To successfully add a spring floral arrangement to your tablescape, take notes from nature. Tulips and daffodils are the first bulb flowers to pop up, and hyacinth and iris typically bloom after that, so incorporating those flowers into an arrangement honors the season.

“Downtown Grand Junction does such a great job with their flower beds along Main Street. There are great colors, and I love to see what they’ve chosen to get ideas of what I can grow in my own yard and flower pots,” says Jessica Redmond, wedding and events designer at Country Elegance in Grand Junction. “On that note, check your own yard and forage. There’s a bush in my yard that has nice, light green leaves and stems that branch out nicely. Sometimes, when I want to create something for my home, I’ll cut stems from that bush, fill a vase with them and purchase individual blooms to bring color.”

Because the Western Slope features so many orchards, pink blossoms of crab apple trees blended with cream-colored daffodils or other flowers make a pleasing statement. Additionally, fresh citrus cut in half (such as lemons) or grape branches provide an aromatic peek at what’s to come during the growing season.

“Use local flower farms to keep it local, as opposed to buying flowers from a grocery store,” says Sydney Garvey, owner of Garvey’s Gardens in Grand Junction. “It keeps the eco-footprint down. Using what you have in your own garden helps not only your budget, but also your footprint. Leaning into only the flowers that are blooming in spring is key.”

When creating — or ordering — a spring floral arrangement, consider whether you want a lush, bloom-heavy look or something with more filler.

“Both are beautiful, but keep in mind that blooms are pricier than greens. So, you can f ill more space for less if you include greens — especially if you can forage from your own yard,” Garvey says. “You can still achieve that lush, full look with greenery, or consider using more filler, like baby’s breath, to help fill your vase while not having to increase the number of your blooms. You might find that while the bloom-heavy look creates more of a statement at a glance, including fewer blooms highlights the beauty of each individual flower.”

That said, she notes that adding greenery to flower arrangements seems to be going out of style, as are green table runners.

“Spring is all about the pastel colors,” she says, adding that using rumpled white cheesecloth as a table runner never goes out of fashion.

Along with tulips and daffodils, the most popular flowers are ranunculus and anemones. Ranunculus are especially in vogue for weddings because they have so many layers of petals, and anemones are interesting because they’re sun sensitive, closing up at night and re-emerging in the daytime.

Bud vases continue to be widely utilized, either with a single flower or multiple blooms. Many florists, including Country Elegance, help clients choose flowers from their cooler and provide ideas for arrangements.

“Bud vases are really DIY friendly,” Redmond says. “They keep the arrangement really low, create a nice atmosphere and typically require a smaller amount of flowers for budget friendliness.”

“The nice thing is that you can group them in various ways, depending on the size and shape of your table,” Garvey says.

Most florists adhere to the three or five rule, placing three or five bud vases down a rectangular table or grouping them in the center of a circular table.

A larger, central floral arrangement with satellite pieces on either side also looks spectacular, she noted. She recommends making a bold statement by bunching the same-color tulips down the table for a monochromatic aesthetic.

“Fewer colors make it pop a little more,” she says.

However, introducing bolder colors, perhaps in the form of red or yellow roses, into spring pastels often results in an exciting arrangement. Redmond loves incorporating blue delphinium, which comes in both vibrant and muted blues. Larkspur and Queen Anne’s lace are also wonderful wildflowers to place into an arrangement.

Some locals lean into the desert vibe that the Colorado National Monument provides, through reddish and orange tones.

“The pastels are nice, but contrasting colors stand out,” she says. “I love using purples with some orange because they make each other pop.”

When arranging flowers yourself, you can use tape, chicken wire, straws or narrow-necked vases to keep more floppy flowers, like tulips, upright. The lushness and branching stems of hydrangea can also fill space and support other flowers. Adding greenery first helps create the shape you desire. And, remember: Don’t make a table arrangement too tall so that guests can’t see one another; keep them low, or use a tall pedestal to place arrangements above eye level. Additionally, feel free to creatively utilize planters or low, shallow containers.

Overall, floral arrangements elevate any event, whether it’s a wedding or a brunch.

“As a guest, it makes you feel a bit more appreciated,” Redmond says.

Candles, fairy lights and linens also add to the intimacy of a tablescape and come in a variety of colors and styles to fit any event.

Originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Spoke+Blossom.

Create A Stunning Spring Floral Tablescape