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 :)

Hiking Arrangements

This was a collaborative design with a hiking buddy. And we didn't use tools! 

The oaks with the lime green and yellow lichen covering it was so inspiring. It was as though the whole meadow color-coordinated.

San Luis Obispo, CA has some of the most beautiful hikes around. And I find that when I do make myself get out of the house to enjoy some of the natural beauty just outside my door, I do get inspired to create. I think that it's really important for those of us that have creative passion within spend this time for ourselves to really find how to translate our expressions from inside to material objects that perhaps others can understand and relate to. The above arrangement (though difficult to see its complexity against the dry creek bed) was a collaborative design with a hiking buddy. And we didn't use tools! Who knows, maybe I was just trying to be the next Andy Goldsworthy :) 

(http://www.google.com/search?q=andy+goldsworthy+art&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=eU6RUcTtIMXniALPnIHgDg&ved=0CDEQsAQ&biw=1275&bih=664)

Mother's Day

Herbal Arrangement for Mom: mint, oregano, lamb's ear, ferns, and water reeds

Love the colors of this arrangement: Heuchera, gerbera daisies, oregano, ferns, oxalis, in a blue vase

Very wild: citrus mint, red aloe, canna, ferns and mushrooms

Very wild: citrus mint, red aloe, canna, ferns and mushrooms

Bright red canna paired with red aloe

I hope you are able to celebrate the wonderful, strong women we call our Mothers this week.