Dale Rohman, "America's Flower Man," shows how to make unusual centerpieces out of beautiful fruits and vegetables that will taste as good as they look. Dale can create a fabulous, edible centerpiece in minutes flat. He begins by fitting a piece of wet florist's foam in the bottom of a plastic-lined basket. A handful of Spanish moss is used to hide the foam and liner. Several stems of eucalyptus, cut at an angle, are inserted randomly into the foam. The middle of the centerpiece is filled with eggplants and Granny Smith apples held in place by wooden meat skewers inserted into the foam (figure A). Bunches of red grapes tumble from the basket, their stems wired to wooden florist's picks (figure B) inserted into the foam. Showy Asiatic lilies add a touch of pink, and a light mist of cooking spray contributes a final glossy touch.
Blooming-Cactus Centerpiece Add punch to a Southwestern- or Mexican-themed dinner with a centerpiece of blooming cactus. Fill a clay pot with Spanish moss, and top it with a green cabbage. Use a toothpick to add a flower head. Or wrap Spanish moss around the end of a trio of zucchinis, stuff the moss-wrapped end in a clay pot, and insert a bloom.
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