A FAIRY-TALE FLORAL CANDLE CENTREPIECE

Position this on a table, indoors or out, to create a magical talking point for a late-summer celebration. Please do not leave candles unattended.

PERENNIALS 15 x spiraea foliage; 10 x Scabiosa columbaria, flowers and seed heads; 10 x Coreopsis ‘Starlight’; 50 x mixed dahlias, eg ‘Jowey Winnie’, ‘Preference’ and ‘Diana’s Memory’; 15 x roses, for example ‘A Shropshire Lad’, ‘Buff Beauty’ and ‘Chandos Beauty’ HALF-HARDY ANNUALS 7x Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’; 10 x Phlox drummondii ‘Crème Brûlée’

PLUS Moss from the lawn, or sphagnum from a reputable source

◼ Wrap your candelabra with moss, a handful at a time, winding twine over it tightly to keep it in place.

◼ Wet more moss, squeeze out any excess water then firm it into a ball.

◼ Wrap the moss ball in a compostable dog-poo bag, then cover in 25mm-gauge chicken wire, folding in the sides of the wire to hold the shape.

◼ Secure the moss ball to the top cup of a candelabra with floral wire.

◼ Cut each stem at an angle, then create an outline shape with the spirea, punching through the bag and into the moss.

◼ Fill in with the roses and dahlias, varying heights and colour. Finish with the floaty flowers.

◼ Place candles, repositioning any blooms that are a potential fire risk.

◼ This design should last three or four days in a cool room; spritz occasionally.

Brigitte’s garden is chemical free and a haven for wildlife. For her floral designs and workshops, go to mossandstone.co.uk