Spring is in the air!

I was intending to do a longer post tonight but I don't think that's going to happen. My 2 year old has decided to stay up late (due to a late afternoon nap) and is now happily enjoying a piece of bread as I write. As for me, I think it will be early to bed tonight, I'm tired after a busy day of helping my best friend in the garden at her new house.  What fun it was though tearing out all the overgrown branches. It is such a great time of year to be working in the garden. Time to tidy up the yard and eagerly await all that spring has to offer. A few colors have started to arrive in my garden, yellow witch hazel, pink rhododendron, and pale green hellebores!  After having a couple months with no garden flowers in the house I am excited to get snipping. And don't forget, now is the time to bring in some forsythia to force into bloom. 

My little one is finally asleep now, so time for bed fellow flowers lovers. Happy Spring!

Cream Roses with Dusty Miller

Last year I admired many floral bouquets online which used 'dusty miller', but it is something that I rarely see for purchase. I then started noticing it growing in various yards around the city. I then started getting urges to take my scissors out on dark evenings and snip from over grown plants in my neighborhood. BUT, don't worry I didn't do any trespassing. I just bought a couple plants at the garden center and planted them in pots around my yard. Problem solved. They didn't get as big as I'd hoped but maybe next year. I was able to snip a few pieces here and there and enjoy them in the house for Christmas. I just love the color of the silver leaves and not to mention the velvety feel. And paired with cream, a perfect combo I'd say.

My plan for the spring and summer is to plant as many flowers as I can in pots on my deck and over at my in-laws house (my mother-in-law has a few raised beds I can use). Usually when I purchase flowers for a job, I have two options. Local flowers (which mostly seem to be grown on the mainland) and imports (Columbia, Costa Rica etc.). But I would love to be able to offer my clients garden flowers someday for those who are more concerned about pesticides etc. My latest blog obsession and inspiration is http://floretflowers.blogspot.com/ Check it out if you want to see the life of an organic flower farmer outside of Seattle! Are you concerned with where your flowers come from and how they are grown?

Using mismatched vases

As you may have noticed there are two design principles which I love to use in my work. Repetition and symmetry. But once in awhile it's nice to spice things up! In the floral installation below I used five vases in different shapes and sizes, and all with different specimens inside. What I like about this, is that you get to enjoy each flower or green individually but they have more of an impact grouped together than if they were displayed alone.

Most people at home have a collection of mismatched vases from gifts etc. This is a good way to use them! Do a grouping in your entry or on your dining table. I find it most effective if you stick to one color. Experiment and have fun!

Massed Greenery

This is a great example of how JUST greenery can be used to make a statement. Take a peek in your garden and see if you have any interesting foliage that you can bring in, and give this a try at home.  Don't forget to always pull of any leaves that will be under the water line as it promotes the growth of bacteria. In the photo below I used Mexican Orange greenery, which I find quite beautiful because of it's glossy leaves.

In my Garden - June

Finally summer has arrived here in Victoria and the gardens are full of glorious blooms! Peonies, iris, poppies and rhododendrons to name a few. Here are a few shots from my garden....

                                                        

yellow poppy

purple iris

these yellow iris are growing out of a pond

bleeding hearts

Hellebores - Garden

This is a hellebore, and it is the first flower to bloom in my garden. I love to be able to pick flowers from my garden, knowing exactly how fresh it is and where it came from is pretty great!

Witch Hazel Branches

These witch hazel branches from my garden are looking so gorgeous right now! I love how you can see the color variations in each leaf. What are you enjoying from your garden or flower shop lately?

Autumn is here!

The cooler weather, rain and fog have all arrived here in Victoria.  Although, it was nice to have the sun shining for our first day of fall. Yes, fall has arrived which means our selection of flowers is slowly dwindling. What I do love about fall and winter is the use of branches and berries in floral design! Take a stroll through your garden and snip a few branches to bring inside. I  have been enjoying these Japanese Maple branches for a couple weeks now.