I’m not a gardener. I’m what you would call indoorsy.
So once things are planted outside, it usually doesn’t occur to me to actually go out there and bring them in.
But over the winter I found this pin on Pinterest and decided to try and recreate it for a book club gathering at my house.
I already had this set of three vases and some floating candles like these, which I use all the time.
Twigs in clear vases with water and floating candles. Nothing could be simpler.
I’m sure any neighbors who saw me outside with pruning sheers in February thought I had lost it at last. But I actually loved the result.
I love the seasons, including the starkness of winter, so its simplicity was pretty to me.
Last month I decided to try my hand at forcing branches. I clipped some off of a honeysuckle bush (I think it’s a honeysuckle bush…someone correct me if I’m wrong) but they didn’t bloom. The leaves just dried up and fell off.
I liked the green while it lasted though.
Honeysuckle clippings. I think?
This week I decided to clip a couple of branches off of this dogwood tree (at least I think it’s Dogwood…told ya I’m not a gardener).
Is it a Dogwood?
This time the buds had already bloomed but have opened up even more over the past few days. So pretty and simple. I love them.
Bringing a little Spring inside.
And they’re lasting a lot longer than the $6.99 bunch of tulips I bought at the grocery store.
$7 tulips.
Free clippings from just outside my front door.
Do you like to garden? How do you decorate with nature?
Note: This post contains my referral links. See my disclosure policy for more details. This post is part of the William Morris Project, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Finer Things Friday, and From Pinterest to Real Life.
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
This is such a GREAT idea!!! I LOVE it! I think your twigs look better than the tulips!
LOVE the candle and twigs idea..what a great way to celebrate the *darker* months!
!
I loved the idea when I saw it too, Sharon. So, so easy.
Love the candle and twigs – so simple, but really pretty. As for the flowers, some of my favorites are when we snip branches from the flowing cherry tree above our deck and bring them inside. They don’t last too long, but they are beautiful for a while.
Sometimes the simple things (like bringing in flowers or branches from the yard) are all it takes to brighten up a house and take over the piles. 
Carrie, I agree. And sometimes things are so simple that they don’t even occur to me until I see them somewhere else.
These look reat Julie, very creative. Indoorsy – classic!
I keep meaning to go clip some branches, and I never do! Yours look beautiful!
Melissa, I hear you. You wouldn’t believe how long I thought about going out and clipping branches before I actually did it.
Love your blog!
Can’t wait to read more! 
Erin
Thank you, Erin. I’m so happy to have you as a reader.
Great idea! Pinterest is so inspiring, hey
?
Absolutely! What did we do before we had it?
So precious! I, too, never think to bring blooms inside. My cats would try to eat them if I did, though.
LOL Leilani…no cats here.
Indoorsy? Just the adjective to describe my people!
I like your people!
Very nice! I don’t have a lot of spring flowers, some, but not many. I have a huge bunch of Dahlias though, that last July through October that I bring in all the time. And to work. And more to give to co-workers. The more I cut the faster they grow back. It’s a great problem to have in the summer.
Wonderful COM! The more you give them away, the more they grow. I love that.
I love the sticks in water. Genius!
We have a purple plumb tree in our back yard that always blooms on my sister’s birthday. So I usually cut some sprigs off and give it to her with her present. They are so pretty.
I’m also a fan of the uncarved Halloween pumpkin that can double as Thanksgiving decor if you keep it long enough. It’s the ultimate lazy-person’s decoration.
Pumpkins do seem to last forever, don’t they? I’m 100% in favor of lazy person decorating. And your sister is a lucky girl to have that tree bloom on her birthday.
I think I’d love to garden, but living in the city there’s no outdoor space to do it. I’m hoping to sneak a couple of pots of herbs up on our roof this summer.
Let us know how it goes, Kari. Which herbs will you plant? I’m planning a potted herb garden for the summer myself.
Quick tip for making the tulips last longer: they like cold, so trim the ends & put ice water in the vase. Should add a few days to their ‘shelf life’.
Thanks for the tip, Bridget. I’ll try that next time.
Can ou tell me how you prevented the branches from floating?
I would use a bit of hot glue.
Kristen, I didn’t have any problems with floating that I remember. If I did, the candles on top kept the branches down.
I am making these for my wedding. I have all the supplies and tried them out. They look great aside from the fact that the branches keep floating! Any ideas about the best way to prevent this from happening? I had a few ideas but all seemed a little too time intensive. My hope was to find a low maintenance solution!
Hi Mandy, I didn’t seem to have any trouble with the branches floating. Have you tried them with the candles on top of them? That seemed to keep them down for me. Otherwise, the commenter above recommended a little bit of hot glue.
Good luck and best wishes!
This is so cute! I love the way it looks!!
did the branches.. they did float.. disappointed me… kept trying to push them down.. went ahead and lit them.. Thought maybe water would eventually weigh them down.. But didnt.. will work on it again tomarrow..
Love it! Guess I’ll be sneaking into my neighbor’s yard to steal some twigs and flowers to create this inexpensive, creative design! haha
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