Okay, now I have got a fun and creative project for you that help concentrate some of the best flavors and colors of summer, and what it is about is taking a watermelon and creating a vessel for our flower arrangement.
Now, what you want to do with this project is picked out a melon of your choice. If you have a small table obviously you want to start with a smaller melon like this. If you got a big table you may want to get one of those floppers that can build out the arrangement.
Now, you want to choose a watermelon that has no blemishes, no bruises and so forth, and what I like to do is the first thing is slice just a level place of the yellow bottom. And this is to help keep the watermelon stable so that it does not rock around on the table.
Now, the next thing you want to do is figure out what shape you want. In this case, I have created a basket by cutting the watermelon so I have a handle that you could just make a bowl or in some cases when I have done this, I have actually cut a jagged edge all the way around doing some sort of decorative edge can add a little possess to it. But in any of that, what I have done is I have carved out all of the flesh of the watermelon by just using a melon bowl scoop like this, and what you want is about a half inch of run still left so that it will contain the water.
After that, you are ready to place in a block of floral foam, just make sure that it is fully hydrated like I have done here.
Okay now let us talk about color. This is where it gets exciting for me. Look at these gorgeous zinnias that I grew out of the garden home retreat. Now, zinnias are really easy to grow. This one in particular is one of my favorites, it is called the enchantress. You can buy pack of seeds like this and you cannot believe the number of blooms you will get throughout the summer and just look at the size of it? Here is the enchantress I have cut this morning, is it not gorgeous?
Now clearly, my color theme here is pink, lavender, and short truss. Just look at this gorgeous zinnia here, this one is called envy and I chose it because it is really good match of this little striped watermelon, so by mixing in some of these green flowers with this range of pinks and lavenders it will be dynamite.
So let us get started, let us start with one of these pink ones and I am just going to cut them off. I do not want to have very long stems but I like to harvest with long stems and I just start building it out like this.
Okay and if you decide that you want to do one of these or a few things that you want to keep in mind, it is actually better out found to use a watermelon that is at a room temperature when you begin to carve it. And remember on the bottom, we cut the watermelon and it is going to live a spot, so you have to allow it for that.
This could be an effective and I think very beautiful arrangement for summer garden party and just think about it, using the best of the summer with zinnias and watermelons.
If you would like more information on this topic or any other gardening topic, just check out my website, PAllenSmith.com.
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