Thanksgiving is all about the food, which is why using in-season fruit and vegetables in your focal point is a simple and vibrant way to illustrate the harvest concept. Design a collection that fits your table setting, for the holiday or the overarching season, with these simple steps from flower designer Kory Garvis of Springvale Floral.
Think of Your Personal Style
When planning your centerpiece, consider 3 main elements: size, color, and general visual, which Garvis states all depends upon your vision. “For size, consider where it is going, and if it will be among numerous other meals or the focal point on a table,” she states. “For color, think through what you’re planning to serve as well as the servingware you will be using– do you like a contrast, or do you choose to keep to a soft color style?”
These aspects can also be identified by your own taste and holiday décor: “Choose an aesthetic to match your individual style and home,” states Garvis. “Are you more contemporary and minimalist or classic and conventional?”
Select Your Ingredients
Select a mix of autumn produce in a variety of shapes and colors when looking for vegetables and fruits to fill your harvest centerpiece with.
Fruits
From red-and-green apples and purple plums to golden quince and jewel-toned figs, fruit will supply all the motivation you need to start. Pick underripe servings of juicy fruits to extend your centerpiece’s life. Garvis likes pomegranates: “They’re so full and vibrant. Considering that they’re only available for a brief part of the year they draw an air of fond memories for a lot of people that apples don’t offer,” she says.
Vegetables
Sculptural leafy greens, variegated gourds, bright pumpkins, rainbow chard, and worlds of radishes and turnips offer seasonal textures and tones that contrast with fragile fruits. For vegetables, Garvis recommends leaning into one vegetable in specific: “Squash– with all the various types and shapes and colors, these add a fun aspect to the tablescape,” she says. “Bonus: If you cut from the farm and keep the vine connected, you have an included component that will be amazing in your final product.”
Build Your Centerpiece
Once you have collected your vegetables and fruits, it’s time to use them to create something lovely. Garvis advises utilizing color to make lines in your arrangements, which will produce a circulation for your eye line and causes intrigue. “I would develop clusters of your chosen fruits and vegetables down the length of the table to develop a full harvest visual,” she states.
Start Early
Put your centerpiece together the day before the party, which will leave yourself time to repair anything that doesn’t work. “To keep it fresh, keep it out of direct sun and heat, and mist the vegetables and fruits with lemon water– as you would apple pieces– to keep them from browning,” states Garvis.
Think about Structure
As you put your focal point together, Garvis says a huge thing to think about is weight and balance. “Fruit and veggies can be much heavier than florals, so you will have to have a durable base to support the weight of, state, pomegranates or squash,” she says. Using thick gauge floral wire to secure fruits or vegetables to the base of a plan adds stability, however a more casual arrangement works with the festive atmosphere, too.
