Book Club Table Setting

Lindsay Gibson (gibsonevents.com) shares her winning formula for a colorful conversation starter.

Gather: Pull together a variety of containers, both glass and metal, in different heights. "I'm always on the lookout for reasonably priced bud vases and vessels," says Lindsay.

Fill: "It's important to have flowers and foliage in an assortment of sizes and shapes," she says. Here, Lindsay combined peonies, garden roses, ferns, sweet peas, and succulents for a mix of colors and textures.

Place: Start by putting the tallest vases in the center. Surround those with shorter ones, and end with a few plants set directly on the table. Balance colors by using containers with tiny blooms and greenery first and then popping in big blossoms where needed.