Tropicana Rose...

Hydrangea, Protea, Aypericum, Alastroemeria are the flowers that were included in last weekends wedding. 

 Designing wedding flowers is something I never get tired of doing.  Each wedding presents a new opportunity to use some of the most interesting flowers around and many of them are grown right here in the Willamette Valley.  The roses come from Peterkort Roses.  The local roses are similar to the South American roses, but they are more delicate in nature.  The stem is lighter and  are easier to work with when putting together corsages, and smaller hand-tied bouquets.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner my focus turns to holiday designing.  The front porch is already starting to look a bit festive with stacks and stashes of organic treasures!  I'll share more of that next week!  Have a good week! 

This and that

On my exercise walk this morning that takes me around Stone Creek Golf Course, and near our farm, the frost at our feet was so pretty.  The common dandelion was sprinkled with a soft white haze and made it appear boreal!  My walking partner is an avid gardener,  we can talk on and on about what to grow, how to grow it, what to plant it in..you get the idea!  Since I had my camera with me and after our walk, I trotted around her yard for a few quick photos.  I think you will appreciate the blooms as much as I did. 

Here is a peek into Gail's backyard.  In the distance is a row of plum trees, and in front of them is a row of grapes.  The bench sits near a huge old maple tree, and in just a few days there will be leaves falling everywhere!  It's been an odd year.   The leaves have not turned and have not fallen like usual.  We are told that the winter is to be cold, and there will be snow a few times.  We'll see. 

Gail's hydrangea are blooming very late, and aren't they beautiful? 

Lime green geraniums still abound. 

Even the rose is in prime condition. 

The little Popcorn Rose is continuing to put out new flowers, but not for long.  The really cold freeze will be here any night now. 

When I returned home, about 9am, I had a little project to finish.  I was asked to provide centerpieces for a small event.  I knew what to do!  Over the past two weeks, on my walks, I have collected nuts, moss, sticks, oak balls, acorns, plums, rose hips, and anything else that I thought was interesting.  I laid them out on a newspaper, and  then walked into our woods to pick armloads of lush moss.  I put a generous clump of it on each plate, and began tucking in little plants, and all the findings from my gathering.  What you see are the fruits of my labor.  Five Nature Gardens made with intention and gratitude.  Each one is a little different in personality and flare.  Everything was free except for the plates and I got them at Goodwill. 

 When I delivered the Nature Gardens a friend ask me, "Did you make yourself one?"  I answered, "No." 
But I decided to fix that.  I now have one sitting under our assemblage, made by Artist Heidi Petersen, and if you look closely you will see Trudy, our knitted rabbit made by Master Knitter Willow.  We have a very creative family..both of them are part of it!  

Happy week to all!

If you would like to see the Nature Gardens from last year....they are available right here.

Birthday Week

Sixty years ago my life began.  I was the third child born to my parents.  I had two older brothers, Gary and Reed.  Gary was seven at the time, and here we are celebrating my birthday so many years later.  Reed is in heaven....having a good time watching! 



I loved having my family with me on this momentous day.  Not everyone could come but they were with me in their thoughts! 

 My heart is full of love for each of you!

During my "Birthday" week, I received two lovely plants from friends.  One is a large burgundy mum and the other is a mixed basket of evergreens.  I like how they look sitting on the bench my father built....sixty years ago.  The bench is reminder that if we do something..build something...do your best....because it will last! 
Thank you...dear friends and family!

Pleasant Find

While on a walk, in a new (to me) neighborhood, these HUGE crocus were growing in one yard. I had to pause and take them in. Each flower was as big as my hand!

Autumn Crocus ‘The Giant’ – Botanical name is Colchicum Speciosum ‘The Giant’

http://www.bestflowergardening.com/tag/flower-garden

Let's get outside and take in the changes that are occurring in gardens.  No matter where we live on this earth..things are growing, unfolding and showing off.  I had never seen a Giant Autumn Crocus...until this week.  How can that be?  I know...I walked down a new road. 
 

Autumn Pansy

Throughout the changing seasons, in Oregon, there is one flower that outlasts them all.  It is the pansy. They are the first to bloom in the spring and last to go after it freezes. I've planted several containers with them this week.   It doesn't take a great deal of effort to plant a few old pots with pansy's.  Will you find time to give yourself the gift of a pansy or two?  It's worth considering, don't you think?

Be sure to pinch back the fading blooms and fertilize regularly. 

   And, if you need a flower to top off a cupcake..this is the one to use!

Cupcakes With Brown Butter Frosting! 
Photo taken from www.southernliving.com . 
 Take a look and get the recipe!

Harvesting Sunflowers and Zinnias

It's time to gather the flowers and begin the process of drying, in preparation for making some very colorful wreaths. 

 

I'll be sharing the wreaths as soon as the drying is done and autumn's air has turned crisp.

These are the days that I wait for all year. Cool mornings with unfolding warmth as the day goes on.  Autumn is "my" season. I love each seasonal change we experience throughout the year, but there is something about Fall that brings me that feeling of complete satisfaction.  Maybe it's the harvest of our labor, maybe it's because I was born in this season, but whatever it is.....it is good! 

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! 

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.