A Beautiful Mess

Creamy, white roses for a wedding.

Pale pink ranunculus.

My finished arrangement back home.

Last Wednesday, I took a field trip with my fellow "Night Bloomers" Garden Club members and spent the afternoon visiting Rick's Flowers in Sterling, Virginia where owner, Rick, not only talked flowers for every occasion, but also gave us a class on making an architectural flower arrangement that we took home to enjoy and remember our gathering by.


















It started as a beautiful, sunny but typically cold January day that warmed up with each flower we added to our arrangements and even though we all used the same flowers in the same order, each person's sweet bouquet of pink roses and gerbera daisies along with steel blue eringium (sea holly) and seeded eucalyptus, took on it's own unique personality and appearance as we built upon a foundation of glass and green oasis. Rick was (and is) a great teacher.  You could tell he spends a lot of time working weddings as he patiently guided us through the art of flower arranging while a gaggle of women continually talked over him. However, we did manage to stop talking, here and there, long enough to allow him to give us instruction.  "Cuddos" to him!

"Decorating for a wedding is like dressing a woman.  You can have a beautiful dress but putting all of the right accessories, jewelry, shoes and things together to make an entirely, wonderful and truly lovely presentation is what everyone will remember long after they have seen it.  The same principle holds true when planning the flowers and decorations for a wedding celebration. Whether you spend a lot or a little, make sure the flowers are beautiful to compliment the occasion."                  Rick of Rick's Flowers

Rick (far right) showing some of the group how to first get started on our arrangements.  Can you feel the creative juices beginning to flow?

Everyone's flower arrangements taking shape.

Before we got started on our flower creations, he gave us a peak into the busy and complicated daily life of a florist, balancing weddings to funerals and every other occasion in between, big and small, that calls for beautifully arranged flowers.  I might add, he did this whole presentation in a very cool, calm and collected manner even though he had a huge wedding event, out here near in my neck of the woods, at the Salamander Inn, in Middleburg, VA this past weekend.  Rick's workroom was filled with frilly hydrangea heads, delicate wax flowers, unfurling white roses, fragrant stalks of stock, dreamy ranunculus and so much more, all lined up and waiting patiently in buckets of cool water, making the work space an extremely pleasant place to be.

A beautiful mess.

Frilly and fluffy hydrangeas waiting to take their proper place in upcoming wedding arrangements.

While we made our arrangements, Rick told us about his life with flowers that began when he was just thirteen, back in his home town of Atlanta, GA.   One of his first jobs entailed working for a demanding florist who taught him the ropes and furthered his love of this creative, fulfilling and sometimes, highly stressful profession.  How many people go to work every day and do what they love to do for thirty years and counting?  If you, like Rick, are one of those people, consider yourself very fortunate!

"The earth laughs in flowers." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lunch time and a toast to our gracious host.  Our arrangements paraded down the center of the table, making the January day a floral and culinary affair we will remember for a long time.

One of the finished arrangements waiting for lunch to be served.

So, we laughed, we talked, we listened, we arranged and learned more than a thing or two about the art of flower arranging and enjoyed ourselves immensely, finishing the day with a beautiful luncheon among the flowers, sitting at our banquet table that was dressed in pastels decorated by us, largely thanks to Rick.  The delicious fare was prepared and coordinated by fellow "Bloomers" Kim and Mary. This fresh January floral outing could not have been more perfect!  Really--if you do not belong to a garden club and think you may want to join one, call me--I have connections.  Besides that, any and all garden clubs are always welcoming and looking for interested people eager to share and learn about the natural world of flora and fauna. It's worth your time, believe me.

Rick and Arlene.

We also made simple yet elegant boutonnieres.

Showing off the boutonniere I made.  Yes, I know it would look much better on the jacket lapel of a handsome groom (or perhaps my prom date?) but this is what I had to work with. 

In any case, thank you Rick of Rick's Flowers for your generosity, knowledge and patience and thank you fellow "Bloomer" Arlene, who works for Rick and arranged the outing for us.  It was hardly a beautiful mess but truly a beautiful time!

De'ja' Vu!

2016 Pantone Color(s) of the Year.

Any of these lavender hues would be my pick.

Drum roll please...Pantone has announced the 2016 color of the year and it is actually two colors; Rose Quartz (pink ) and Serenity (lavender-blue). Together, they naturally blend, creating an ombre effect of blushy-pink to powdery-blue.  While it may look, to some people at first glance, that Pantone just could not decide between the two, in my mind, they blend together, almost transforming into an iridescent lavender.  In fact, I've seen both of these hues many times before--fresh out of the lavender field here at Blooming Hill and absorbed into the purple haze where the many shades of soft lavender and pale pink grow in abundance.

