Tired of Sprucing Up?

With pine boughs and poinsettias, florist Wayne Woods of the Woods Exquisite Flowers in Brentwood suggests a look that’s just as festive: gardenias and oranges floating in a large shallow bowl. “The fragrance of the two together is delicious,” he says. What’s more, this flower and fruit combination can be found growing in many local backyard gardens in December. For best results, Woods advises using a serrated knife to slice the citrus (lemons and limes may also be used) 1/4 inch thick. “If the slices are too thick, they sink; too thin, they fall apart,” he warns. At night, small candles may be floated in the arrangement for a dramatic glow.

Woods continues the theme with several fruit-filled votive candle holders. He places a glass votive cup inside a 4-inch-diameter glass bubble bowl, nestling sliced oranges between the two containers (approximately one orange per candle holder). “When the candle is lit, light glows through the orange slices and perfumes the air,” he says. Groups of these globes can decorate the buffet table or a guest bathroom.

The fireplace mantel cries out for something special, too, so Woods lines two vases, one 14 inches tall and one 16 inches tall with halved Satsuma tangerines (cut side facing out). He then adds water and tucks cymbidium orchids and green finger bananas into one vase and spiky flax, prickly pear cactus and white cattleya orchids into the other. Orchids can be ordered through a florist or substituted with home-grown ‘Iceberg’ roses or calla lilies. Whatever you do, Woods encourages trying something new: “Be inventive. If one flower or fruit is not available, experiment with something else.”