Pitcher Perfect

Pressing a pitcher into service as a vase is not a new idea, but it is one worth revisiting, especially if the vessel is large enough to hold a bountiful arrangement. Select one in simple white ironstone or stoneware that will allow vibrant garden flowers to shine. Crush a piece of chicken wire to create a flower frog and tuck it into the pitcher. Add water and then insert tall, spiky flowers, such as delphinium or foxglove. Next, incorporate lower, mounded blooms—for example, blue and white hydrangea. Finally, fill in with profusions of geranium blossoms and million bells. Position the grouping on a countertop, buffet table or porch entryway as a show-stopping focal point.