Looks like Rose Quartz to me.

So, Pantone calls these two shades Rose Quartz and Serenity.  I call them just two of the many shades of lavender that brighten my summertime love.  No matter what you may want to call these shades of  "pinky-bluey" lavender inspired by Mother Nature, Rose Quartz and Serenity reflect a innocent and tranquil auras, hearkening to beauty within and bringing these colors out into the light.

 

 Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence', budding in blue but will soon
turn lovely lavender at it's peak bloom.

l

Rows of pink dusty pink Lavandula angustifolia  'Melissa'.

Rose Quartz and Serenity?  It's really a patch of
soft pink and hazy blue lavender that comes with
a tangy sweet fragrance enhancing the beauty of
intermingled colors even more.

Serenity in the form of Lavandula angustifolia 'Blue Cushion', a
beautiful smal lavender that reflects the color of a sunny
summer sky.

Rose Quartz as only Lavandula angustifolia
'Coconut Ice' can portray.

Summertime rhapsody in Rose Quartz and Serenity blending harmoniously together
in one of my favorite varieties, Lavandula angustifolia 'Rebecca Kay'.

So, this is where I see Rose Quartz and Serenity--in the colors of a lavender field that stretch out into other garden beds, the trees and even the Blue Ridge farther afield.  Where do you see these Pantone colors for 2016? Look around.  Even on the coldest, bleakest, darkest days of winter, I think you will see them, too.

The Language of Christmas Flowers

A Christmas angel in repose

Frosty's hat.  Maybe he doesn't need it in this warm Christmas weather we are experiencing right now in Northern Virginia.

It's Christmas Week and deeply rooted into the story of the birth of Jesus is a bouquet of well-loved holiday greenery and winter bloomers bringing the winter outdoors inside.  Few things can stir our holiday imaginings more than the swirling scents of fresh baked cookies, roaring fires, earthy pine trees and evergreen boughs at this time of the year and the list of plants and flowers woven into the Christmas Story is vast and steeped in legend and tradition. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas greens for decorating and a little of the special meaning they each bring to this season of love and celebration.

First, at the center of most indoor holiday decorations is the beautiful Christmas Tree, shining brightly, perfumed in pine and bedecked in simple to elaborate ornaments and trimmings.  Aside from presents on Christmas morning it may also be sheltering a peaceful manger scene, complete with shepherds and farm animals or a whimsical choo-choo train circling endlessly while huffing and puffing under the prickly boughs. Outside, the December air is crisp with the fresh scent of winter, whether it's emanating from a palm tree or giant Frazier fir, depending on where one lives. Trees have for centuries, stood as symbols of regeneration and life and there are several legends associated with the beginning of the Christmas tree, itself. One of the most popular stories comes from the 10th Century where it was believed that on the night Jesus was born, all the trees flowered and bore fruit, even if they were covered in ice and snow.  Thus, decorating a Christmas tree became an obvious choice in celebration and remembrance of the Jesus' birth by Christians all over the world.

While forcing cherry blossoms indoors in springtime is quite common, in many parts of Europe, branches plucked off of CHERRY TREES and brought inside at the beginning of Advent, can often bloom by Christmas, reflecting the miraculous birth of Christ.  These blossoms are reminders that even in the coldest and darkest of days, the regeneration of light and life is not far behind.  In English folklore, the HAWTHORNE TREE is important as it blooms twice a year; in the spring and also around the Day of Epiphany, making it meaningful to the original Journey of the Magi.

Freshly cut romantic and magical mistletoe.

Looking beyond the grand tree, standing gloriously as a showpiece in the front window of many homes, other plants and flowers have also become associated and bound together in a literary holiday wreath through centuries of well-loved Christmas legends, stories and songs. Take for instance, MISTLETOE, the symbol of healing and goodwill and long thought to have the power to make peace as well as the power to make merry.  Friends and family reconcile under it, often hanging mistletoe as a greeting from the top of a doorway.  Legend holds that "if you steal a kiss underneath it, your love will burn for many Christmas days."

My friend's kitty, Piper, seems captivated by magnolia leaves waiting to be arranged in a Christmas centerpiece.  I'm thinking Piper wants to be in the centerpiece, too.

There is little that evokes the smell of wintertime more than beautiful BOXWOOD with it's own fresh, strong scent that some may or may not like, others come to like and others still, will always love. Boxwood, clipped into neat and tidy trees, perfectly coiffed wreaths or standing free form in the garden is a symbol of constancy, strength and most importantly, love.  Other than it's ability to stay green, fluffy and fragrant, inside or out, there isn't much that associates this sturdy cultivar to the Christmas Story.  But, few things are prettier than boxwood, coupled with leathery, soulful MAGNOLIA leaves, in a Christmas arrangement of your own making.

