A luxe & lovely bouquet to make them merry!

WHAT’S NEW

This Christmas, top florists are elevating supermarket red roses to holiday-ready status by pairing the blooms with festive foliage. “Here, a lush bed of evergreens allows the bold red roses and berries to pop,” says florist Lisa McMullin of Lisa’s Floral Expressions in Pennsylvania. “And the shiny baubles offer a glitzy, eye-catching touch. It’s the perfect low-profile centerpiece for any holiday tabletop!”

GET THE LOOK

Fill a 6" cachepot with soaked floral foam. Cut 12 sprigs each of pine, fir and a red-berried plant (like cotoneaster) and insert into foam to create a soft, full mound. Next, cut 7 red roses to 8". Press stems into foam, spacing evenly in a circular pattern around the perimeter of the arrangement. To finish, remove caps from a few gold and red ornaments, insert a wooden skewer into each and add to foam, filling gaps.

INSIDER’S SECRET

To ensure your arrangement lasts, floral pros recommend a simple touch technique to identify the freshest roses at the supermarket. To do: Run your fingers over a few petals—the stiffer the petals, the fresher the roses are. Also smart: Try to gently bend a stem between your fingers. Older stems tend to bend or break easily, but fresher stems will feel more firm and sturdy.