Ten Minute Indulgence

These just finished blooming in our yard. I wish I could let you smell them!

BTW, I finally figured out how to arrange flowers in this very wide mouth pitcher: I don't! The flowers are actually in a slightly smaller (but very easy to work with) vase. Where there's a will . . .

Flowers for the Fourth.

I finally broke down and bought some flowers - I needed some red! But carnations last for ages, their snuggled up with some roses on my table at the moment.

Sugar & Spice

This is what I did with the last roses of the summer.

I'm glad Kyle didn't mind having these on his dining room table for about a week. ;-)

Something Happy

Here is a little happy something I made about two of weeks ago to take down to my Mother-in-love.

Those regal lillies smelled so good!

Midnight and moonlight

Here is something I've been waiting to do using our roses, lillies, purple cone flower, cardinal bush, wildflowers and dark lettuce! It's fun to see how many different color schemes can be found in the yard. ;-)

Happy Monday!

Yes, the first picture is sideways.

I could tell you why, but it's a long frustrating story, so let's just say the computer won. Oh brother! However, if you tilt your head, you can see two little arrangements I did last month. I was so pleased how the colors looked with my blue ball jar!

Even earlier in May, Kyle's mini iris was in bloom and I put together this bunch from the "yarden" (yard and garden).

You can't see it very well, but there are actually two shades of iris in there. They really took off this year - great fun!

Today

We're back from a wonderful trip to the ICHE State Convention, and a visit to my folks house with some very dear friends, so there's lots of updating to do. For now, I thought I'd stick up some pictures from today, just for fun.


Kyle brought me some lovely flowers from the yard last night, and this is what I did with them. Don't the just say "Summer"? It could use a few more roses, but I have to wait until the sun turns them the right shade of pink.

The roses were a wedding gift (thanks again, Mrs. Capp!) and the rest of the flowers were grown or transplanted by my Beloved.

We are right in the middle of strawberry season (Yea!), and we had five HUGE bowls full to process last night. Kyle started in (he'd already put three gallons in the freezer by himself) and I asked if I should help with the strawberries or play with the flowers. He told me to arrange the flowers because he wanted to see what they would look like when I was done. :-) I love that man.

Here is Little Blossom with the flowers she picked for me, all by herself. Last night I noticed her at the table messing around. Unbeknown to me, she had picked me some fresh clover, and was taking out the dead dandelions she had gotten last week and was trying to put the new flowers in! I think she learned it from her Daddy. I am a blessed woman!

Would you believe . . .

. . . that these exotic little beauties are all blooming in our yard, right here in the Cornfield Midwest? I'm enjoying the artistry God placed in these tiny, perfectly designed machines. What a delight!

A Modern Nosegay

Am I enjoying the bounty of our yard? Yes, very much! This time I decided to go for a more modern look with bright and frosty greens and a mix of texture. The wrapped stems make it look like a miniature bridesmaid's bouquet!

I used violets of different shades, road weeds, mailbox weeds, and front-of-yard wild flowers. Thankfully those lovely, fuzzy leaves did not leave me full of tiny stickers, as I feared at first. Whew!


"If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?" - Matt 6:30

An Old Fashioned Nosegay

Since February I've been hankering after flowers in the worst sort of way. When Kyle thoughtfully brought me daffodils, I feasted my eyes on them down to the last bit of green. Now that yard flowers are here, I'm indulging myself in various table and windowsill displays.


Exhibit A is a nosegay of violets, framed in their own glossy leaves. We have an abundance of these little beauties, mostly growing in an area that is supposed to be Rocks Only. However, it's difficult to kill off something which is irresistible in of itself, aside from fond associations and practical value.


That's right, practical value. Did you know that violets are edible? That makes them perfect for Flowered Ice Cubes! Wash your violets, put them in half filled ice cube trays and freeze. When they are frozen, fill the trays the rest of the way, which will trap the flowers in the middle of the cube.


"The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Is 40:8

Autumn Splendor

All from our yard!

Coxcomb, Mums, Black Eyed Susan's, Mini Daises and assorted ornamental weeds. ;-)

Flowers

One of my new favorite things about summer is that as soon as the weather turns warm, my husband begins pickling me nosegays. It's wonderful! As different plants go in and out of bloom, he keeps me supplied with fresh flowers from our yard.


Most of these are ones he has transplanted or grown himself from seed! He never ceases to amaze me with his gardening prowess.



I like to dabble in flower arranging now and again, gleaning tips from books and friends (thanks Becca and Martha!). This is my attempt from early this spring. Kind of wild, I know, but I was so happy to get some color inside!


I've read that plants with hollow, milky stems (like dandelions) last longer if you singe the end. Well, it's true! The greenery on the left was treated, the greenery on the right was not, and wilted quickly. (I just had to include that tip for those who like to play with flowers and fire!)



Here's a triangular arrangement featuring our newly transplanted mini - iris.

Becca and Elli supplied these roses (more on them later). You don't have to use a vase - try a pitcher or teacup. This little grouping is sitting happily in a toothbrush holder.

Hope you're inspired!