Kristen Caissie’s Potted Centerpiece

In an excerpt from her new book Gathering: Setting the Natural Table, California floral designer Kristen Caissie shows us how to create a lasting centerpiece using potted plants.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] A centerpiece of potted plants on an alfresco table, nestled among rosemary in a California garden, beside a quaint white potting shed.

A lot of the work we do is with cut flowers, but for this setting I wanted to work with materials that last. Potted plants are a very easy way to decorate a tablescape, and afterward you can take the plants with you or give them as hostess gifts—they have the benefit of staying power and add a beautiful decorative touch to any table.

If you bring them home, simply put them on your patio table, where they will live permanently as decorative pieces and provide longer-lasting enjoyment than cut flower arrangements. You can also add these potted accents to table settings, adding other floral details that complement the potted arrangements.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”231631″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”231632″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

“You can evoke the garden in many ways, by moving your table outdoors, or bringing the garden to the table with the creation of potted arrangements.” — Kristen Caissie

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]Kristen’s Tips for a Potted Plant Centerpiece

I’m a big fan of texture and of the variety that’s found in meadow grasses and wild florals. For this arrangement, we incorporated grasses like lamb’s ear, Santa Barbara daisy, and yarrow. I love how they each play a part, adding sculptural shape and geometry to a landscape. I wanted to play with that idea using potted accents planted with delicate grasses and petite florals.

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Wildflowers tend to be fragile and seasonal, but when I can, I love to integrate them into tablescapes.

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I wanted the pots for this table to be modern and clean. You can always replant the florals in different types of containers, depending on your personal taste.

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There’s no focal flower in this tablescape, just the planters, which are decorative and spare.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”231697″ img_size=”500″ alignment=”center”][vc_separator border_width=”2″][vc_column_text]By Kristen Caissie of Moon Canyon, mooncanyondesign.com | Photography by Gemma and Andrew Ingalls | Location: Bodega Los Alamos, bodegalosalamos.com

Excerpt from Gathering: Setting the Natural Table by Kristen Caissie and Jessica Hundley (Rizzoli New York, 2020)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”231654″ img_size=”full” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0847863700/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0847863700&linkCode=as2&tag=flow0a7-20&linkId=b07b2ca6f9cdd208255b4c2fe3753b9e”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]