Photos by Sister Moore, Atlanta, GA
Used courtesy of Becky Baxter, Baxter Designs

This mantle piece, designed by floral artist Becky Baxter, is appropriate to any season.  The Winter Holidays are the time we usually think about a mantle piece decoration.

The apples, pomegranates and brussel sprouts are  arranged in front of the caged foliage, as are the pine cones, lemons and limes.  This diversity makes a simple foliage design appear to be more complex.

Cut stems at an angle and submerge in tepid water for several hours before arranging. Wash larger leaves to remove any dust.  Fruit can be shined with a little vegetable oil on a paper towel.

Click on this thumbnail photo
to take a closer look at
the center of the arrangement.

• Place floral foam in cages and soak for 20 minutes
• Wire the cages together on the square ends.
• Protect surface beneath cages with plastic tray or plastic wrap
• Place wooden skewers into base of pineapple and center on cages.
• Place magnolia leaves behind pineapple.
• Starting at the bottom, add conditioned foliage up the sides to the center.
• Insert a 9" piece of floral wire into base of a brussel sprout and twist. Insert into foam. Repeat, spacing them evenly around.
• Arrange fruit and pine cones in front of foliage.
• Add cinnamon sticks, other dried seeds, nuts, or flowers.

Gather your tools before you begin.

• 2 OASIS^®FLORACAGE Holders
• Floral foam if reusing an empty cage
• floral wire
• wire cutters
• plastic tray or plastic wrap
• wired picks
• cocktail skewers

Pineapple, brussel sprouts, pomegranates, lemons, limes, apples, pears. pine cones,

and foliage from magnolia, holly with berries, rosemary, ivy, bay laurel, smilax, pachysandra and boxwood.

Becky makes arranging simple and fun.

Her emphasis is on Colonial Era Designs.