Christmas table decor: How to create a simple but elegant candle arrangement

Mark Grehan owns The Garden in Dublin’s Powerscourt Townhouse Centre. His style, as one of Ireland’s leading florists, is instantly recognisable for its combination of elegance and wildness inspired by the Georgian townhouse in which his shop is located, and by his Connemara childhood. Here he demonstrates how to create a natural but stylish candle arrangement for the centre of the table.

What you’ll need

Hydrangea, rose hips, cupressus or leylandii, hemlock conifer, ilex, holly, pine cones or similar items; chicken wire or moss; a bowl; and a candle.

Method:

1 Gather or purchase some elements from your local florist similar to the list above – condition each item by cutting the stems at an angle.

2 Use a low bowl (even an old soup bowl will do as the foliage will hide the vessel) to hold the chicken wire. Place your candle in the centre of your bowl and secure it with florist tack (similar to Blue Tack).

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3 Place your chicken wire or moss around the candle, securing it in place with tape if necessary. Fill the bowl with water.

4 You can now begin to place in your foliage starting with those pieces with the larger leaves such as cupressus and hemlock as your base.

5 Add in the other elements such as ilex, hydrangea and rose hips for a pop of colour. Hypericum berries will work too.

6 If you have any dried seed heads or other pieces from your garden or summer pots you can use these too.

7 Wire the pine cones together and place in last.

8 Every few days refill the bowl with water.

[ thegarden.ie ]