Gerbera arrangement

Fragrant with magenta stock, several gerberas in different pinks, and the flowers of some pink heuchera in the garden

For some reason, I always choose a square or more contemporary shaped-vase for gerberas. Something about them screams modern to me...

Have a lovely weekend

Summer Pastels

Pastels for summer

Ivory asiatic lilies, pale pink hydrangeas, lavender stock, and lilac lisianthus

Beautifully fragrant ivory asiatic lilies

Hydrangea, stock, and lisianthus, all fresh from my garden!

Pretty in Pinks

Peonies, heuchera, hydrangea, oxalis, gerberas

Who could get tired of looking at peonies? Or smelling them?

Sign-in table piece.  You wouldn't necessarily want these arrangements around food that you are serving at an event because the peonies are so fragrant that they could cause the food to taste differently, or compete with the smell of the food. That's why peonies are usually used in personal flower arrangements such as vase arrangements and Bridal bouquets instead of centerpieces at catered events or around food.

Beautiful gerberas

Architectural Piece: Kalanchoe

Very minimalistic. I wish I had a better background to shoot it in front of. But I was looking at my Kalanchoe and really wanted to use it in a simple arrangement. I wanted most of the focus to be on the succulent because it is so striking, adding much more would detract from its interesting form and growth habit. 

Kalanchoe beharensis 'Fang'. It's supposedly called 'Fang' because of the pointy tissues on the underside of the leaves that look like vampire teeth, or any kind of scary teeth for that matter!

I also love how the colors play off each other. The Kalanchoe has so many different hues with the silver fuzzy hair covering it. The textures of the dusty miller and the Kalanchoe are just perfect when they are next to each other.

'Fang' also has some teeth along its leaf margins

Textures

Tried to get the whole piece; wouldn't exactly fit in my suitcase :)

Architectural Piece with Kalanchoe and dusty miller

It's a Graduation Event!

Indoor decorations

Indoor decorations

Flag decor for the picnic in the park!

Got to move it to the park now... about 3 blocks away down the middle of the street!

Lizzy (not pictured because she was graduating), had quite a crew working on her behalf to make all the decorations, food, and celebrate the end of her undergraduate stint at Cal Poly SLO! Way to go Lizzy!

Rachel cut the flags, Dani sewed the flags, Tommy (boyfriend) built the frame, and Katy and Ellen painted the frame. It takes a community to raise a flag decoration for Lizzy!

Rachel, Katy, and Ellen

"The Girls" in the upper left, party under the flags in upper right, graduation lower left and, Lizzy and Tommy in lower right.

Pinks & Lavenders

Pinks and Lavenders

Succulent blooms, hydrangea, asiatic lilies, lisianthus

Succulent blooms, hydrangea, asiatic lilies, lisianthus

For my friend's graduation party. She loves hydrangeas and I was so excited that I could grow these for her! She finally finished college! The first one in her family--way to go!

Color and Texture

Fragrant Asiatic Lily

The vase arrangement with ribbon around vase's waist

Mason Jars & Poppy Whites

Matilija Poppy arrangement in mason jar

Poppy, hosta, with rope around mason jar

Romneya coulteri

Shasta Daisies, hosta, poppies

I get in trouble for calling this plant, one of my absolute favorites, not just for its hardiness, whimsy nature, blue-grey foliage or slight vanilla fragrance, the "tissue plant". I guess the more popular of the common names for this flower would be "Fried Egg Plant". At least that's what I've been told and corrected. I like to think of common names (because we all have to learn the scientific and though you can be creative with how you say it so you can spell it phonetically or just remember the name with the plant features), because we get to be truly creative with what kind of common name we give them. Ever since I was a child I called these huge stands of Matilija poppies floating tissues because in the wind, it looked like were crying and waving tissues in the air. Romneya coulteri. My native plants professor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Dave Fross, owner of Native Sons nursery, said that some of his absolute favorite plants are only so because his daughter gave them such sweet naive common names when they played and planted in the garden before she could say the scientific names. For him, he will always associate to a certain plant through her name for it.  But of course, if you are ordering plants, writing about them or speaking about them, the scientific name is the only way to go- i'd even argue not to learn the common name and come up with your own that helps you relate to the plant in your own way. It will always have its scientific classification. 

Visit Native Sons Nursery at: Native Sons Nursery 
Learn more about Dave Fross here: David Fross 
Learn more about California Native at: Romneya coulteri  

Magical Agapanthus africanus

Ivory agapanthus, chives, ferns, lacy pepper tree foliage

Ivory agapanthus, chives, ferns, lacy pepper tree foliage

An indigo spectrum of Agapanthus and feather grass

Agapanthus spp. is one of the most commonly used commercial landscape plants because it is really hardy, doesn't have many pests, does well in poor soils, and doesn't need much water once established. The flowers rise from the smooth basal leaves on stalks that can reach up to 4 or 5 feet tall and come in colors ranging from periwinkle to indigo and ivory. Hummingbirds and butterflies visit the flowers regularly. They can bloom all year long in some of the warmer areas of California and make such a magical statement when planted in groups or swaths.  The flowers make a great statement in floral arrangements as well and the flowers are one of the longer lasting in cut flower arrangements. For more information on these plants visit the following site: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/139/#b

Pinky Peonies

I ran across these lovelies, and just had to incorporate, I guess more accurately, "feature" them in these arrangements. I just love working with peonies, and other flowers that continue to transform while they are in your hands-it's so quick and lovely. Tulips are another flower like that; one you can manipulate even after its cut with nutrients, dye, dehydration, etc. to contort into whatever your design becomes.

Peony, hebe, lisianthus, stock

Following the architecture of the vessel, the floral arrangement takes on a dome shape but adds detail with delicate hebe, magenta stock, and truffle lisianthus, such as the etchings in the vessel.

 Lovely.

Pink Peony Detail.

Instagramming* Nature

Baby praying mantis

Adult stick bug

Hummingbird

I hate to use the program's name in the title as I did, but it really makes my colors look better- and can make a stick bug really stand out :)