An easy, long-lasting flower arrangment you don't need any skills to pull off

Okay, it’s not technically a “flower arrangement,” but that’s probably why it’s “easy.” I spotted this (below) over at my sister’s house the other day—a beautiful bunch of blossoming cherry branches dropped into a vase—and it really couldn’t be simpler. She says, “We buy them on the street or at the farmer’s market for $15 a stem. This time we bought three stems. They were bare initially, then got tiny, fuzzy, white, adorable blossoms, then pink flowers.” Plus, the whole show goes on for about two weeks. Because flowering trees need to be pruned in order to stay healthy, you’re even doing the earth a favor by bringing a few pieces inside.

Sunset magazine has tips for pruning branches yourself (if you have access to flowering trees or shrubs), plus instructions for helping the stems absorb moisture more readily in a vase. Visit Sunset’s web site to read the article, then click over to Apartment Therapy for more cherry blossom inspiration.






















Want more flowers? Read about irises, sensitive plants and proteas here, and check back soon for a post on cute bud vases for spring’s newest arrivals.