Love flowers, but dropping $50 on a designer bouquet isn't on your typical weekend agenda? There's a super affordable option at your friendly neighborhood farmers' market. With just $6.50 and a little ingenuity, you've got a flower arrangement. In just a few easy steps, those bundles of tropical ginger and heliconia found at most People's Open Markets become a showcase centerpiece. Here's how.

SUPPLIES

1. Gather items from the house

Kitchen shears or scissors, adhesive tape (good, old-fashioned Scotch tape works fine), leftover ribbons, a glass vase, marbles or colored stones from the craft store (or you can also use smooth pebbles from the yard).

2. Get items from the yard

Anything with a long stalk, such as ti leaves or a branch from a bush or tree (especially if there's an interesting shape or blossoms).

3. Get color from the farmers' market

At least two bundles of red or pink (or both) ginger, some heliconia and, if available, a mixed bouquet of other blooms. We found pink and red ginger and a small bundle of orange heliconia for $6.50 in Palolo.

WHAT TO DO

1. Prepare flowers, greenery

Rinse flowers in the sink, preferably with a spray washer. Measure several layers of flowers: I like three levels: a tall, a midlevel and a low, which comes just to the edge of the vase. Trim the bottoms under running water to the desired length. If you've safaried through the neighborhood for interesting greenery (this twisty branch was on the sidewalk after a windy day), be sure to let it dry out completely to keep bugs at bay.

2. Prepare the vase

Put stones or marbles in the bottom to help secure stalks. With dry hands, make a lattice on the top of the vase with adhesive tape by securing one long strip to one side, pinching the tape together just across the mouth of the vase, then securing the sticky side to the far side. Gently add water and flower food, if you have it, without wetting the tape.

3. Assemble

Arrange the flowers with an eye to the three levels, putting stalks through the appropriate lattice. Use greenery as a backdrop, then add creative accents, such as a twisty branch or leftover ribbons. Camouflage the tape with ribbon, since it hides mistakes. Then do what the professionals do: Spritz it with a little water on a regular basis, to keep it glossy and hydrated. This and some flower food help your arrangement last for at least a week, especially if it's in a cool spot.