You know what it's like when you're setting the perfect holiday table, ready for dinner. What with all the beautiful glassware, cutlery, delicate crockery, napkins, and candles, it's already pretty full – and that's before any of the delicious food is placed in the center. As such, it's difficult to find space for a floral arrangement, too.
I always find it a shame not to have fresh flowers on a dining table, which is why I came up with this napkin micro posy idea. A really small and simple floral accent for your dining table décor ideas, which gives a gentle nod to the season.
In the latest Petals & Roots episode, I show you my tried-and-tested technique for creating a napkin micro posy. I designed this one for a Thanksgiving table, but you can make them for all kinds of seasonal themes. Here I go into more depth about how to make it and choose the ideal ingredients for yours.
What you need to create a napkin micro posy
- A selection of foliage, herbs, berries and at least one focal flower; the more seasonal you can make them the better
- Floristry scissors
- Natural jute twine, just like this, available from Amazon
- Silk or velvet ribbon; I love this autumnal ribbon shade with a rustic frayed edge from Walmart.
How to make your own napkin micro posy
The first thing you need to do is select three stems of foliage. I love using fresh herbs in my napkin micro posies, as they carry scent and link beautifully to the dining table setting.
I opted for a small sprig of eucalyptus, one of rosemary, and one of lemon thyme. Each one is approximately 6 inches in length. Arrange these in your hand, pinching the ends of the stems together to create a flat back.
You'll build the rest of your posy onto this foliage base.
For the rest of my napkin micro posy, I included hypericum berries, orange ilex berries, and chocolate cosmos.
On top of the foliage, I layered the ilex berries, and a small stem of cream hypericum berries. To elevate it with a floral pop, I added a single, delicious-smelling chocolate cosmos flower.
To secure the stems, take a small length of natural twine and tie together fairly tightly. Then cut your stems to tidy them up and make them all the same length.
Lastly, to elevate your micro posy, cover the twine with a small piece of silk or velvet ribbon, before placing on your napkins.
How you can modify this design
You can modify this design in so many different ways and make it with anything that's in season.
Always start with a foliage base. I tend to choose evergreen foliage as it looks fresher for longer. I also love to choose anything scented, so you could think about bay, sage, lemon cypress, lavender and boxwood, for instance.
You can add more flowers instead of the berries, just think about choosing small ones. If you're creating something for an Easter tablescape, for example, you could add narcissi 'tete-a-tete', grape hyacinth, snakeshead fritillaries, or aquilegia.
For the focal flower, a love a contrasting shade that will stand out on the table, and has a flat back. Good options are dahlias, cosmos, and mini sunflowers.
Napkin posy essentials
These are my go-to floristry scissors for all different kinds of arrangements. They are incredibly sharp and comfortable to use. I have had mine for more than six years and they are just as good as when they were brand new.
These rose-colored linen napkins from Anthropologie are super chic and will tone with all kinds of different tablescapes.
A velvet ribbon will never fail to elevate a floral bouquet, however small. I love this natural moss green shade, and it's rustic finish.
Petals & Roots is a weekly video series fronted by me, Rachel Bull, Head of Gardens at Homes & Gardens. Every weekend on social, I share my seasonal gardening and flower arranging expertise and advice.
