Create a Living Centerpiece: The Plant Recipe Book

What makes a recipe great? Simplicity, sophistication, and shareability. In The Plant Recipe Book, Baylor Chapman serves up 100 "recipes" for living centerpieces and tableside arrangements. She shared one exclusive design with us—just enough to inspire your own botanical creations.

This "dish" features Masdevallia orchids in a shallow ceramic bowl, but Chapman encourages improvisation: substitute ingredients with similar size and shape if needed.

Materials

• One 6-inch and three 4-inch Masdevallia orchids
• Two-toned ceramic bowl, 13 inches diameter (this one from Heath Ceramics)
• 3 cups orchid mix
• 3 feet coated wire
• One 12-inch square sheet moss

Step-by-Step Assembly

1. Build the base. With a two-tone container, both interior and exterior colors show. Mound orchid mix in the center, keeping the inner color visible. Unpot the largest orchid and place it centrally. Gently firm the mix around it.
2. Add companions. Nestle the remaining orchids around the center. They may want to flop—tamp the soil gently to keep them upright.
3. Secure and finish. Wrap coated wire around the base of the plants for support. Adjust positioning, then wrap a smooth layer of moss around the base to form a neat circle. Keep the arrangement moist and cool.

This arrangement works indoors or out—just keep it cool, out of direct sun, and mist as needed.

Baylor Chapman (pictured) is founder and principal designer of Lila B. Design in San Francisco.

Info: The Plant Recipe Book (Artisan Books) by Baylor Chapman is available online and in stores.