Tuesday Typeface....Blossom...

 Blosssom Alphsbet by Zero & Alice Mouoru

a little glitter to start your week....

Are you a Dogwood or a Daisy Lady?

Gaura Bib Necklace at Anthropologie

Gilded Gerberea Bib Necklace at Anthropologie

Tuesday Typeface...Herbarium...

Herbarium Poster by Thevy Guex at Etsy

Tuesday Typeface...Ice Flowers...

This is what my garden looks like now..

covered in ice and a blanket of fresh snow..

My Garden Alphabet created by Petra Blahova

Ladies in Waiting...

Image by the69th

We ALL have those days, weeks, months and sometimes even years when absolutely nothing goes our way...

It can literally stop you in your tracks..

and

at some point..

you might want to throw in the towel..

call it a day..

drown your sorrows in ice cream..

or

my personal favorite..

hide under the covers..

I've had 3 weeks of this..

I am partial to blame..

I come up with these crazy ideas for my clients and it's up to me to actually produce them..

Yes, failure is part of the creative process..

but..

in this particular instance..

I am thinking the universe had other plans for me..

I am not a quitter..

In fact..

I am so stubborn that

sometimes I need to just give up once in awhile...

Just ask the Tall One..

I can't help it..

It's the lioness in me..

So I choose to persevere..

I'm not saying that I didn't throw anything 

or

pull a few strands of hair out..

I just won't give up..

This morning was no exception..

rainy, blustery, damp day that it was..

got into my bones and a little voice said..

give up..

give up...

but then I walked Mr. G around the yard for our billionth time..

what did I see??

Images by Chocolate Creative Design

I saw my Ladies...

Lady Rose,

Lady Geranium,

Lady Snapdragon,

Lady Phlox,

Lady Verbena

&

Lady Impatiens

all smiling at me..

All whispering..

Don't Give Up..

Don't Give Up...

How could I not be inspired...

Mid November and THEY are persevering...

So..

I choose to..

NOT GIVE UP!!

Happy Weekend!!

Image by Helena Ljunggren

Happy Weekend Everyone!!! 

The Northeast has had a simply glorious first week of Fall..

There is absolutely nothing to complain about with temperatures reaching up into the mid 80's.

With that said..

The cutting garden is still hanging in there and is bursting with brilliant shades of pink, orange, yellow, red, purple and white..

Back in May, I spoke about a beautiful brown paper box that had just arrived from White Flower Farm containing one of my obsessions..

Dahlias!

 7 types to be a exact..

A week full of Dahlias..

So here we go folks..

the fruits of my labor...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

 I honestly can't believe that they ALL survived!!

I created a little cheat sheet for all you Dahlia lovers..

Sorbet

Gorgeous pinks that change as it blooms. Doesn't need staking. Medium in height and flower. Not a huge amount of blooms.

Karma Corona

This is the only Dahlia that wasn't the same color as in the brochure. Very Tall. Definitely needs staking. Medium in bloom size and a generous amount of blooms.

American Dawn

One of my favorites. Colors range from brilliant oranges to muted shades of pink. Large in size and bloom. Generous amount of blooms. Needs staking.

Kenora Jubilee

The largest in everything...Height, bloom size and the amount of blooms.. The blooms can get to be the size of a baby's head..

Stands tall and proud and doesn't need staking.

Thomas Edison

Very short in plant stature..Blooms droop a bit but absolutely stunning in color.

Seattle

The MOST beautiful..

Very very delicate blooms..Not as generous in the amount of blooms.

First to open.

I knew you guys were too smart for your own good...

Yes, there are only 6 Dahlias in the image above..

Lucky Number 7, Miss Ice Cube,

has been a bit shy and I am eagerly awaiting her arrival..

If she looks anything like her picture..

I know that I'll be the happiest gardener in town..

 Image by White Flower Farm

I am already planning next year's additions...

Apparently the early bird gets the tuber at White Flower Farm..

Maybe a few Cafe au Laits would do the trick..

It just goes to show you..

Take a chance, try something new...

There are truly beautiful and amazing things that await..

If only you let go of the fear

and

jump!

Be Safe, Plant a Tuber and Have a Great Weekend!!

Tuesday Typeface....Mums the Word..

I am a lucky duck that my garden is still full of Snaps, Dahlias and Zinnias..

But

since it's Fall we are just in time for Chrysanthemums!!

  Chrysanthemum Alphabet by Eleanor Reynolds

Happy Weekend!!

Image by Marie Labbancz

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Well..we are now officially in the month of May!!

Hooray!!

It is by far one of my favorite months...

