Flowers!
I always look forward to that air of excitement in March when the world is beige and gray and I begin dreaming of the garden. Going to the nurseries, cleaning out the gardens, making room for the perennials that I hope and pray will make an appearance again, and making room for the splashy annuals that liven up the yard with their punchy colors.
Even though I know the terribly hot summer months of July and August are going to all but destroy my hard work accomplished in April and May, it's still worth it. There is something so therapeutic about tilling the soil and watching beautiful things grow.
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| One of my rose bushes in May 2016. This is always their best month when they burst into bloom. |
I am not an expert gardener in any sense, in fact my garden is a tumble (my mother's wonderful word for a packed English cottage style garden). Mine is more of a mess, but I like "tumble" so we'll go with that. I try and try every year; I have some successes and many failures, but that's part of the fun. Three years ago I began planting David Austin English roses which are known for their many petals and heavenly fragrance. Much to my surprise, I seemed to have some luck and they grew and bloomed their hearts out for three years until last winter's wicked ice storm from out of nowhere whipped in and destroyed them....all. Try, try again.
My Tumble in September
Luckily with our trusty little cameras handily built in to our phones we can snap away and still enjoy the prettiness, long after the flowers are gone.
My favorite way to enjoy flowers (especially roses) is to go out and snip them and bring them into the house for a punch of color. It is amazing how much they add!
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Little bouquet of English roses and pin cushion flowers 
This was one of my favorite bouquets ever. This was the last of the cuttings from my autumn garden before the first hard freeze the following day.
Once the rose season has peaked and gone, there is a bit of a lull and I start heading to the grocery store for their selection of very affordable bunches of a dozen roses. I can't tell you how they liven up the house- especially in the cold winter months when Christmas decorations are down and everything is gloomy. Simple and elegant, snipped at the end and tossed into a vase- they are such a happy spot of the day:
From the Grocery Store!
These roses are form the grocery store!! $8.00!! I threw in some artificial palm fronds for a little tropical zest. A Week of Happy! $8!
When fresh flowers are not an option, it is amazing how wonderful artificial flowers have become!
Faux flowers from craft stores and even florist shops are getting better and better. Such a fun way to make a huge statement bouquet without worry about anything not lasting. This ivory and green bouquet I've had in my living room for two years now.
For my last solo exhibit at the Gallery XII I decided to dedicate the entire body of work to flowers and title the show, "A Year of Flora." I have to say this was one of the most fun and rewarding shows I had worked on and I was so excited to finally have my painted garden on the wall and fully in bloom!
  
This exhibit led me to one of my all time favorite commissions of a bouquet of tulips:
Parrot Tulips in Progress in my studio, 2017
What I was struck by, during the exhibit and after, was the number of people who I spoke to who absolutely love and adore flowers. It was so sweet to think these beautiful things resonating with so many and that joy that I feel from flowers is felt by many kindred spirits. I love that. Something that is so simple and has no connection to modernity and technology bringing fulfillment to everyone. 💗
If you need a bright spot added to your day, I strongly encourage you to go to the florist or grocery store and treat yourself to a bouquet of something pretty. I can't tell you how nice it is to have something in a room of the house our out in the garden that no matter what your mood is, it makes you smile. Put a little vase of flowers on your dining room table and have a sweet little summer supper complete with a candle. Flowers do the trick every time.
Thank you for Following along! Until Next Time!
J.
For More Floral Happiness:
Just peruse the David Austin Website for the most swoon worthy roses:
ANY Carolyne Roehm Book!
If you are not familiar, Carolyne Roehm is most incredible gardener, florist & designer and she creates the most immaculate, lush gardens you have ever seen, which then become the beautiful bouquets you have ever seen! Her books are just lovely. www.carolyneroehm.com
Here are a couple of favorites:
(Amazon Stock Photo)
(Amazon Stock Photo)
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