Birthday Celebration

Some happy color combinations for an end of summer birthday celebration!

Summer Pinks

Queen Anne's Lace, Delphinium, Hypericum berry, Hydrangea

Hydrangea, Queen Anne's Lace, Agapanthus

Groom's Boutonniere: Gladiolus, hydrangea, Queen Anne's Lace, royal purple ribbon detail

Bridal BQ with poppies, amaranth, Queen Anne's Lace, hydrangea, delphinium, agapanthus, gladiolus, hypericum berry and ribbon wrap detail

Bridal BQ with poppies, amaranth, Queen Anne's Lace, hydrangea, delphinium, agapanthus, gladiolus, hypericum berry and ribbon wrap detail

Hypericum berries nestled in the fragrant poppies and Queen Anne's lace

Summer Pinks: Gladiolus and Hydrangea

Gerberas Bring the Sunlight!

Very easy to make and super colorful - they would look stunning down the center of a long bridal/banquet table

I just love the colors that inspired me! I have all sorts of pops of color and basically the same palette of flowers in each mason jar. But what I really think brings it all together is the same burlap and ribbon cinch on the waists of the mason jars.

It's like the gerberas bring the sunlight to them!

Fuchsia mums, lime green kermit mums, and poppies

Gerberas, mums, poppies & dianthus in mason jars!

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