A Wild Late Summer Centerpiece Tutorial with Our Creative Stylist

Family dinners in the garden have become one of our favorite stay-at-home rituals this summer—and one we intend to continue through the fall. Getting creative with your table's centerpiece is a simple, satisfying project that makes even Wednesday night meals feel special. Beth Clevenstine, our creative stylist, recently put together this stunning arrangement using a mix of preserved, fresh, and potted natural elements. Read on for her inspiration and how to make your own.

Beth says, “I was inspired by the idea of creating a wild natural gradient using seasonal flowers as the base. I created this arrangement in late July; as I looked around at what was blooming, I realized the colors of nature were bursting across the spectrum! I wanted to capture that vibrancy in this centerpiece.”

What She Used
Dried Rosette Flower Bunch
Dried Yarrow Bunch
Preserved Phalaris Bunch
Fresh cut dahlias
Fresh cut cosmos
Potted sweet potato vine
Potted jasmine
Foraged flowering branches
Foraged grasses
Flexible/bendable wire

Her Process
“I started with a large rectangular Habit + Form planter, where I planted two small sweet potato vines and two green jasmine plants. I watered the soil really well because the fresh cut stems are also going into the soil, so we’ll need the water to last a few hours at least. This planting formed the foundation of the gradient.

Then, I organized the fresh and dried stems according to color with the gradient in mind. The dried and preserved stems can’t get wet or they’ll be ruined, so I attached a length of wire to the bottom of each stem. That way, I can stick the end of the wire into the planting without getting the stems wet.

With the color gradient in mind, I chose purple and red stems to go into the purple sweet potato vine, transitioned to the oranges and yellows in the green sweet potato, and finished with light blues in the jasmine. I like how the potted plants trail over the side of the container and the tall grasses add height and drama. I kept playing with the stems until the color had a nice blended-rainbow look and everything felt integrated throughout. There’s so many directions you can take with this basic idea! I’d love to update this basic idea and just have fun with using different color palettes as the seasons change. The options are endless!"

Feeling inspired? Be sure to read Beth’s tips on styling our over-the-table rod, a trough planting for summer, and trailing succulents in hanging baskets.