Cleaning out dead stems from my garden and using them as décor in my home

It all started when I came across this post and picture on HomeTalk.

Laura from Top This and That showed how she used something from nature, spray painted it, and then used it as décor on her deck!

Any guesses as to what those stems/stick are from?

Need a hint?  (Ok, I already gave it away in the title picture, but if that wasn’t there what would you guess?)

They are dried daylily stems!  When the flowers on daylilies die, the stems turn brown and dry as well.  Every year in late summer I pluck them from the plants and usually discard them.

But not any more!!  Now I am going to be loving those dead stems as much as I love the daylily blooms!  Here was my “harvest” of dead daylily stems!

I was actually really excited to find this tip as I needed some “filler” for some flower arrangements I was making for a bridal shower.  I just used some simple silk flowers in a mason jar.  But I really needed some height and interest to the arrangement.  The daylily stems were perfect and even better FREE!

Here you can see the food table at the bridal shower I helped decorate for (not at my house).  I used 2 arrangements on the food table.

(Loved how that cake turned out too!  I browsed Pinterest for some ideas and loved the simple idea of the burlap banner on the top.)

And used another flower arrangement in the living room where all the guests gathered to watch the bride and groom-to-be open presents.

I also love just using the stems in a vase of some sort too!   I am already thinking of what I can do with these for fall

So go clean out your garden and gather some décor for your home!  (Or if you don’t have daylilies ask your neighbor, friend, or family member if you can clean out their garden for them )

What do you like to use from your garden or from your yard as décor in your home?  Would love some other ideas!  Share in the comments.

Linking up to Upcycle Monday Linky part at Rockin’ What you Got

Sometimes I link up to these wonderful parties:

Sarahndipities, Skip to my Lou, Today’s Creative Blog, How to Nest for Less, Home Stories A to Z, Apron Thrift Girl, Tools are for women too, Not just a Housewife, A bowl full of lemons, Uncommon Designs Online, Someday Crafts, No Minimalist Here,Somewhat Simple, 36th Avenue, Sew Much Ado, The Style Sisters, The Thrifty Home, Domestically Speaking, House of Hepworths, The Shabby Creek Cottage, Weekend Blogging party at Serenity Now, Home Happy Home, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors, The Girl Creative, Miss Mustard Seed, Chic on a Shoestring Decorating, Remodelaholic, The Lettered Cottage, Before and after party at Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge at Young House Love