It's getting down to the wire for Thanksgiving. Side dishes have been chosen, the turkey has been bought, and the wine rack is well stocked. Luckily for all of us florally challenged, Jill Rizzo and Alethea Harampolis of San Francisco's Studio Choo are rounding out this holiday by adding the life of the party — literally — with flowers, foraged branches, and maybe a persimmon or two in tow.

After sitting in on one of their in studio classes, an epiphany struck me. No longer will I need to rely on colorful corn and miniature pumpkins to decorate my Thanksgiving table. With a few helpful tips from these pros, not only will I too be able to arrange flowers (almost) like an expert, but I also have discovered how to let the flowers be my guides and allow my arrangements to grow wild.

More: Ingredients of a Perfectly Wild Bouquet A sturdy base is key. Five seconds into this class the loose grasp I thought I had on the basics of flower arranging is swiftly swatted away. The base layer is the framework for the rest of the arrangement — it's not just cheap filler.

Consider how the leafy foliage will add an additional decorative layer to the arrangement to complement the flowers. Grab 6-10 strong stems to be used for the base of your arrangement, with 2 especially bushy pieces. If you’re a beginner like me, a solid base will make the rest of your arranging job much easier. Measure twice cut once. Before you start randomly stabbing stems into your vessel, gauge and test out how you would like individual stems in your base layer to lie in the vase. Use their natural forms as guides for placing in the vase.

If using a narrower cylindrical vase, the stems can be about 2-3 times the height of the vase, otherwise opt for an arrangement about 1 1/2 times the vase height. Place the bushiest pieces in first, with a clean and leafless stem below the waterline. Build your foundation. Take the first two base layer plants, make an X with their stems and place them in the vase, as Rizzo demonstrates with a scented geranium and chokecherry stem. Carefully work around the edge, placing stems in a similar manner by crossing the stems — almost like you are constructing a nest.


See more great bouquet ingredients Keep in mind where you plan on using this arrangement. A bouquet for a mantel will be more spreading and linear while a table centerpiece will need to be more rounded and interesting on all sides. When you’ve finished, the base should be sturdy and able to withstand the prodding and poking of the flower stems you are going to put in later. Add primary flowers. The largest and sturdiest flowers that you have chosen for your primary focal flowers will go next. Rizzo begins with a spectacular ‘Coral Charm' peony stem. Continue to let the plants do the work for you by influencing the overall form and shape of the arrangement.

You can keep it low and compact or really angle the stems out for a large arching arrangement. Choose around 3 focal flowers and scatter or cluster them in the arrangement. Keep the arrangement interesting by selecting plants that bloom at different angles and different heights — perfect uniformity is not something you should feel like you need to strive for. Add some surprising accents. Incorporate beautiful succulents and even seasonal fruits into your arrangement to really highlight the overall autumnal mood. Using wooden skewers carefully dipped in floral glue, gently stab the fruit or succulent, careful not to puncture all the way through, and add the skewer to your growing centerpiece — again following the crisscross pattern of the stems. For continuity and flow, Rizzo suggests grouping similarly colored flowers within the arrangement. Add to your heart’s content, pausing every so often to admire your work, always keeping in mind the crisscross pattern of your stems and orientation of your arrangement.

Here, chokecherries and 'Coral Charm' peonies create a luscious cluster of pinks and reds ... ... which segues into golden hues of Heuchera 'Peach Melba' and skewered persimmons. Finish off with bits and pieces. There are no real prescribed rules for your beautifully untamed seasonal centerpiece. Finish up by adding the supporting flowers and more delicate grasses and vines you may have picked out from the market or even from your own yard. Do a final check. Once you believe you have a successful arrangement or run out of plant material, do a final check for stems that may not be securely placed or need another trim. Then place the arrangement and enjoy. Care for your flowers. Stick to the following tips to ensure your arrangement survives long enough for you to thoroughly enjoy and for your friends and family to compliment your mad floral arranging skills.

• Cut flowers are thirsty. Keep the vessel as full of water as possible and be sure to change the water and clean the vessel often. Bacteria buildup in old water is a sure way to kill the arrangement faster.
• Keep the arrangement out of direct sunlight and away from ripening fruit, which gives off ethylene gas. Both will cause the flowers to open more quickly and result in a shorter lifespan.

"The best advice we can give when making arrangements is to just try it," adds Jill. "The most common thing we hear in class is 'I am not sure it will look right...' So put it in there and try it! It can always be taken out. We are constantly playing around with different materials and color combinations — that is what keeps things interesting!”