The occasion was a friend’s surprise 60th birthday party. We were asked if we would host a dozen guests for a sit-down dinner in our home and of course we agreed. This had to a be a super special dinner and the table had to be dressed appropriately for the event. First up, an easy idea for those of you that want something fresh on the dinner table, but don’t want to hassle of “arranging” flowers….
Hit the flower markets, plant nurseries or Manila Seedling Bank in Quezon City and if you are lucky, acquire several pots of blooming amaryllis such as these ones…
…with an interesting light color and tinges of pink. This would set the tone for the rest of the flowers on the table. I wasn’t feeling too well, so I was thinking of just placing five amaryllis plants (bulb and plant and bloom) in five simple vases and using those as the centerpieces for dinner.
Carefully pull the bulb out of the potting medium (this is very easy to do) and clean up the bulb with a garden hose to remove any bits of soil or much on the bulb. You can peel back a layer of the onion like skin to expose a “cleaner” looking bulb. Keep all the roots intact as well. Then into an appropriate simple straight glass vase, add water and stick the bulb in. That’s it!
It looks really cool. The water magnifies the bulb, the flower is happy as can be, and this set up can last a couple of days or so. If you want to save the bulb, use this set up for a dinner and the next day plant the bulb back into the potting medium. Oh, and one last tip. If your blooms are crooked, just place the amaryllis outdoors when the sun is overhead (for an hour or two) and the stems seem to straighten out and “seek” the sun… making it easier to arrange them uniformly on a dinner table. It doesn’t get much easier than that… :)
23 Responses
gorgeous!
Ah , I get to post first.
As always, over the top, MM. And you make it sound so effortless. What a lucky celebrant!
Happy Birthday to your friend. I am lucky if I reach that age with bacon and eggs in the morning seven days a week and bagnet lunch on weekends. I’m sealing my fate with Lipitor. I only live once so I make the fullest of it. Move over Martha Stewart! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman. No, No. I’t’s MM with water based clear container really neat idea for table arrangements!
Great tip and real simple to do as well!
oh, wow! nice table set-up.. nice flowers..what are the smaller ones?are that roses? pardon me for being ignoramus when it comes to flowers..
I love these flowers. Just got some from The Pen flower shop. They’ve been sitting on my bedside table since Sunday. Really adds cheer to the room…btw, lovely table setting. Colours remind me of spring.
michelle, PHP140 at the garden store, I bet the Pen flower shop tacked on a healthy margin… but not to worry, they bring joy to you. sanojmd, post ont he shorter arrangements up next. Vanessa, MC Connie and Edee… yes very simple and quick to do…
Do we also get to read (and salivate) about what you served for the birthday dinner?
I love hosting dinners or chit-chat sessions with my friends – this is a great idea :)
Beautiful and elegant MM! But for those who may want to hide the bulbs, you can cover then by placing green leaves (of any kind) on the sides of the vases. It gives it a much more clean look!
I LOVE YOUR FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS. FLOWERS ARE ALWAYS A WELCOME SIGHT ON THE TABLE.THE GOOD THING ABOUT THOSE AMARYLLIS, ASIDE FOR THEIR BEAUTY, IS THAT THEY LAST LONGER FOR ANYONE TO ENJOY…
Good day, MM! I love this post. thanks for the tip and for showing how beautiful and simple things can be. You are amazing, as always!
Wonderful idea! I think I might do this for my tea party next week. Again, such a timely feature! Thanks, MM!
thanks for the idea MM! stunning as always. blessed friend to have a friend like you. toast to all of us, may we reach the ripe age of 60 amidst bacon, ensaimada and lechon!
great tip, MM…didn’t know you could straighten them up that way.
what a lovely table setting! the fresh amaryllis look beautiful in a clear vase, great idea.
nice! i’ve always admired your flower arrangements (i think that’s what led me to this blog, btw searching up lisianthus–tama po ba spelling?)
off topic, I’m just wondering who The Teen is rooting for for the next American Idol. i remember MM putting a post on last year’s show and their choice.
Hi MM,
Instead of just plain water in the vase, you could also put some water storing crystals that turn to gel and the plant can be kept alive for longer.
I’ve seen some bamboo plants displayed this way.
Maria, I guess that is possible, but the blooms only really last a few days so I would return the bulb to soil after 2 days at most… Lei, she doesn’t really like either of the finalists this year, but my bizarre guess is that Kris Allen might pull off an upset this year… And the Teen is just on the moon as her graduation present was a pair of tickets to the David Archuleta/Cooke concert tomorrow :) denise, lisianthus, that is right, and there are lots of those in the markets these days… ECC, key elements of dinner in posts ahead…
Thanks MM and family. It truly was a magnificent dinner to remember. The setting so very comfortable as always.
nice arrangements indeed ! we’ll wait for your next posts … the yummiest as always ???
nice one! may i know where did you buy those plant bulbs?