Rose Notes

Happy New Year!

Walk on the earth as if you were on holy land. ~John Muir

Ringing in the New Year

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end. ~Seneca

I love this little fairy ring– it circled a white rose bouquet I made last December. I'm not up to my blogging best yet-- so I'm letting my archives do the visuals. This came from my first blog-- the one that got me ready for this one.

The Other Christmas Tree

It started with the beaded snowflake, and a few silver balls. I wanted the tree to be simple for our new aqua room. Who am I kidding? Once the silver balls were in place along came . . .I don't love the tree's final look and thought that rather than show it to you, I'd get lost in a bokeh boogie. Not fair you say? O.K. Here are before and after shots (minus the finishing touch of ornaments in the pot). And here's what the same little topiary fir looked like last year. We've had this tree for four years now–– I think it's time for planting.

And this obsessed Chrsitmas tree decorator/photographer needs to chill.

Bonus Bouquet (Roses)

Christmas was just around the corner, so the wishful rose arranger, thought she'd make a centerpiece bouquet with a dash of glitz. Who wouldn't want this on their holiday table? 

The lone sweet pea in the garden got top billing, but the bouquet looked pretty hot from all sides. Why you wonder? Well, the flower arranger had gorgeous components, and didn't have to harvest a single stem.

Leftovers

Some of you might remember that big bouquet I did for the choral event. The next morning I got the whole thing back kerplunked into a five-gallon bucket. Loads of good stuff for a "Christmas in November" rose bouquet.

The fake mercury glass pot needed a liner– thank you yogurt container.

For You Photogs

Rose kisses !

Christmas Paint Box

Christmas . . . is not an eternal event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carries in one's heart.~  Freya Stark

Commenters, you were so cute yesterday. Everyone seemed to want the metal Christmas tree I posted. You must know I would have told you where it was from, if I could have. I got it at Smith and Hawken, and I'm sorry to say, they are no longer in business. I searched for Heirloom Ornament Tree, and could only find it on EBAY. It's a good buy though, as originally, it was about twice as much.

What's with the Picture?

I guess it was about four years ago that I treated myself to the Container Store's ornament storage boxes. Of course, they are different now, so I can't supply a link. I was ecstatic to group the baubles by color, and take pictures. I took a zillion– I promise this is the only one I'll show you. By now, in years past, I'd have made the rounds to my favorite ornament suppliers, but this year, since I spend umpteen hours creating these posts, I haven't purchased a single ornament!

PS Our trees are never decorated the same, so I need lots of ornaments. I forgot that I was originally going to title this post Cheap Thrills. In the best sense of the words though. For me, the color and sparkle of glass ornaments are almost as good as real jewels.

Ornament Hanger

A few years ago, all excited, my sister, Judy, told me she bought a small metal Christmas tree. My response, "Oh . . . ummmmm . . . oh nice."

Then last year at a Christmas party, fickle me saw the very tree, and immediately wanted one. When I saw it for half price at the end of the season, I snapped it up and put it in the garage, until yesterday.

My glitzy renditions of nature's bounty had a perfect new home.

It usually takes me forever to decorate a tree. This one was so fun and I love seeing light and space around the little sparkly beauties.

A few quick snaps found me entranced with the photo ops– it was more fun than dodging branches and lights.

Not a great shot, but if I was you, I'd want to see the whole thing.

My friend, Jean (who gave the party last year), calls this tree an ornament hanger. I didn't get it, but that was before I decorated it.

Thanks Jean and Judy !

We have a real tree too– if I get some good shots . . . we'll see.

Deck the Doorknobs

When my daughter, Oneita, told me she was making and selling ornaments I said, "Oh fun- I want to see them- maybe I can sell a few."

Well, her little package arrived, and a red heart immediately found its perch above my computer. A circle with gold buttons made its way to the pantry doorknob– then all the other doorknobs wanted an ornament.

Two circles jazzed up our glass front cabinet, and another one of the hearts perks up the kitchen. I thought how nice for the holidays, and then wondered why I would ever take them down. Family and friends will get one too. Sold out from here Oneita!

Oneita is a costume designer and lives in Los Angeles. These shots were taken last November. Her coat is her own creation, pieced from wool sweaters that have been washed in hot water. The polka dots on her pants are embroidered skulls (I know, but they're cute). The star on her t-shirt is a cut-out, backed with the green. I can't remember what the scarf is, but it's definitely delightful.

Hallow or haunted ?

L X I X

One need not be a chamber to be haunted,
One need not be a house;
The brain has corridors surpassing
Material place.

Far safer, of a midnight meeting
External ghost,
Than an interior confronting
That whiter host.

