Make an Easy Rose Centerpiece

Select a container that is 2 to 4 inches deep to hold and hide the upright flower stems. We used a 9-x-12-inch woven-grass box from an import store (just $10), but smaller or more slender containers are equally appropriate. Note that widths over 12 inches can be cumbersome.

You'll also need floral foam (available at crafts and floral supply stores) cut to fit the container and a clear plastic bag sized to fit the height and width of the container.

Purchase enough pink and red roses to snugly fill your container; ours held 33. Choose blooms that have wide, open heads so they conceal the foam.

Line the container with the clear plastic bag, folding excess inside the container rim. Cut foam slightly smaller than the inside of the container to allow room for the plastic bag and water (arrange multiple foam pieces to fill if needed). The top of the foam should be even with or slightly lower than the top of the container for a squared look. Soak the foam in water until it gradually sinks and stops bubbling. Be generous with soaking time; you can't soak the foam too long. Tuck soaked foam into container.

Cut rose stems short and at an angle, trimming to a length that will tuck firmly into the foam to absorb water, and allow the heads of the flowers to rest just above the foam. Fill the box with blooms in rows, inserting the stems straight down. Intersperse pink and red blooms, and arrange them tightly enough to conceal the foam and the rim of the container.

NOTE: Keeping flowers cool extends their life; consider putting them in the refrigerator at night. Check water level daily, keeping the container filled 1/3 to 1/2 full.