New York flower stylist Carlos Mota has some new recipes for your summer dinner parties.
In his book, "Flowers Chic & Cheap" (Clarkson Potter, $25), Mota shows how to easily upgrade your ability to use flowers. He offers solutions (use salsa jars or teapots as vases) and stylish tips (pick a few herbs to fill out a bouquet).
The book can even help you if you prefer to pick up supermarket bouquets. Mota shows you how to take them apart and separate blooms by variety and color. Then you can create several little arrangements in small silver cups or Perrier bottles. The large photos and directions make it all look easy.
Mota, who grew up in Venezuela, has always loved flowers. He moved to New York at age 18 to work for a decorator, where one of his jobs was to go to the flower market every Monday and create a bouquet for the office.
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