This spring, we’re trading in blooms for greenery, so we called in the local expert, Elle Worsham of GRACIOUS GARLANDS, to help us style our Easter Brunch table. Around Editor Leigh Ann Kalman’s backyard – newly spruced up by WITH LOVE FROM DING – we sipped ROSÉ, enjoyed treats from FLUFF MERINGUE and got a mini-masterclass on picking, caring for, styling and repurposing greenery. Spoiler alert: WORKING WITH GREENERY IS SO EASY that it leaves us more time to primp for our party. 

Picking Greenery

With a general idea of your table’s overall style, start the process by picking out your greenery. For spring, Elle loves using lush greens like NAGI + BABY EUCALYPTUS and BOXWOOD. Whether you’re creating your own or buying one from Gracious Garlands, make sure you know the length and height of your table, as well as if you want the garland to hang over the side of your table. For reference, Gracious Garland strands come in two options, 10 and 25 feet – but if you don’t want the strand to cascade over your table – a look we really do love, by the way – you can just cut the strand and use it elsewhere!

Caring for Greenery

Because we’re not known for our green thumbs, cut greenery is a lifesaver. Caring for it is foolproof (we tested it)! To keep your strands vibrant, Elle recommends spritzing with water. However, if you’re using magnolia in your table runner, don’t spray the magnolia leaf, as the water will stain leaves. Elle also recommends having the following tools on hand: floral wire, clippers, suction cups (for hanging your wreaths), and command hooks. P.S. If you’re adding florals to your garland, make sure to pick up floral tubes for your stems – you’ll fill them with water and a flower, then easily hide the tubes in your greenery to keep your florals looking fresh in warm (deathly hot?)  weather. 

Repurposing Greenery

One of the biggest pros of choosing greenery over florals is longevity. Depending on the greenery you choose, your table runner will stay vibrant anywhere from 10 days to a few weeks. But, with proper care and a little DIY-spirit, you can REPURPOSE YOUR GREENS to year-round decor. For example, take your wreaths from Christmas to Easter with a little spray paint. Or, make your PUPS A NEW COLLAR. 

Styling your Table Around Greenery

While we love the look of a single, simple strand, Elle taught us how to ELEVATE OUR GREENERY. To liven things up, she recommends using seasonal florals with a sturdy stem, which you’ll simply cut short and arrange to your liking. Bonus points if you use florals to bring out the details in your dinner and serveware. For our brunch, we used beautiful ceramics from Austin-based KARACOTTA CERAMICS and hand painted Easter eggs the Gracious Garland team DIY-ED.

Disposing Greenery

Your garland has carried you through your brunch and kept your house beautiful (and fragrant) for weeks after, now what? If you can’t repurpose your greenery, Elle suggests deconstructing the garland for recycling (the garland cannot simply go into the recycling bin as is, due to the floral wire keeping the arrangement together). Or, add the garland to your compost.