Using Recycled Items in Floral Arrangements

The Green movement has become very popular in our consumer culture. It is now easy to find items in stores that were made from something previously discarded. Dishes that were once plastic water bottles, toothbrushes made from yogurt cups, picture frames made from wine corks, and more can be found in home stores and online at eco-friendly retailers. But what about flowers? While giving fresh flowers and expressing emotion with floral gifts is not really part of the green movement, it is possible to find unusual items for bouquet accents that might otherwise end up in the landfill.

Some beautiful containers have been spotted on the covers and pages of home decorating magazines. Where can you find that beautiful blue glass bud vase? Try the liquor aisle of your grocery store! Wine and sake bottles are coming out in fun shapes, muted colors, with eye-catching labels and frosted glass. Check out the sake section for some modern black or cloudy white glass. Once you and your guests have consumed the beverage, clean the bottle, remove any tattered label, and add some simple, pretty flower stems. A bottle can fit in a small corner on a bookshelf or accent a fireplace mantle. Spray-painting the bottle or wrapping it with cord will make a truly unique container.

Brides are always looking for something different and special to add to their bouquets. Lace is nice, bling has been done, ribbon is standard for tying around the bridal bouquet. But if you look at the recent hot trend of “Green Weddings”, you will find lots of upcycled items in the decor. Mason jars for canning make beautiful vases for garden flowers. They can also be made into hanging lanterns or votive candle holders. Burlap, associated with sacks of rice, coffee beans, and sandbags, has recently been used in some weddings as a decorative bouquet wrap. Very textural burlap fabric looks rustic, modern, and festive. Take an old coffee bean sack, cut it, letting the edges be raw, and wrap the burlap around fresh, colorful wedding flowers. Crisp newspaper print makes another fun bouquet wrap, and is a nice touch if the bride and groom are avid readers.

Flowers at a holiday party can add color, life, and a finishing touch to the tables. If you are on a budget but want a fun flower holder for a winter themed event, just go on a hunt through the back of your closet for old sweaters. Knitwear with heavy cable patterns, or colorful nordic sweaters with reindeer or trees are the best. Cut the sleeves off and place them over glass cylinder vases or jars. Extend the sleeves as high as the container will allow. Trim the yarn edges if necessary. Use your “sweater vase” to display tall amaryllis flowers, evergreen branches, holly, or white lilies.

If your child outgrows her rain boots, considering saving them for spring flowers. Rubber rain boots in bright colors will look adorable with bright spring tulips, daffodils, and hyacinth bursting out of them. Place some rocks in the toe area for weight, add a simple jar of water, and your spring rain floral arrangement will be a hit.

If you haven’t switched your lightbulbs to the energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, you can still participate in the green movement. Recycle your incandescent bulbs into flower vases. Use needle-nose pliers and gloves to safely remove the contact at the base and the wires inside the bulb. Tie monofilament or aluminum wire around the metal base, hang upside-down and use as pretty hanging bud vases. There are several upscale retail shops that sell hanging vases; these are free once your bulbs burn out!

There are many other ways you can add recycled items to your floral decor. Before you throw something out, look at it and think about how you can possibly use it in a floral display. You may start another green decorating trend!


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