Happy Weekend!!!!

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

Miss Ice Cube decided to join the party after all!!

Thankfully just in time as the weather took a turn this morning and all my ladies woke up with a glittery white coat and finally said goodbye..

 Baseball season ended last evening...

and

I am so proud of the Monster who has turned into quite the baseball player!

Who knew that all those years of rock throwing would morph my magical little beast into a stellar pitcher!!

BUT

Baseball fever is NOT over..

I do happen to have a house full of Red Sox fans (much to my chagrin) and the Tall One is sporting quite the beard proving his allegiance!!

Days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder..

and I am feverishly trying to wrap up a rather delicious Save the Date...

BUT

I will definitely find the time to celebrate..

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

 

 someones 5th month birthday starting tomorrow..

Time is sure flying fast my friends...

We still need to grab a bit of Fall before it disappears..

Like

Clyde's Cider Donuts

Jumping in leaf piles

Decorating pumpkins

Long walks on the beach

and

Admiring Mother Nature's last colorful hurrah before a long winter's sleep..

 

Be Safe, Pick a Pumpkin and Have a Great Weekend!!

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!!

Happy Weekend!!

Image by Parker Fitzgerald Florals by Amy Merrick

Kinfolk Magazine

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!

I know it's the month of May..

But..

Today felt a little like Christmas...

A very special package arrived on my doorstep this morning....

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

For all my followers...

You definitely know by now that I am obsessed with gardening...

Normally, I buy ALL my flowers and vegetables for planting at our local garden center...

But this year..

This year is different....

White Flower Farm is still considered local as it's based in Connecticut..

But..

It's like buying a pair of Louboutins.. 

In my case..

only for special occasions..

Ok Ok Ok...

I'll tell you what's in the box...

Only THE finest, THE most glorious and THE most beautiful dozen Dahlia tubers one has ever seen...

You see...

besides My loveliest of Ladies,

Miss Yumiko Fletcher of Hana Floral Design..

(image by Adeline and Grace)

 There are 3 other floral designers whose work I greatly admire...

Miss Amy Merrick

(obsessed with her blog)

Miss Nicolette Owen of Nicolette Camille

and

Miss Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua

 So what is it about these 4 extremely talented women that has inspired me so??

Well..

They all share the same style...

They all LOVE Dahlias...

Maybe they too wasted countless hours viewing a gazillion slides in numerous Art History classes only to be inspired by the Dutch Masters...

Perhaps...

But I have to say...

There are 3 even lovelier ladies who were creating arrangements within the same genre WAY before the previous ladies were even a thought in the universe...

The Ladies of the Big House on Island Farm...

Image by Chocolate Creative Design

I wrote a POST about them last September regarding their dedication and cultivation of the Dahlias in the garden...

But I really didn't describe to you what wonderfully talented floral designers they all are...

If one is lucky enough to walk into the Big House during the summer, you will be immediately greeted with the most divine works of art..

Dahlias, honeysuckle, dill flowers, sweet peas, berries, roses and numerous other floral & fauna meticulously gathered from the Island gently sway and dance from vintage copper and iron frogs in breathtaking pewter compotes.

They had me at hello...

I was hooked by their magical abilities...

They allowed me to watch...

To take in their secrets...

In fact...at a mere 11 months..

They allowed the Monster to have his first gardening experience..

THE planting of the Dahlia tubers in May...

Crawling through the freshly plowed garden and covered from head to toe in dirt he found joy in the empty dahlia barrel from where they overwintered...

Nervous that I had now maybe ruined my chances at learning their secrets...

Fear covered my face...

But...

Giggles emerged...

Lots of giggles....

He may not have been baptised in a church...

but he was most certainly baptised in the garden at the Island...

So now...

In just one short week...

we will be planting our own dahlias...

we will be arranging our own dutch inspired creations...

and

we will be carrying on the traditions of the Ladies of the Island..

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

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!!!!