Conversation candy hearts were first invented in 1901.

They taste terrible, you know they do, somewhere between stale candy and chalk.

But they are amazingly sentimental, and instantly conjure images of 2nd grade valentines and the sweet hearts who gave them. “CALL ME”

Here’s a charming way to use them without having to “eat” them.

After a morning trip to the grocery store I came back with a bag of candy hearts and a handful of fresh flowers. Some pink hydrangea, a dozen creamy ruffled roses with pink centers (Esperance), and a bundle of shocking pink tulips.

These are just flowers from a “regular Joe” grocery store, not even a specialty grocer like Whole Foods or Central Market. When you buy flowers there just make sure everything is tight and firm to the touch. Roses and tulips may look small, but they will more than double in size as they absorb water.

Start with 2 vases, I love the clean lines of cylinders and use them for everything from hurricanes to snack bowls…… So we have several sizes around the Cavender house.

I layer a smaller vase inside a slightly larger one. It’s not a big deal that the inner vase is a little taller because the flowers will hang over this distance.

True Cavender fans will remember when we used a big cylinder vase (actually a salad bowl) to make a similar cranberry and rose arrangement for Christmas a few years ago.

Then fill the space between the 2 vases with conversation hearts.

Fill the center vase with water (carefull not to splash water on the candy hearts or they will dissolve into a big ‘ol mess) and pink hydrangea.

BTW, these hydrangea did not start life pink, they were white hydrangea set in a bucket of red dye for a few hours by the wholesaler. Now they are blushing.

I then work in the other flowers, like the roses. I cut them to about 8 inch lengths and stripped off all their leaves. The leaves will just rot in the water.

The hydrangea are a great base for arrangements because they are dense enough to hold all the other flowers in place. I want my finished arrangement to make a nice round dome shape…the flowers should “hug” each other.

Always do the same flowers in clumps instead of “dotting” them in. They makes more of an impact in groups.

The tulips are next, making sure to cut each one at an angle for better water absorption. Tulips will continue to grow in water…..so it’s better to cut them a little short.

Look how charming this is…..

If someone I knew were having a Valentine’s day wedding, this would be their centerpieces.

This took about 20 minutes for me to make including stopping to pose for Jamie’s pictures.

Even with Valentine’s-Week-Grocery-Store-Prices it cost a fraction of what a florist would charge.

Sure, I have access to wholesale flowers. But we want to present arrangements that anyone can make. Not just professional florists.

Try this for yourselves….. use Red Hots, or Mike And Ikes, or Hot Tamales, or peppermints……any hard candy really.

We would LOVE to see pictures!!!!