FLOWERS by ingrid and titti - Harvest Table

This time on 'FLOWERS by ingrid and titti' - the theme is Harvest Table.

My inspiration for this FLOWERS came from all the warm red, orange and yellow autumn colours that I saw at my local farmers' market and street flower sellers. I wanted to make a harvest table with a little bit of a difference. 

My pick for the day was some sunflowers - the only ones I found was yellow - even though the the burnt orange and more maroon ones are my favourite. I love the contrast between the bright yellow petals and the dark, dark brown centre - what a stunning combination. 

Next on my list was a handful of stems of Chinese lanterns - that has the tongue twister Latin name - Physalis alkekengi.

Chinese lanterns are beautiful when dried - hang them upside down - tied with a rubberband - that tightens as the stems dry out and the bunch will not fall apart. Hang them in a well ventilated, dark and dry place for a few weeks. You can then put them in a vase or container and enjoy their beauty for a long time.

The last flower/plant I choose was crabapples or Malus sylvestris as they are also called. There are many different kinds of crabapples and they come in yellow, red, light green and some are yellow and a bit orange blushed with pink - my favourite.

To decorate the table I just laid a branch straight on the table - quick and easy and I cut a few of the little apples off the bottom of the branch and scattered them around on the table - as a playful gesture.

Crabapples can be expensive to buy - but just one, two or three branches in a glass vase is very effective and stunning. If you have a tall glass vase - leave the branches as long as you can, just put a little bit of water in the bottom and leave all the apples and leaves intact at the bottom of the branches and enjoy the amazing woody stems of Malus apples through the glass vase. 

They can last for several weeks and when you are done with them the birds and squirrels will enjoy eating them in the garden. 

You can also harvest the crabapples and cook with them - you can pickle them and you can make jelly and cordial.

I also wanted to play around with other kinds of 'harvesting' or to be more precise 'collecting'. My husband has collected old classic Penguin paperbacks since 'forever' and the amazing orange colour on the spines is a perfect match with the Chinese lanterns.

Over time I have accumulated a collection of garden twines in all kinds of different colours. These brightly red and orange ones fitted right in with the Harvest Table colour scheme.

I just adore these colours - especially like on a day like today when it has incessantly been pouring with rain all day. Just looking at the colours makes me in a better mood! 

As well as putting a few stems of Chinese lanterns in a vase - I also cut off quite a few and put them in a vintage wooden bowl - adding a few green ones works well as a contrast.

Titti Malmberg - the other half of FLOWERS - is also featuring a harvest table over on her blog HWIT BLOGG - please go over to there and see what she has done.

You can see all our FLOWERS posts HERE and on Pinterest.

Have a Lovely Floral Day!

~ xoxo ~ 

Ingrid 

[Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for FLOWERS and Of Spring and Summer.]