Flower Ideas for Baby Showers

By Julie Christensen

No matter the time of year, a baby shower calls for flowers that are light, cheery and beautiful. Forgo cutesy, cheesy decorations in favor of simple, elegant themes. Use linens and candles to bring the look together. And don’t forget take-home gifts in your planning. Small flower pots make ideal hostess gifts. One easy way to decorate is by incorporating seasonal flowers and themes into your decorating. Consider traditional symbols of fertility as you decorate.

Flowers for Spring Baby Showers

Take advantage of the many bulb-type flowers available in the spring. Hyacinths tend to be harsh and gangly in the garden, but look lovely when grouped en masse in an attractive container. Fill tiny containers with clusters of crocuses. Combine lilacs and peonies in small glass jars and mix them with votive candles. How about a Mason jar filled with daffodils for a more casual look? Fill watering cans with cascading clusters of lilacs, peonies or snowball flowers.

For an elegant look, cut crabapple or cherry branches while the trees are in bloom. Artfully arrange these simple, but lovely, branches in frosted vases or glass jars. Fill a large nest-like basket with tulips and daffodils. Don’t forget spring-blooming herbs, such as chives. A simple container filled with the pink, spiky blooms makes a beautiful display.

Since it’s a baby shower, take a cue from Mother Nature and decorate with the fertility emblem of spring — nests and eggs. Buy small wooden eggs and birds’ nests. Spread them liberally over tables. Cut grape vines or other attractive branches. Mingle these with the nests and eggs. Add candles and a few spring flowers for a finishing touch.

Flowers for Summer Baby Showers

Summer is probably the most versatile time to host a baby shower because you can plan a garden party, a barbecue, or an indoor event.  In addition to the theme of your party, you’ll also want to consider the time of day. For an evening garden shower, add lots of candles to your decorating scheme for a soft, warm glow. A morning shower usually dictates bright, fresh flowers.

Gather armfuls of hydrangeas and arrange them in white ceramic, metal or wooden containers. Hydrangeas are highly adaptable. They can be casual or formal, depending on the containers you use.

How about sunflowers for a bright, cheery effect? Sunflowers look stunning in glossy, ceramic pots. Try to find bright blue or other vividly-hued pots. If you have a cottage perennial garden, make casual arrangements from the flowers blooming there. Clematis, delphinium, bluebells or Jupiter’s beard all look charming when loosely gathered in containers.

Consider potted plants, such as small pots of nasturtiums or marigolds. Three poppies artfully arranged in a glass vase make a stunning, modern arrangement. Add a few simple white candles for a striking decorating theme.

Flowers for Fall Baby Showers

The colors of fall are naturally more muted and subdued, creating a soft decorating theme for a baby shower. Dress tables with linen or burlap. Decorate with branches of mature cotton for a unique, soft look. Tufts of creamy white cotton form on gnarled, soft brown branches. Absolutely beautiful!

Wrap sheaves of wheat with ribbon to decorate tables. Wheat, like eggs and nests, is a symbol of fertility and plenty. Buy unusual pumpkins and squash in muted greens and cream. Carve out the pumpkins and fill them with clusters of hydrangeas, chrysanthemums or a combination of flowers.

Flowers for Winter Baby Showers

Winter baby showers demand an extra dose of warmth and care. Use warm, rich fabrics and layer table linens. Light a fire to create an inviting feeling and use candles generously in your decorating theme. Force nasturtium bulbs early and fill wicker baskets with them for a cozy, casual look. Gather bundles of baby’s breath in silver pots. Fill baskets with pine cones and intermingle with bark candles. Fill a large glass container with cranberries. Arrange a few bare branches in the container.

Although you probably don’t want to embrace a full-on Christmas theme for your baby shower, you can incorporate pine boughs, lights and candles into your decorating. Or, decorate with silver, white and wedgewood blue for an elegant winter look.

Want to learn more about flower ideas for baby showers?

Baby Shower Centerpieces at Martha Stewart

Baby Shower Centerpiece Ideas from She Knows

When she’s not writing about gardening, food and canning, Julie Christensen enjoys spending time in her gardens, which includes perennials, vegetables and fruit trees. She’s written hundreds of gardening articles for the Gardening Channel, Garden Guides and San Francisco Gate, as well as several e-books.