Friday, July 30, 2010

Thank You Martha

Hydrangeas

I was having a senior moment for a couple of years trying to remember the trick to keeping hydrangeas from drooping shortly after bringing them indoors.  I'm not sure what jogged those gray cells back into action but it was Martha Stewart who said to be sure to strip all of the leaves off of the stem to ensure perky flowers if not forever, at least for a long time.

Once again, this arrangement (if you can call it that, it's much to easy to say I actually "arranged" anything) is just one hydrangea blossom that I found blooming in an impossible corner of the garden where absolutely nobody was going to enjoy it.  Now I am enjoying it in my kitchen.  Along came some extra oregano that I had picked for a recipe to accompany the lonely bloom.

Which reminds me...I know I've said it before but I'll say it again...I never toss out the extra herbs I've picked, and I do tend to over-pick.  Instead, I stick them in a skinny vase of some sort to enjoy either for their beauty and grace, or their flavor.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Decadence

Gardenias

There is something decadent about gardenias.  Perhaps it's their hypnotic smell, or maybe it's because they look like living whipped cream just plopped in this bowl, but whenever they are blooming in my garden I tend to linger in their corner longer than usual, lulled into a stupor by their overt sensuality. 

The trick to keeping them blemish free as long as possible is to never touch the petals with your hands.  It hastens their demise.  So it's a bit of a trick to get them to "float" properly in a vase like this.  I tried using some black polished stones to grab the stems to keep them from flopping around and it seemed to work pretty well.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Life in a Teacup

Shower Gifts

A group of us at work had a shower for the most deserving and un-bridezilla of them all, the wonderful Nancy.  In trying to think up an easy and inexpensive table decoration I remembered my pal Elena...ever the expedient hostess...who wowed us years ago by plunking some extra impatiens plantlets into teacups and voila! Instant arrangements.

Shannon located some castaway teacups and saucers at a thrift store and loaded them with plants fresh from their nursery six packs.  Best of all, after cheering up the tables at the shower, they all went home with the guests where they continue (hopefully, they do need to be watered almost daily) to bring smiles.

Clever, cheap, recycled and unique.  Can't beat that combination.