As children bid the guest good-night,
And then reluctant turn,
My flowers raise their pretty lips,
Then put their nightgowns on.

As children caper when they wake,
Merry that it is morn,
My flowers from a hundred cribs
Will peep, and prance again.

~ Emily Dickinson

On Saturday, when I make little bouquets to sell in the neighborhood, I hope to offer something new or different each time. The garden does too. Last week, white phlox and the prettiest pink penstemon, joined the roses in Mason jars.

Each posey received a leaf stem of this nameless-at-the-moment Scotch (Spinosissima) rose, and a soft furry leaf of minty pelargonium.

Mr. Ball, I really enjoyed using your lovely jars!

This was one of my favorites from the batch. Notice how effective that leafy rose stem is.

The day you decide to do it is your lucky day.

~ Japanese Proverb

 

Maneki Neko (beckoning cat) is one of the most common lucky charms in Japan. 

This is a child's porcelain drinking cup-- my new favorite vase. I think it looks pretty cute with Crocosmia 'Solfaterre' and the rose English Garden.

I assume you know 'Lucifer'. Here he is in a neighbors's garden. I've been too much of a snob to grow such a common variety. But funny me actually wishes she had some now.

I love it when my prejudices blur into oblivion, hopefully never to return. At the moment there are two varieties in my garden-- this one is 'George Davidson'.

Until last week, it would never occur to me to use crocosmia in an arrangement. Woh-- two prejudices in one week.

This is a raku cup artist husband bought at a crafts sale, at SJSU, where he works. Julia Child roses, tansy, and rudbeckia.

C. 'Solfaterre' is beyond gorgeous in the garden-- those chocolaty leaves-- devine.

I once purchased a 'Solfaterre', planted it immediately on my return home, and two hours later when I strolled out to admire it, it was gone! Greedy gophers. The next day I bought another and made a wire basket for the planting hole. The plant died after one season. I don't know if this variety is tender or that plant was just unhappy. The one photographed here was a bulb given to me last fall by Barbara Worl. It's thriving and also is in a wire basket.

This time 'Solfaterre' embellishes a milk bottle, inspired by Susan's post, with Dr. Brownell roses and the fab serrated leaves of Haloragis erecta 'Wellington Bronze'.

 

An amply laden wedding buffet table allowed little space for a large bouquet. Height was needed, and a vase with a small footprint. A trusty cylinder does the job, and a collar of Annabelle hydrangea allowed a good base to build from. Only about three stems actually reach the bottom of the tall cylinder, but Annabelle, and sheer numbers, keep the other stems up with their perky blooms shining.

PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARRANGERS

This bouquet might look simple– actually once everything is at hand the arranging process is nothing but fun, but the entire process from harvesting, to buckets ready-and-waiting is a pretty big deal. So this photographer, when not arranging "just-for-photos," is too harried to really do justice to a shoot. I did manage to clear the counter and prop up an easy background though. Foamcore (4x4) propped on a stool masks the kitchen chaos. Wonderful side light from a Northern window modeled the fleurs just right.

At the event, the bouquet, was perfect for the space allowed, and I was not happy my camera was at home. Maybe next time.

I should clarify that I'm not in the floral business (I have been). However, I do seize the opportunity, when possible, to play with fleurs at fab events for friends and nonprofits.