FRUIT &  FLOWERS  IN A TUSCAN URN

1 terra cotta urn (@8-inches high)

1 (3-inch wide x 6-inch high) Burgundy pillar candle knife

1. Line urn with plastic wrap if urn has a drain hole in bottom. Place a cube of floral foam in urn and set candle on foam in center of urn. Candle should extend about 4 inches above edge of urn. Cut pieces of floral foam to fit around candle to top edge of urn.  Make sure candle is snug with foam packed around it and trim top surface of foam so it is level with top edge of urn. Add 1/2 to 1 cup water to foam.

2. Prep flowers and fruit to be inserted into the floral foam around the candle. Cut the flower stems to 3-inch lengths. Insert rose stems into the foam around the candle.  Roses are the focal flower of arrangement and are made more dynamic when they are in grouped in clusters of the same color at points around the candle. 

3. Insert a wooden toothpick pick into the end of each kumquat. Insert kumquat picks in clustered groups into floral foam around candle.  Wrap green floral wire, around the stem of the Champagne grapes near the top of the cluster. Twist tie the wire ends together leaving a 3-inch wire tail. Insert the wire tail into the foam at 3 points around the arrangement with the grapes down hanging over the side of the urn.  Fill in the arrangement by inserting purple stattice into the foam.  Slice the lemon or lime crosswise as thin as possible; fold the round in half and fill in around the flowers and other items. It’s a great way to add bursts of color and interesting curved lines that will bring movement to the arrangement and keep the eye flowing.  Optional: insert ivy stems spilling down the sides will make a nice silhouette in low light.