Far safer through an Abbey gallop,
The stones achase,
Than, moonless, one's own self encounter
In lonesome place.

Ourself, behind ourself concealed,
Should startle most;
Assasin, hid in our apartment,
Be horror's least.

The prudent carries a revolver,
He bolts the door,
O'erlooking a superior spectre
More near.

Emily Dickinson

Centerpiece Rose Bouquet

Pink Gruss an Aachen in a detail from our centerpiece bouquet.

It’s the third day of New Year 2009 and here I am posting the how-tos from 2008’s Thanksgiving centerpiece. I didn’t make time for it last year, but now that the garden is barren, and I’m already longing for roses, why not luxuriate in these beauties.

On November 27, my garden offered sumptuous roses in many colors – red, magenta, peach, pale pink, yellow, deep burgundy. You might wonder how so many brilliant divas might harmonize together in one centerpiece.

Grouping the roses by color does the trick and avoids a spotty, jumbled look. Figure out where and what color to start with and then place the rest of the colors by whim and intuition. It also helps to have a stunning filler like these red-leafed grape leaves.

Vitis vinifera ‘Purpurea’ is one of my favorite plants. It doesn’t start out this dark – the first leaves are silvery olive. It grows on our front fence near red roses. Each of its many growth stages is a thrill.

Here's one side of the finished bouquet. The narrow copper container only measures  9" long x 3.5" wide x 4.5" high.

Notice how far the bouquet extends beyond the container’s boundaries. Since our dining table would be a long rectangle, I tried to make it overlap at each end as much as I could. The piece turned out to have two distinct personalities. Guests had fun choosing which roses they wanted to face. I sat on the pink side.

The peach-burgundy side has a totally different look.

Rose arranging, like good cooking, requires quality ingredients– nice container, great filler, and ample, fresh blooms. Some of the roses included: Redcoat, Pat Austin, Apricot Nectar, Yves Piaget, Pink Gruss an Aachen, and The Prince. One lemon, a few pomegranates, and Rugosa and Kathleen hips rounded out the mix.

The assembled materials ready for arranging.

Grouping colors and similar blooms works well with all kinds of flowers, not just roses. Large and loose bouquets also work with this method. The arranging process becomes more streamlined, with fewer decisions.

A Gift of Winter White Roses

A sudden urge to offer a gift of winter white roses led to an exercise I thought might make an interesting post. I hoped to create a pretty pouf or dome of roses, with a bit of glitz. At first, things went smoothly . . .

The stems were already nicely cleaned. I simply re-cut them under water. Later, I’d cut the rose stems short and remove all the leaves.

Since my garden is in the depths of winter, I knew my only rose source would be Safeway, and I’d better get there early. At 7 a. m. on 12/23, I was happy to find at least 10 bunches of white roses, standing in the floral fridge. Thankfully, shoppers wanted red roses – those were sold out. I purchased two-dozen of the white and a nice bunch of greens.

The prepped roses went into a bucket and were sheltered outside, until the next day. 

Here the roses look pretty glamorous and would make a nice gift, or look great in a room just the way they are, but I stuck to my plan.

A wire, with bugle bead gold leaves, forms the base of the crown. Silver leaves and flowers were added.

Beaded leaves and flowers, from several items in one of my treasure boxes, actually inspired the gift idea. I wanted to make a crown and lay it on a base of fir boughs, to circle the roses.

The fir boughs offered many nice laterals for edging the vase.

The vase is a glass cylinder with a six-inch diameter. The fir pieces were cut long enough to cross at the center, and form a web for inserting the roses.

While adding the second dozen roses, I thought – oh no – this is not going to work – I don’t have enough roses! (I should have had three dozen.) Flower arranger’s panic kicked in and I started searching for what else I might add. I grabbed a small lime cedar tree that was on our dining table and began clipping its branches. They were a nice addition, but definitely not enough.

Then my rainy garden beckoned as if saying, “I’ll save you.” I donned my slicker, grabbed a basket and went out and gathered variegated pittosporum, and these sweet, but few, roses: ‘Paquerette’, ‘Marie Pavie’, ‘Heritage’, ‘Honor’, and R. multiflora. Blushing pink, they saved the bouquet.

 

When the story line changed, I forgot to photograph the sparse floristy creation I concocted. Sorry. However, I did manage to capture the charming mess I made.

 

My original idea was to trim the vase with a band of white velvet. Again, that didn’t quite work. A bow finally finished the piece. Rescued by my garden, and a velvet bow, the gift turned out better than I originally hoped for. The glitz was subtle, but just right.