A Little Greenery, a Little Sparkle, and You’re Ready for Guests! Simple Ideas for Living Large from Henington House & Gardens. The Home of Catherine and Randall Strange

Before you buy something to decorate your home for company, take a little walk around your yard. You may already have just what you need!

Look at the mantel in this photograph from our home, Henington House & Gardens. Leafy branches reach upward and spill over the edge, mingling with clear glass and crystal pieces. The lamplight brings out the sparkle, while the greenery adds softness and life.

The decorating idea is simple: bring something fresh from outside and pair it with something you already love inside.

I seldom buy cut flowers. Now, I do buy a lot of plants! But I plant them in the Henington House gardens, where I can enjoy them and use their clippings again and again and again. They bring beauty to the garden and give me something lovely to bring indoors when we’re expecting guests.

Shown here is simply nandina. I’ve found that these clippings stay fresh-looking out of water for close to two days, which makes them so easy to tuck into a display. Between the glass pieces, along the mantel, or spilling gently over an edge—a few branches can do so much!

You don’t need a garden full of flowers. Look for stems with interesting shapes—some that stand tall, others that bend or trail. Those natural curves help an arrangement feel relaxed and graceful.

Gather a few favorite vases, pitchers, or glass pieces. They don’t have to match. In this mantel display, the different heights and shapes give your eye little places to pause, while the greenery ties everything together. Those pretty things tucked away in a cabinet deserve a turn out where you and your guests can enjoy them!

To try this at home, begin with a few freshly clipped branches. Give them a gentle rinse, check for little garden visitors, and let them dry before placing them among your decorative pieces. If you’re using a vase of water, remove any leaves that would sit below the waterline.

Place your taller stems first, then add a few shorter pieces. Let a trailing branch follow its natural curve.

Step back and take a look. Turn a vase, move a stem, or leave a little more space between pieces. You don’t have to fill every opening. Part of the beauty in this photograph is being able to enjoy both the leaves and the sparkling glass.

And you don’t need a grand mantel to use this idea. A little jar of greenery beside the bathroom sink, a pitcher on the entry table, or a low arrangement where friends will gather can offer that same thoughtful welcome. Keep greenery away from flames and hot surfaces.

At our home, I want preparing for guests to be part of the pleasure. Bringing in a few branches from the yard gives me something beautiful to work with, without adding another shopping trip to the day.

Hospitality begins with making people feel welcome. These little touches say, “I’ve enjoyed getting ready for you.”

So clip a little greenery. Bring out the pretty glass. Turn on a lamp and enjoy what you’ve created.

A little beauty from your own yard can make an ordinary corner feel ready for a lovely gathering.

With joy,

Catherine Strange

Henington House & Gardens

Historic Downtown Hattiesburg, Mississippi