TEXT AND STYLING BY ESTHER OTTENSOSER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY HUDI GREENBERGER

With the new reality in mind, I set out to create this Shavuos column. Exotic, expensive, and hard-to-find flowers were certainly “out of the picture.” I would stick to the basics — flowers that no one would have to scramble around to find, those available even at your local supermarket. Well, guess what? I had trouble even finding the “everyday” flowers I was looking for in the amounts and colors I had in mind. That’s when I realized that I had to practice what I always preach about adapting the ideas you have in mind to what’s available to you!

Flower-covered Har Sinai

YOU WILL NEED:

• Oasis foam ball (I used an 8-inch diameter sphere), cut in half
• cake plate
• flowers (I used 3 packages of the 3/$12 assorted flower bunches at my local Shoprite)
• skewer

1. Soak the Oasis foam.
2. Cut the flowers so the stems are approximately 4 inches long.
3. Center the foam on the cake plate. As you place the flowers, use a skewer to create holes for them, since the stems are too soft to pierce the foam. Start by putting one flower in the top center of the foam. Add more flowers to create a ring around the center. Form additional rings of flowers underneath, until you reach the bottom.
4. Make sure the Oasis foam is nice and hydrated before Yom Tov. A little color goes a long way! Give your flowers a vivid look with a colored vase. Colored vases are available in many shapes and styles. You can even check your local dollar stores and discount stores.

Green Ball Har Sinai

YOU WILL NEED:

• Oasis foam ball
• Cake plate
• Green Ball dianthus flowers (I used about 30)
• assorted flowers

1. Follow directions for Flower covered Har Sinai above.
2. As you surround the Oasis foam with dianthus balls, intersperse them with other flowers. (You may not need the skewer to pierce the foam.)

A little color goes a long way! Give your flowers a vivid look with a colored vase. Colored vases are available in many shapes and styles. You can even check your local dollar stores and discount stores.

Flower Cubes

Here’s an impressive centerpiece that doesn’t require too many flowers. My original plan was to use assorted color raffia with a matching Gerbera daisy in each vase, but the Gerbera daisies weren’t available at the time of the photo shoot!

YOU WILL NEED: 

• Square glass vases (you can use assorted sizes or all the same)
• String or ribbon of your choice
• Assorted flowers

1. Wrap the vases with string or raffia, as shown.
2. Fill vases with water and place the flowers inside.

Flower Centerpieces

YOU WILL NEED:

• Low square glass vase (the one I used was 10x10x4 inches, purchased at Gourmet Glatt in Lakewood)
• Oasis foam square to fit in the vase
• Waterproof Aspidistra ribbon
• 4 different kinds of flowers (I used 2 different-colored hydrangeas, mini roses, and carnations)
• Greenery to cross over the arrangement Lakewood)
• Oasis foam square to fit in the vase
• Waterproof Aspidistra ribbon
• 4 different kinds of flowers (I used 2 different-colored hydrangeas, mini roses, and carnations)
• Greenery to cross over the arrangement plate art

1. Soak Oasis foam in water.
2. Line the sides of the vase with the ribbon.
3. Place the foam into the vase. Stick the flowers into the foam.
4. Arrange the greenery over the arrangement. You can use some tape to secure it.

Tray of Flowers

Raid your closets and cabinets for trays and bowls to create interesting and creative flower arrangements. For this particular arrangement, I used one of my favorite trays, purchased from Noir Gifts in Lakewood.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Tray
• Flowers in contrasting colors (You can use a combination of carnations and mini roses)

1. Cut the stems of the flowers so the flowers can sit in the tray.
2. Pour some water into the tray, then arrange the flowers in rows.

(Originally featured in Family Table, Issue 693)