Painterly Peonies
Impressions of an exotic bouquet….
Late Summer Flowers...
Our garden has transitioned now into a menagerie of bright pink, yellow and orange flowers as the California sun is hot in these late summer months. Although we have fewer flowers in bloom now, the ones that last through the heat catch the eye with their bright happy hues. I thought I'd share a few examples from our end-of-summer garden.
Styling: Summer Fruit Still Life
In the heat of mid-summer, delicate flowers are replaced with hearty blooms and an abundance of fresh produce. Farmer's markets and fruit stands become loaded with lush fruits and vegetables locally grown and ripened in the valley sun.
Summer Gladioli
Gladiolus is one of the most dramatic and stunning of summer's flowers. The spear-like stalks emerge from the ground near mid-summer and often make a lovely show of color through August. In fact gladiolus, which is sometimes referred to as sword lily due to its unique shape, is August's birth flower.
Lake Tahoe in July
We just returned home from a lovely vacation to Lake Tahoe, California where the spectacular beauty of the lake, mountains and pine trees creates a rich impression of nature's grandeur. Although I wouldn't consider Tahoe a flowery place, it was wonderful to discover the last blooms of these wild lupines on the shore.
A Painted Garden...
The art of the garden is, for me, an endless subject of personal fascination. I adore visiting and touring gardens of all styles to see the work of inspiring designers. Every space is unique and seems to possess a different ambiance based on the plant choices, lighting, climate and natural topography that is a part of the environment.
Summer Decorating: Seashells and Hydrangeas
Decorating with elements of nature is one of my favorite ways to make our home feel ready for summer. Since the hydrangeas are starting to fade, I cut some and arranged them throughout the house with my seashell collection to bring in a touch of soft color and texture.
In Bloom: Angel's Parasol Hydrangea
Although I treasure each and every variety in our hydrangea garden, I find the Angel's Parasol is one of the most dazzling. It produces a unique and very delicate flower with soft tear-shaped petals.
Treasures of May: Pink Peonies
May flowers are some of the fullest and most beautiful of all the year's blooms. Although my few garden peonies were early this year, and unfortunately gone before I managed to photograph them, a stunning pink bouquet gifted by a friend captured my heart.
Cherry Brandy Rose Arrangement
The exquisite pale orange and berry hues of the Cherry Brandy Rose make it one of my favorite additions to spring and summer floral arrangements. It is a market flower, available by the bunch, and adds a lovely pop of color to softer toned blooms and foliage.
Styling: A Mother's Mementos
I was lucky to stumble upon this beautiful blush stock at the market. The soft Edwardian pink hue and intoxicating scent was irresistible and I came home with quite a large bundle.
Vernal Overture...
As the heat of early summer wafts through the morning air I find myself in the studio more often, painting and creating. The many soft and ephemeral blossoming trees and flowers that called me outdoors with my camera in the early hours of spring are now replaced by bright, hearty summer-proof blooms.
Cooking from the Garden: Fresh Pea Soup
Our spring garden is growing now and the peas I planted from seed a few months ago are ready to harvest. This is a special variety, called Peas in a Pot that does well in containers.
Sakura: Cherry Blossoms
The bright, clear light of springtime brings a soft glow to the ornamental cherry trees I see blossoming this time of year. They are the last to bloom of all the flowering trees and create a grande finale of fluffy white blossoms that turn to pink as time passes.
On My Bookshelf: The Plant Recipe Book by Baylor Chapman
Last week at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show I had the pleasure of meeting Baylor Chapman of Lila B. Design and author of The Plant Recipe Book. After attending her presentation about creating living centerpieces, she generously shared a copy of the book with me.
Roses and Redbuds: Arranging with Tree Branches
It is becoming a beautiful spring season and the redbud trees are blossoming bright. The spectacular violet pink of their flowers inspired me to create this arrangement of branches, pink jasmine from the garden and a $5 bunch of roses from our local Trader Joe's.
Shopping at The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
There are so many fantastic vendors at the San Francisco Floral and Garden Show marketplace this year! Thought I'd share just a few of my favorite stops...
The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show
The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show is a spectacular event that brings together floral and garden designers, urban homesteaders, nurseries, vendors, and other nature enthusiasts to celebrate the beauty of plants in many different contexts.
March Daffodils
Spring has sprung in California, and I am out with my camera almost every day capturing the beautiful blossoms on the trees and flowers that are popping up faster than you can imagine.
Blossoms in the Fog...
It has been an interesting mix of winter and spring lately with cold foggy mornings that later turn into beautiful sun-filled afternoons. Trees are starting to blossom and early spring flowers are beginning to appear where once there was only earth.
The Empress of Winter
The camellia, often called the Empress of Winter, is one of the few flowers that comes into bloom in the coldest and darkest part of the year. The evergreen shrub produces large showy flowers in white, red and pink hues that bring the garden alive while other plants hibernate until spring.
The Joy of Painting Botanicals…
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