Wedding season has begun...

The oaks and elms are a mass of 100 shades of green...

 while hues ranging from white to light pink to fuchsia dance on the flowering trees..

The grass is delicate and soft beneath bare feet...

The air is perfumed with the scent of lilacs, viburnums, cherry, apple and pear blossoms.

It doesn't get any better than this!

For all you May babies...

Did you know that Lily of the Valley is YOUR flower?

Well it is...

Some of the most elegant and graceful women of our time have carried Lily of the Valley as they walked down the aisle..

In the Language of Flowers, the Lily of the Valley is representative of sweetness, humility, returning happiness and trustworthiness.

,

But for me..

The Lily of the Valley has GREAT significance....

I literally cannot pass by them without thinking of my Grandmother or Mother...

My Grandmother had them planted along a secret pathway to her pool...

It was most definitely, without a doubt..a fairy pathway...

When my Grandmother passed and the house was sold...

My Mother scooped them up and replanted them at my parents house right by their pool...

When the Tall one and I purchased our antiquated farmhouse...

My Mother once again lovingly scooped some of them up and we planted them amongst the lilacs and the giant spruces..

(It would have sounded SOO much cooler if I said pool right?!) 

So as the pips begin to emerge from the new spring soil..

I think of these lovely ladies...

and immediately (no thanks to my mother)

have this song run from the top of my brain to the very tip of my tongue..

Funny how things get passed down..

Since the very first time the Monster could sing..

My Mother and my Mom in Law both taught him this little ditty...

In fact..

If you just utter the first three words "white coral bells'..

he will sing the..whole..song...

it doesn't matter where he is..

the shower, up a tree, getting off the bus, riding a bike, getting dressed or even eating..

anyplace anytime anywhere..

He just can't help it..he has to finish the song..

I just tested him this morning..

kicking a ball..waiting for the bus..

3 little words..

Bam!

It's a fun party trick and I invite anyone to try it if they see him...

So whether it's seeing those delicate coral bells or hearing their song..

we both think of our lovely mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers...

Happy Mother's Day to all you beautiful ladies...

We'll be singing your song...

Be Safe, Call Your Mother and Have a Great Mother's Day Weekend!!

Tuesday Typeface...Breath of a Baby....

Baby's Breath Alphabet by Keziah Chong

a little glitter to start your week....

So wonderfully reminiscent of my favorite jewelry designer..

Miss Miriam Haskell...

Makes me want to start gardening...NOW!

Unfurling Flower Cuff at Anthropologie

Tuesday Typeface....Flowers...

 

Flower alphabet by Anne Lee

Amarylis...To Force or Not to Force...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

Every Chistmas my parents lovingly bring us an Amaryllis plant. 

Watching it emerge every day from stalk to flower has been shear delight for the Monster and I.

Back in November, Terrain had written an AMAZING post about forced bulb wreaths using Amaryllis bulbs.

Well, apparently I tucked that post away until I realized that this is the perfect time of year to create them.

Don't toss away those lovely branch wreaths from the holidays...

Re-use them!!

All images from Terrain

It's rather simple really...

Purchase some high quality bulbs like the ones at White Flower Farm

Follow the directions on Terrain's post

and

in 4-6 weeks you'll have some blooms to chase the Winter blues away!

Happy Weekend!!!

Image found via Ruffled Blog

Photography: Jaclyn Davis

Floral: Lemon Blossom Designs

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

It's been a slow moving week in my neck of the woods as I have been battling a very persistent and rather annoying cold.
Being sick as you get older definitely is a drag...
BUT...
Thankfully the weather has been super deliciously delightful today...and Saturday seems to be the last HURRAH before we get a serious cold snap and things start to feel a little bit more like Fall.

Isn't that floral arrangement above to die for??
Thumbs up for Lemon Blossom Designs!!

Today when the Monster gets off the bus...
We shall be cutting away in our garden for the last of our blooms before the potential frost hits..
This way we can bring the last of Summer into our home as we sit snuggled up by the fire..

Be Safe, Pick some Dahlias and Have a Great Weekend!!!!

a little glitter to start your week...

I am LOVING these Sparkling Fete Bobbies from Anthropologie...

They remind me of the flowers that the Monster and I have lovingly cultivated in our garden..

Best part...

these flower bobbies will last you ALL winter long.

Images by Chocolate Creative Design

Dreams of a cutting garden.....

Image by Karen Wise

The air is getting sweet....it's time to start planning the cutting garden..

This Bouquet, created by Melarosa and found via Style Me Pretty, sends me over the moon with inspiration and goosebumps...