Can't afford a dozen roses? Fill out your arrangement with ultra-affordable alstroemeria!

Few fresh-cut flowers provide the same bang-for-buck as alstroemeria. They're readily available at any grocery store flower department, come in a huge variety of colours, and last an absolute eternity if you care for them properly.

That's why they're my go-to bloom for fresh-cut flower arrangements, and my secret weapon when working with roses. The arrangement above takes a high/low approach, mixing three fairly pricey roses with a bunch of ultra-affordable alstroemeria.

Because they're all the same shade of red, it's not immediately evident where one flower ends and the next begins—that's the beauty of a monochromatic arrangement!