Traditional Wedding Flowers

Pink and white flowers were the choice for the weekends traditional style wedding. Flowers filled my car as I drove north to the outdoor/indoor setting of my last wedding for the summer.

This wedding was a lot of fun to do.  The bride gave me free reign in design ideas and flower choice.  It was important to have flowers that would make the six hour trip and still be in good condition to arrange. I chose roses, asters, mums, lilies, gerbera daisies, hydrangea, baby's breath, grasses, curly willow, leather fern, ivy, and salal.

The bridesmaids bouquets were especially wedding like in the nosegay style and finished with a cone shaped holder.  I covered heavy carboard cones with pink polka dot paper and added pink organza ribbon as the finishing touch.  The flowers were arranged in an oasis holder that keeps the flowers fresh for hours and  then glued into the cone.

The brides bouquet was styled in the traditional cascade and held a dozen pink roses, bouvardia, asiatic lilies, daisy mums, salal and ivy. 

Pink organza ribbon and white tulle was tide lightly around the holder, which created a stream like flow as the wind gently blew. 

A simple cake topper of pink roses, mums and asters were placed on the cake.

Life is beautiful and even more so when there is a wedding! 

Wedding month....

..is just about over.  As I write this, my car is packed, and ready to head out first thing tomorrow morning.  Another wedding is about to unleash a fury of activity and my job is to design the flower arrangements.  I'll be arranging on-site.

Last weekends wedding was a dream come true for an amazing young bride.  She chose a beautiful country farm setting and everything fell into place!

The brides dress was white, off the shoulder and flowing.  She was beautiful carrying her bouquet of mixed calla lilies and white satin ribbon.  The bridesmaids wore teal blue t-length gowns, which set off the simple and sleek lines of the lilies. 
The country farm setting was pristine and well appointed at each turn in the path. 

Benches were placed perfectly for the guests to sit, take in the lush green lawns and flourishing flower beds. Notice..no weeds! 

I found this farm to be one of a kind with HUGE Black Walnut trees that created a sun barrier like none other.  It was pleasant and refreshing all day long.

I'll be back in a few days and ready to share more flowers from my travels. 

Have another good weekend! 

Sky

In the early evening the sky showed signs of change. Wisps of clouds began rolling across our view and turned into ribbons of color. 

 Neither of these sky-scape pictures have been altered.  They were as they appear and nearly impossible to not notice! 

Almighty splendor....is something that can be seen! 

More from the garden...on the run.

Hydrangeas don't like the heat or direct sun.  We are experiencing our hottest days this summer, so I decided to cut the flowers, and bring them into the house.  If all goes well they will dry in the vases and we can have them for months.  Next Spring we are moving our shade garden into the shade! :)

Early in spring I planted Mesclun lettuce in a barrel.  When it got hot the plants bolted and I pinched the bolted part off.  The bottom leaves were still attractive so I left them.  Today I walked out to water and look at this flower the lettuce produced!  It is beautiful and blue, blue, blue! The flower only lasts one day.

We had planned to cut the Chocolate mint back this week but there was a flurry of activity going on.  Honey Bees were hard at work gathering the nectar from the mint flowers.  Cutting back the mass of mint was out of the question.  Buzz away little bees!

Pineapple mint has a similar flowering habit as other mints, but it is a hardier flower.  It also draws insects to its scent, and makes an attractive addition to the garden.

Ahhh...scented Geraniums are one of my favorite plants.  They have stiff, wonderfully scented leaves and a small delicate blossom.  This plant gets used in most of my wedding work.  It smells of lemon and roses.

Queen Anne's Lace is everywhere around Oregon and it is especially so this year.  We have seen entire fields of it and none was planted on purpose.  

  A ladybug and a bee have lighted on this lacy face.  Many people treat it as a weed, but it is pretty enough to use in formal flower arrangements. 

Here is another Queen Anne's Lace but growing in a different area.  Its color is quite different. 

I couldn't pass up this sunflower.  It's almost spent but still holds its own.  

Taking a little time to appreciate these everyday caches... is like honey to the bee.

Days go by....

and almost overnight the garden pops with color.   

We like to bring Sunflower's inside...while they last!

The sunflowers came up on their own this year.  No seed from the farm store was needed.  This is a true gift from last years planting!!

Bachelor Buttons .....

and

Zinnias galore! 

The next three weeks are busy here at our place.  Two weddings, grand kids, and more.  I'll be in and out!  I hope each of you are enjoying the bounty of summer and looking closely at what is around you! 

Number three: Nosegays and good times with friends!

I picked a couple of armloads of  flowers (yesterday) from the garden and  took them to a friends house to share a few tips on making nosegays.  This particular nosegay is made by forming a cone with attractive paper. (Scrapbook paper works well) Cut out a circle in the desired size, cut the circle in half and form the cone. Tape.
 A small ribbon is glued around the circumference of the cone to finish the edge. (See pictures below)

A water tube is used to keep the flowers fresh for days.
Fill tube with water and  flowers. Slip the tube into the paper cone. 

A ribbon handle can be added  by punching a whole on either side of the cone and tide off.  It can then be hung on a door, tree or twig.  Another option, without the ribbon, is to place it in a clear jar or vase. 

Didn't the ladies do a fine job?  Each person went home with a sweet nosegay!

Number two: Hydrangea Bowl

Hydrangea are at their prime right now.  It is the perfect time to use a single head to design an artistic display of this abundant flower.  This kind of arrangement is very simple to accomplish.  All it takes is a round bowl, water, leaves and flowers.  This particular design has one hydrangea head, three hosta leaves, three daisy blooms and another lovely perennial that grows in our shade garden.  I don't know its name but maybe you do?

Put about one inch of fresh water in the bowl, lay the larger leaves around the circumference of the bowl, and allow a window of space to see in.  Next, lay the hydrangea in the center and place the remaining flowers around it.  Make sure all the stems are in water.  Add fresh water daily and you will have a week of enjoyment from these few flowers!