Treat Yourself

Don't forget to put flowers where you'll enjoy them, not just the guests.

I like to fill this ceramic vase (that my dad made) with sunflowers and herbs.  It sits in a garden window above my sink so I can smell the "roses" while performing one of the more mundane tasks of my day.

You have to admit.  It's pretty hard to be sour about your chores when these lovely flowers are smiling down on you.

Irrational Exuberance

One of my most graceful and delightful friends (and role model) has a spectacular garden.  In her well-tended and loved landscape, my pal allows self-sowers to do their thing in a heap of color, texture and scent in one part of the garden.  The result is as wild and spontaneous as this bouquet that she recently brought me.  In it are her signature sweet peas, some California poppies, borage, and salvia (I think).  She just plunks them in this Mason jar and voila, a garden right in your living room. 

Being known as something of a stealth bouquet bestower, everyone knows when Ellen has paid a visit.  Her gifts extend well beyond her flowers.  Among many other talents, she makes an amazing apricot jam from fruit grown in her garden, and you never know when you might be a beneficiary of her burgeoning succulent collection.

Calla Gerbera Calla Gerbera

Callas Gone Wild

In one of my childhood homes we had a forgotten corner of the yard where calla lilies ran wild.  Nobody tended them and they thanked us for respecting their privacy by producing amazing blooms.  I wish I had that small "field" these days.  I'm lucky, as I've said before, if I get three at a time...so I buy them.  But I digress...

I was late getting to Trader Joe's one day and had a choice of white, white or white flowers.  I opted for white flowers. 

This grouping is perfect for a dinner party as the flowers are low enough to talk over and yet they have the impact of a larger, much more dramatic arrangement.  All there are here are gerbera daisies and mini-calla lilies with a few calla leaves added in.  I snipped some clivia leaves and wrapped the inside of the fishbowl vases before adding water and placing the flowers. 

A tip about gerberas.  Try not to touch the stem close to the flower heads as it causes them to weaken and droop.  I'm sure you've experienced that disappointment.