On a buffet table: A bright blooming basket

“Indoor blooming planters bring so much enjoyment as they grow and change each day,” says Lisa Mason Ziegler, author of Cool Flowers. This garden-inspired basket is a good fit for buffet tables, thanks to its low, wide shape and its volume of textural blooms, she says. To get the look, line a long basket with a cut-to-fit trash bag (this creates a leakproof barrier), then drop in plastic pots of colorful hyacinths, daffodils, Scotch broom and primrose (from the supermarket or garden center), placing the tallest blooms toward the back. Tie gingham ribbon around the basket into a bow, and attach a bundle of pussy willow stems to the handle with ribbon. Give the basket bright light and turn it daily to prevent the plants from stretching toward the light. Water when soil begins to dry.