy fresh now and again, but the cat would not leave them alone, so I fell out of the habit. (:
ReplyDeleteOh, they are sweet in a corsage. Fun memories! Our cat would eat the heads off my tulips as soon as I left the house, so I get it. Kitties...
DeleteKim, such a sweet and simple arrangement and it looks so pretty with the red/white curtains as a backdrop. My mom used to grow the most beautiful flowers and I remember she always grew ones similar to baby's breath but it was called gypsophelia. That probable is not a correct spelling. She always used it as a filler in an arrangement so I guess that is why I like fillers. The grocery store bunches around here (except Trader Joe's) are usually pretty skimpy and so I fix them pretty much like I do everything, overkill!. I have greens in the garden that I use for filler. If the bunches are full enough than, I agree with you, they will shine all by themselves. Have a wonderful Easter my friend..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteYour arrangements are always perfect Judy! I don't think it's possible to do overkill with flowers!! I hope your Easter was wonderful! xo
DeleteThey are beautiful! I just about love any flower. You are inspiring me to keep more fresh flowers around our home. My mom grows some beautiful daylilies. Some were transplanted from my great-aunt's home. So glad the flowers are now blooming.
ReplyDeleteOh, we have spearmint from my grandmother's garden and hostas from my aunt. They're both gone now so it's a lovely reminder when I see those blooms in the garden!
DeleteI like baby's breath, whether on its own, or used with other flowers. I do love fresh flowers in my home and so enjoyed bouquets made from my own cutting garden in years gone by. You're fortunate, Kim, to find affordable arrangements in your grocery store. I've not yet found anything here locally under $9. And they are not attractive. I love the milk bottle vases. So simple, yet so charming. Have a lovely week! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually kind of crazy, Nancy....everything else in this state is so expensive, but for some reason, flowers are cheap at the grocery store! Nine bucks would be a hard sell for me. I try to only buy the bouquets for $5 or less, luckily I can get a vase full of tulips or roses for that price. However, nothing's better than flowers from your own garden! Hugs!
DeleteAnother filler flower that looks awesome on its own is waxflower! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThe baby's breath in your jars is perfect!
Thanks Deanna! We suddenly have forsythia blooming in they yard. I’m ready to grab a handful for my jars!
DeleteI like the way the baby's breath flowers look in those pretty vases. The flowers look so delicate and just perfect for spring.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie…and today they looked perfectly at home with the warm sun coming in the window!
DeleteLove that simple sweet look. I can't wait for the zinnias in the summer to start producing in my small garden spot. They give me wonderful bouquets for several months. xo Laura
ReplyDeleteOh zinnias are my favorite! We always grow a mess of them in the garden so I can fill the vases in my house. Unfortunately, around here they don't start blooming until August.
DeleteI do love baby's breath and Queen Anne's lace. Yes, I do like to use fillers, and I think the baby's breath in the vintage bottles = the sweetest arrangements!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Ricki! Those bottles really make the look!
DeleteKm this is so charming. Yes, I can see these beauties for a weddinhg. Simple is all that's needed at times. Love this!
ReplyDeleteSimple is awesome, Cindy! I couldn't agree more!
DeleteVery pretty! I usually have fresh flowers in my house year-round, too. I get mine at Trader Joe's...they have the best small bunches for only $3.99! They have more expensive ones too, but the $3.99 selection suits me just fine. Even better is when I can cut flowers from my own gardens in the summer - free! :-)
ReplyDeleteCan you believe I've never been to Trader Joe's for flowers? Everyone raves about them, but they're far, so I just grab them at my local market for about the same price. although when things open up more around here, it might be fun trip to take! Oh and I agree about free! When the zinnias pop up in August, I'm all over that!
DeleteHow lovely! You must smile every time you look at the windowsill.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
I do, Amalia! Right now I have a hedge full of yellow forsythias and a flowering plum tree out that same window. Doing the dishes isn’t such a chore lately!
DeleteI need to get out the old milk bottles that belonged to my husband's grandmother...flowers would look so pretty in them. I love flowers in white pitchers too...have some artificial red geraniums in one on my side porch. I don't usually like artificial but these really are pretty. Thanks for the lovely photos:)
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are to have such a collection, Cheri! What fun you must have in spring and summer with all those bottles and flowers. Oh, the possibilities!!
DeleteLove the simplicity of your arrangement! Very classic, I love that look.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cara! It's all about the simple things for me.
Delete