OK, these images were taken on the 16th of May...sorry it's late again!
Regardless, enjoy!
The Alchemist- a one-time-bloomer. Has covered the entire corner of the 12' high pergola, and on it's way over the top.
Sorry, it's sideways. The pincusion Protea.
This is a Leucodendron- with a ladybug!
'Distant Drums'- a hybrid tea rose.
And that's it for now...many more but way too many!
Our exhibition at Filoli was a huge success. The comments we heard about the 12 foot table we decorated in the grand ballroom were more than flattering, and SO many people attended the flower show. We received many warm complements, and distributed tons of brochures! Here are some snapshots for sharing...
And of course, I managed to get out into the exquisite gardens of Filoli....
aaahhh. What does it mean when you walk into a garden and your eyes literally tear up? Beyond obsessed I guess. But I mark it off as the raw emotion of nature and human hands at work in an unmatched synchronization. Nothing can compare to what we can do together with the natural world.
A mini-parterre in a beautifully built raised box. My daugher would love this...anything in miniature. A true work of art.
There's so many more, but I fear I'll bore you to craziness. Just know that this was a complete honor to be a part of such a huge historical piece of our country- Filoli. More 'professional images' later...
Next week I will be exhibiting at Filoli Flower Show!
I am truly thrilled, honored, anxious and excited all at once. To participate in this event is a lot like the Kentucy Derby of designers & artists. The mansion itself 'undressed' is a remarkable example of the fine craftsmanship, and exquisite taste of the fairly well off gold mining families of the 21st Century here on the west coast.
The gardens --well I just don't know where to begin there. It's been linked as a favorite of mine here on my blog since I went to visit for the first time several years ago. It is just beyond gorgeous, and said to be the finest example of garden architechure of the 'Golden Era'. It is just a dream.
I am participating with the fabulous Ann Morhauser, of Annieglass. This is a special honor- I always love gracing Annie's gorgeous art for the table with my floral displays. We're doing a table together in the Grand Ballroom!
The Santa Cruz Sentinel has me featured in an article about this event. Check it out! Exciting stuff!
It's the season for running with clippers. I've got talent-true talent. Running with clippers takes years of practice. Cutting at an angle, leaving 3/4 of the leaf, inspecting bloom for the 'just a hint' of color before the clip, then on to the next. Why do I run? Well it's life. I have to get to work! But mainly it's the desire to get my cuts to the conditioned water and cooler as quickly as possible, to prolong their after-garden life.
The image above is of just one of the 10 raised beds cultivated with single late tulips, Darwin hybrid, and dutch hybrids. I have 8 more to go, it's almost 8am, and this is happening 1-2 times daily! Tulips dont wait. And I don't mind leaving a few for me to enjoy- tucked away in their beds, absorbing the sunlight that will in turn use their velvety petals and leaves to return the energy back into the bulb. But for the most part- it's business. I need to sell them.
Cutting gorgeous bloms brings a special kind of joy to me. I love seeing them later in an arrangement, or a bunch of them wrapped together, and wisked off to a customer's home to enjoy. Some people ask me, 'doesn't is just kill you to cut off all those beautiful blooms?' My response to that-- I see it as sharing the fruits of my labor, and the miracle of nature.
Bouquets to Art 2009
Interpretation of John Singer Sargent
Caroline de Bassano, Marquise d'Espeuilles
1884
This year was a little challenging for me--given that we've just opened up a new store a mere 5 days prior to set-up day for Bouquets to Art.
All-in-all it was an OK piece for me. I feel I could have taken it many steps deeper into the interpretation, however, my thought process began to unravel greatly a couple of days prior, and sometimes, you need to just go back to a simple interpretation rather than going phsycho about it!
