Fresh FROM THE GARDEN

The trick to turning a bundle of store-bought flowers into a one-of-a-kind, personal arrangement for Mother's Day? Step into your garden and start snipping.

- by MIRANDA CROWELL

Use a flower frog to keep stems in place in a wide vessel like this one.

ONE COLOR, THREE WAYS

A foolproof way to create a mixed arrangement: Stick to a monochromatic palette, varying the shapes of the flowers you choose from the florist and garden. Here, the oversize pom-poms of alliums provide structure, lupine stems add height, and tendrils of sweet peas complete the look by delicately spilling over the edge.

A few lamb's-ear clippings fill in the holes, their silvery color playing well with the purple blooms.