Horizontal Bouquet by Nicolette Owen

Low, lush, and loose, this cascade of harvest hues—featuring peach-toned amaryllis, arcing autumn branches, and a riot of ranunculus, mums, and roses—is celebratory, special, and just the right shape for dining. Explains floral designer Nicolette Owen: "Branches and stems that splay out to form a 'valley' in the center are really inviting on a table. Guests can look down into the arrangement and enjoy its depths, as opposed to having a big pyramid in front of them that blocks the view." In an oblong vessel (this one is about 12 inches wide and 6 inches deep), a bouquet is more two-sided than round—a great trick for a better fit on a rectangular table (get the how-tos).