Painterly Peonies
Impressions of an exotic bouquet….
Daffodils of Spring
It is that beautiful time of year again when the daffodils spring from the ground in honor of the season to come. The garden is starting its symphony of color and our pink charm daffodils have begun to naturalize. They add a touch of seasonal splendor before Easter arrives.
A Fall Floral Treat
Amazingly, autumn has already arrived with yesterday the official first day of fall! The summer garden is now in its final phases and I am clearing out debris of a successful vegetable harvest.
Fresh Flowers Styled in a Long Wooden Bowl
Today is a beautiful winter day here in California with the sun shining through the icy cold air. I'm finally getting time to share some floral fun after a very busy last few months.
Spring Garden Floral
The early spring garden is now dressed in shades of pink and white as our cymbidium orchids, anemones and camellias take the stage. They are lovely in the landscape but also make beautiful cut flowers for arranging!
Winter Decorating with Dried Hydrangeas
The winter months are quiet as I prepare the garden for spring and await the first blooms of the season. It is always a challenge to keep the vases filled until the garden starts to produce flowers for cutting, so I often use dried or artificial flowers this time of year.
Creating a Fall Garden Floral
Our fall garden is beginning to bloom at last as we welcome October with cool weather and raindrops. It is a beautiful time of year to design arrangements from the garden, and creating a fall floral using homegrown flowers mixed with a market bouquet is an easy way to enjoy the garden indoors.
Peony Season...
Peony season is here and I'm enchanted with all the beautiful blooms! These lovely pink stems were brought to me by a friend who has grown them for years.
Styling Cymbidium Orchids
Cymbidiums have always been my favorite variety of orchids. I've been collecting them since I was in college and fell in love with a neighbor's wine barrel full of amazing blooming orchid stalks.
Black and White Anemone Arrangement
The garden is finally blooming again after the dormant days of winter and some of the first flowers to emerge this season were these black and white anemones.
Maple Sugar Misto
One of the true pleasures of autumn is waking up to cool crisp morning air and spending time in the garden. For me, morning starts with coffee, and lately I've been enjoying this simple recipe filled with robust fall flavors while planning the flower gardens.
Farmhouse Floral with Golden Sunflowers
As September approaches I am bringing warm and vivid hues into the home for early fall. Golden sunflowers, rust Peruvian lily, green hydrangeas and chamomile provide a vibrant mix of color in this rustic farmhouse floral arrangement.
Collecting Artful Floral Containers
There is something so sublime about the combination of flowers and exquisite pots or vases. It is a beautiful marriage of nature and art. Lately, I've been starting to enlarge my collection of floral pots and vases while I pass on those that no longer suit my style to others.
Dreaming of Dahlias...
It is almost dahlia season and the garden is filled with budding plants. Dahlias are my favorite late summer flower and every year I add a new variety or two just to watch them bloom and enjoy their beauty in the hot August sun.
Branches and Blooms: Star Magnolia
Star Magnolia is among the most dazzling of trees in our early spring garden. Its skeleton of branches features a profusion of stunning white flowers that brings the landscape to life.
Daffodils in Distinctive Containers
When daffodils start to emerge from the ground they bring with them thoughts of spring. After many weeks of much needed rain here in California, winter is coming to a close and flowers are beginning to bloom again.
Special Delivery
February has been a camellia-filled month so far with the garden starting to bloom and pink camellia flowers everywhere. As the buds pop open, I find myself bringing them inside to admire while planning new ways to style and display them.
A Camellia Arrangement for Valentine's Day
Camellias are blooming in abundance now and filling the garden with pink- just in time for Valentine's Day! To bring some of their lovely color indoors I created a mixed arrangement of camellias and other winter blooms.
A Twist of Lemon...
Citrus season has been beautiful this year. Even with heavy rains the lemons are fresh and robust. These Meyers were just picked and are soon to be brought inside and displayed on our kitchen table.
Floral Styling for the Holidays
Creating a festive floral arrangement can be a fun and easy way to welcome guests to your home during the holidays. This piece was designed using fresh market flowers and a few decorative embellishments packed away in a Christmas box.
Styling an Autumn Garden Floral
The colors of fall infuse the garden with a sense of the moment. Orange mums, burnt red dahlias and soft sage green hydrangeas reflect the hues of falling leaves and are simple to style and bring inside.
The Joy of Painting Botanicals…
Learn about my creative process…