Little to No Cost Spring Decorating ~ A Southern Magnolia and Clematis Centerpiece

I've been wanting to change the centerpiece in the keeping room
and with the white clematis in bloom and plenty of southern magnolia leaves to gather,

my plan was to bring some outdoors in for this centerpiece.

There was one little problem, rain!

It's been raining and raining and according to the weather forecast it's going to continue through Friday.  I didn't want to wait that long, so with an umbrella in one hand and my pruners in the other, I headed outside.

When bringing fresh flowers and greenery in from the garden, I like to give them a little bath to remove any dirt and other "things" that may be on them.

For flowers I fill a large plastic tub with fresh, cool, water.

Holding the farthest end of the stem I submerse the flower

and begin gently lifting up and pushing down the flower,

always keeping the flower submerged.
Keeping the flower submerged for a bit encourages any "living things" to "let go," so they come out in the water rather than on my supper table. 

I do this a few times and then lift the flower out of the water.
While it is still facing down and still over the tub, I gently shake it to remove any excess water.
I then place place the stem in a container of water until I need them for placing in the arrangement.

These magnolia leaves were just cut and still wet from the rain.

For greenery like magnolia leaves, I wash them in the kitchen sink.

First, I place a stem of leaves in the sink and spray them down real good with cold water using the hand-held sprayer.

Often they need a little more than a gentle spray, so I wash them using a bit of dawn dishwashing detergent and a brush.

After washing the bottom and top sides of the leaves I give them a good rinse with cold water.

Drying the excess water off with a paper towel, I lay them on a kitchen towel to dry a little more.

For this arrangement I am using a ceramic pitcher.
I purchased this pitcher many years ago and thought it was enamel when I first saw it.

Just inside the pitcher I will place a wide-mouth Ball jar to hold the water for the magnolia leaves.  

To help keep the stems in an upright position I used a little floral tape.

I chose a small ironstone sugar dish for the clematis.

Both arrangements were placed on an ironstone platter and then I added a small birds nest.

I've been trying to spruce things up for spring with little or no cost, and so far so good.

This southern magnolia and clematis centerpiece didn't cost a thing!

Here are some other ways I've decorated for spring with little to no cost:

Spring Touches with a Colonial Farmhouse Style in the Great Room

Spring Flowers on the Southern Porch

Spring on the Vent Hood ~ Before & After's

Spring Mantel in the Keeping Room

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