DIY // a rustic centerpiece to celebrate figs & the end of summer

I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I’ve been noticing that end-of-summer feeling more and more. Our mornings are cooler and the produce has definitely changed at the market. For one, figs are everywhere and I am definitely not mad about it. I adore fig season, so I asked Sarah from The Stemmery to incorporate them into a rustic centerpiece for my next dinner party. She suggested really letting the rich color of the figs pop by using only ivory-white flowers and I thought it was genius. Without further ado, let’s learn how Sarah assembled this gorgeous, rustic centerpiece!

Dahlias. There are hundreds of varieties of all colors and I love them. As we were planning for this arrangement, I knew I had to use dahlias. When Joanna showed me her galvanized utility basket I would use, I immediately started planning. The rustic quality of the metal was a perfect vessel for an all-white centerpiece. When I went to the flower market I picked out about 35 dahlias in as many varieties as I could find, but all in the same ivory-white hue. I also grabbed a bunch of Queen Anne’s lace (you guys already know, I can’t resist it) and, after seeing the place settings Joanna planned to use for the table this arrangement would go on, I also decided to get a bunch of chocolate cosmos to compliment colors in the plates and to give a the tiniest pop of color amidst all the white flowers. Joanna picked up several baskets of figs from the market that we also incorporated into the arrangement.

A Rustic Centerpiece With Figs & Dahlias

Flowers

• white dahlias
• Queen Anne’s lace
• chocolate cosmos

Tools

• clear florist tape
• floral shears
• galvanized utility basket (lots of options below!)
• small glass jars that fit in the basket

To prep, we got six small glass jars and placed two pieces of florist tape across five of them forming a cross. This helps the flowers stay in place a bit better. The jars filled two rows of three in the container and we turned the one without tape upside down in the middle front (you’ll find out why in a bit!). Next I started adding dahlias. I cut the stems different lengths and staggered them to create a lush perimeter of dahlias, while also leaving a gap, of course, where the overturned jar was. Next, I added clusters of figs. I covered the whole area where the overturned jar was with figs to create the appearance that the whole container was full of figs and flowers. I then filled in the rest of the empty space with more dahlias, finishing things off with a few wispy stems of Queen Anne’s lace and smattering of cosmos.

This arrangement is easy to recreate and you can change up the colors to go with your dinner theme or party! Remember to always cut your Queen Anne’s lace fresh before placing in an arrangement and, if it starts drooping, just recut it under running water, place it back in your arrangement and it will perk back up. Keep your water topped up and as long as your arrangement isn’t sitting in direct sunlight or in the heat (flowers LOVE a/c) you should be able to enjoy it for several days!

Our galvanized caddy came from Terrain, but it appears to be sold out. Here are a few more options that would work well:

Also, if you’re local to Seattle, you’ll love this: The Stemmery is partnering with another Seattle business, Chess Bakery, to offer Bouquets + Baguettes in the month of September. You can pre-order now for just one week or subscribe for the whole month here. Delivery on Mondays to Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland and Mercer Island.

photography by Meghan Klein.

DIY by The Stemmery for Jojotastic. Get more DIYs here!