Arizona does not follow the traditional decorating calendar. Fall remains warm, winter entertaining moves outdoors, spring arrives early and summer is hard on anything placed in a vase.
Nicole Newman, owner, Certified Floral Designer and lead eventscape designer of Simple Bliss Designs, has worked in the floral and events industries for more than 25 years. She founded Simple Bliss Designs in 2004, relaunched the company in 2023 and became an Arizona Master Florist the following year.
Here, Nicole breaks down what to use, how to style it and what most people get wrong.
Fall
Fall is moving past basic orange. The sharper palette is oxblood, merlot, tobacco, olive and plum, sometimes lifted with lilac or dusty blue.
In the vase
Dahlias, calla lilies, heirloom chrysanthemums, garden roses and trailing amaranthus bring depth without looking overtly seasonal. Nicole recommends choosing one hero flower instead of combining every fall bloom available.
A mass of burgundy calla lilies looks cleaner and more expensive than a mixed bouquet. The same applies to dahlias arranged in several tones of wine.
Choose smoked glass, dark ceramic or aged brass. A vase with a narrow opening supports the flowers and makes fewer stems appear fuller. Wide vessels require considerably more product to look finished.
On the table
Use oat or tobacco linen, amber glassware and antique brass. Add pears, figs, grapes or pomegranates sparingly.
Fresh fruit releases ethylene gas as it ripens, which can shorten the life of cut flowers. Add fruit shortly before guests arrive rather than leaving it inside the arrangement for several days.
Keep flowers below eye level and let candles provide the height. Several smaller arrangements also photograph better and can be moved easily when food reaches the table.
To give
Skip orange lilies, sunflowers and filler. Send one exceptional flower in abundance.
Dahlias are beautiful but have a shorter vase life. Heirloom chrysanthemums last longer and are no longer the stiff grocery-store flowers many people remember.
Winter
Winter florals are becoming richer and less literal. Burgundy, chocolate, cream and olive feel festive without relying on bright red and green.
In the vase
Amaryllis is the statement flower of the season. Its scale creates impact with only a few stems. Burgundy roses, hellebores, ranunculus, anemones and berries can be added for texture.
Amaryllis stems are hollow and can split or curl at the bottom. A tall, narrow vessel gives them support and keeps the design upright.
Magnolia leaves and olive branches offer a more refined alternative to heavy evergreen. Their contrasting leaf colors also add interest without adding more flowers.
Use antique silver, cut crystal or ribbed glass. Champagne buckets, silver bowls and collected heirloom pieces can become vessels if properly lined to protect the surface.
On the table
Pair cream or chocolate linen with crystal, antique silver and dark velvet ribbon. Tangerines or mandarins add color without making the table feel themed.
Avoid strongly scented lilies, tuberose and gardenias around food. Their fragrance can compete with the meal and wine. Use them in an entry or powder room instead.
For outdoor winter entertaining, let candlelight and the desert landscape provide the decoration. Flowers do not need to compete with a mountain view.
To give
Give an amaryllis bulb planted in a substantial vessel. It lasts longer than a cut bouquet and changes as it grows.
If sending an arrangement, invest in the container. A ceramic compote, silver bowl or handblown vase remains after the flowers are gone and makes the gift feel complete.
Spring
Spring color is becoming less sugary. Butter yellow meets lilac. Blush is interrupted by tomato red. Pale blue is grounded with leafy green.
In the vase
Ranunculus, sweet peas, tulips, poppies and snapdragons provide movement and texture. Avoid arranging them into a tight, perfectly round dome. Spring flowers look better when their natural shapes remain visible.
Tulips continue to grow after being cut and will bend toward the light. That movement is normal. Rotate the vase if they begin leaning too far in one direction instead of repeatedly forcing the stems straight.
Poppies have delicate stems and a relatively short vase life, so use them when the event matters more than longevity. Ranunculus and snapdragons offer a better balance of romance and staying power.
Choose colored glass bud vases, hand-painted ceramics or vintage pitchers. A strong vessel allows even a small number of stems to look intentional.
On the table
Break one centerpiece into several small arrangements placed down the table. Each guest gets flowers nearby, and the open space makes serving easier.
Mixing vessels works when one element repeats. Keep the color, material or flower consistent so the collection looks curated rather than random.
Potted herbs can be added among the flowers for texture and fragrance, but avoid anything too aromatic directly beside a guest’s plate.
To give
Send a collection of petite arrangements for different rooms instead of one oversized bouquet.
Sweet peas can go beside the bed, tulips in the kitchen and ranunculus in the entry. A set of bud vases makes the gift useful long after spring ends.
Summer
Arizona summer requires flowers with stamina. The biggest mistake is selecting a delicate arrangement for the photograph without considering what it will look like an hour later.
In the vase
Zinnias, gomphrena, celosia, orchids and anthuriums tolerate summer conditions better than hydrangeas, peonies and many delicate garden roses. Sculptural foliage can add scale without increasing the number of fragile blooms.
Use coral, paprika, chartreuse, cobalt or crisp white. Strong color holds its own against Arizona stone and bright desert light.
Terracotta, travertine, ceramic and thick sculptural glass suit the season. Avoid placing a clear glass vase in direct sun. The water heats quickly and shortens the life of the flowers.
Remove every leaf that would sit below the waterline. Submerged foliage encourages bacteria, often ruining an arrangement before the heat does.
On the table
Use natural linen, colorful glassware and hand-painted ceramics. Tomatoes, citrus, melons or stone fruit can replace some of the flowers and make the table feel abundant without becoming crowded.
Keep arrangements indoors or in deep shade until shortly before guests arrive. A shaded Arizona patio is still hot, and delicate blooms can lose water rapidly.
For outdoor dining, choose compact arrangements with shorter stems. They hold water more efficiently and are less vulnerable to heat and wind.
To give
Smaller is smarter during summer. Send a tightly edited arrangement of flowers chosen for longevity rather than an oversized bouquet filled with delicate varieties.
Orchids, anthuriums or a planted vessel are strong options. Always confirm that someone will be home to receive the delivery. Even the best arrangement will not survive long on an Arizona doorstep.
Grab-and-go bouquets now available at Chapin House
For special orders/events, visit simpleblissdesigns.com