:)
Today was a very special day for me. As the ribbon was cut, and the doors swung open- I began to hear repeated gasps, oohs and aahs- all for the new store -New Leaf Community Market- and for the super gorgeous NEW floral department! We offically opened today, and welcomed floods of people. It was a true love-fest! Santa Cruz, especially Westside Santa Cruz really needed this fabulous new market, chock full of the best of the best in sustainable & organic foods, wine, body care, vitamins, and FLOWERS! I heard so many comments on how much everyone loved the new store- so many people truly giddy with excitement. It was just an over-the-top day. So here now I'm going to share some images with you that will show from beginning to end, or rather the real beginning!
Thisis our cooler box! WOW! it's 30 sq feet larger than the entire Kiosk! Cannot tell from the picture, but it's being 'texturized' a really cool custom finish. It's really gorgeous!
And here's Kristin trying to figure out what to do with all this STUFF! and all this SPACE! Look at the custom sign the fabulous folks at New Leaf made for us! We've got a big one hanging over the cooler box too.
OK, I know you're wondering what we're doing with our hands, or what are we trying to do? We're trying to make the 'westside sign' -which is a good thing here in Santa Cruz- since our new diggs are at New Leaf Community Market- Westside. And just think, this was before we began tasting all the great wines the market will be carrying!
I'm really proud of our signs. Thank you New Leaf for having them made for us, and thank you ANNA for your smokin' hot handiwork!
Anna takes a stroll, but none of us are quite sure how to handle all this space! So many flowers and cool garden stuff, and so many places to put it!
More great chalk art by Anna. And check out those adorable mosaic bunnies!
Dont get bored yet....here's the final image!
This is what BDGC-Westside looked like on opening day. Not quite all the way full and organized but a great start. And just one more image...
And here's a shot from another side of the cooler, and finally (really!)...
And here is a shot of me and Deborah Schatan, of Sky Meadow Apothecary. Not only was Deborah our first customer at our new store, but she is a most valued client and friend for all of us. Thank you Deborah! You are simply the best, and thank you for 'funding' our new cash register!
Today was a cold, wet and VERY exciting day. The AMGEN Tour of California ended right in downtown Santa Cruz! We had a blast with this. We didn't sell many bouquets, but we sold some beautiful yellow roses! Several people bought them with the intentions to give them to Lance Armstrong after he finished the race. We will be happily forwarding the proceeds to his Livestrong Foundation. Didn't amout to too much, but as with every charitble foundation, every bit helps, right?
I just received my P. Allen Smith e-newsletter and why, oh why did I have to Click Here? Now I cannot take my eyes off some of the images and descriptions of the Royal Oak Garden Tour 2009. Just take a look-
This image above is of Hidcote Manor Garden
And above is Temple Guiting Manor
These are just a couple of 'snapshots' of some of the incredible gardens featured in the dreamy garden tour Royal Oak Garden Tour 2009. The tour, which is dubbed 'New' Gardens of the English Cotswalds feature both National Trust UK gardens, as well as rarely opened to public private estate gardens.
The price is quite steep, but I am certain would be the trip of a lifetime....
aaahhh....someday.
I know I'm late, but here are the bloom day images from my garden on 1/15/09. I am amazed at what I found...in January! It's definately out of natures ways to pull off some of these amazing blooms in January, and I do not like the unusual 'heat wave' we've had here. It's not very nice. You can just see the confusion on the faces of the plants...'what? It's spring already?'
Well, here goes...
Golden Showers- a David Austin Rose
Hellebores- Nigra
A Daylily- an ode to my grandmother.
Protea - King
A ragged Nicotania
Calendua- Indian Summer
AND Finally, the ever ready winter bloomer- Narcissus!
Hope you enjoyed...I did.
The first requestI got for a kermit green wedding several years ago brought a shutter down my spine. Kermit green? Yikes! How could I do that? Back then, it was so 'out' to to anything but pink and white for weddings. Now, this color is definately the 'in' color of the modern wedding theme. Here's some images of a recent kermit green wedding I did in the fall. And now I LOVE this color. It's cool, crisp, clean, nostalgic, and modern both. More images can be found on my web site too.
Photos Courtesy of Kate Harrison Photography
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