Then, there is  HOLLY, the quintessential Christmas plant, memorialized in a famous carol. Since the age of early Rome, holly has been revered as a plant that brings courage to many and is considered a strong defense against evil, which, I'm sure, made it a highly prized gift. With the rise of Christianity, holly became a powerful symbol of Christ's life, representing his blood, his purity and his crown of thorns as well as his agony on the cross. Where there is holly, there is also the ever-clinging dark green of IVY, another favorite for decorating as it was once thought to be the female counterpart to the masculine holly. Together, through the ages, they oversee the running of the entire household at Christmastime.

One of Christmas' most popular plants, and an absolute favorite of mine, partly because of its heady and piney fragrance, is ROSEMARY, also known as one of the sacred plants of Mary, Mother of Jesus.  The story goes that Mary used the bush to dry Jesus' swaddling clothes.  Another story tells that the original tiny flowers of the bush were white (yet, some varieties of rosemary still produce white flowers and others produce pink flowers) but turned purple after Mary laid her purple robe on it while resting, during their flight out of Egypt with the newborn Jesus.  In any case, rosemary is also known for it's memory enhancing properties and makes a lovely addition to the Christmas bouquet.

POINSETTIAS and CHRISTMAS ROSES add color and delicacy to the emerald and ruby shades of the Advent Season, blooming in soft whites, deep creams, dusty pinks and vermilion reds. Native to Central America, poinsettias were once known as the "Flower Of The Holy Night" because it was believed that a young shepherd boy presented a bloom to the Baby Jesus the night of his birth. On the flip side of that, in Europe, a similar legend tells of a young shepherd girl who found roses in her path, left by angels.  She brought these white flowers that resemble real roses, but were really hellebores (an evergreen winter flowering perennial) to the Christ Child the night of his birth and left them as a gift.  Today, the Christmas Rose is still loved as it blooms twice a year; once in the early spring and again in the middle of winter.  Both bloom times occur around Easter Sunday and the Day of Epiphany.

The bay tees and myrtle trees of Blooming Hill keeping warm and cozy and helping to make our petite greenhouse one of my favorite places all through the winter.

Lady's Bedstraw.

Still, there are more plants and trees to add to the potpourri of Christmas. The ornamental, shrubby tree, the BAY LAUREL is an ancient symbol of triumph, glory and joy and, to this day, signifies to many, Christ's triumph over death--which makes this an important plant at Easter, too.  A little known delicate and grassy herb, called LADY'S BEDSTRAW was thought to be part of the manger hay where the Baby Jesus laid. Once he was taken out of the manger, the bed straw bloomed in a yellow haze of tiny flowers.

Finally, I can't forget the familiar scents of cloves, cinnamon and citrus swirled together with all of the above to evoke the spirit of the season by helping to feed our souls while we gather together to celebrate with the ones we love.  Merry Christmas to you, and have the happiest of Happy Holidays! Enjoy the holiday greenery that is everywhere and appreciate their messages of rebirth, joy, love, faith and hopefully, one day, peace. See you in the New Year.

(Writer's note:  The photo of Christmas potpourri came from Pinterest and the photos of mistletoe and ivy/mixed green bouquet and Lady's Bedstraw were taken from royalty free stock images on the internet.)

Oh, Christmas (Boxwood) Tree

Fresh boxwood tree topiaries, made here at Blooming Hill during the Topiary and Tea Workshop, ready for decorating.

Our "official" Christmas tree, decked out in the living room and looking very  magical and "fairy-ish"  in the early evening light of December.

It's Christmas tree season and all sorts of pine boughs, holly berry sprigs and other types evergreen branches are being transformed into some kind of holiday decoration for front doors, tabletops and fireplace mantels all across America.

Getting set for the outdoor portion of the workshop and tea

Since it is the season to be jolly, we also, thought we'd get in on the "bring the outdoors, inside movement" to Blooming Hill and go beyond lavender (because we are more than just one dimensional, you know) with a Topiary and Tea Workshop this past weekend, in honor of jingle bells, sugar plums, hot cocoa and caroling.

P. Lorenz, on a mission to cut enough fresh boxwood, a few weeks ago, at our friend, Charlotte's, charming historic home.  Boxwood, planted by her mother long ago, line up along the front and sides of the house as well as in the backyard, creating outdoor rooms painted in leafy emerald green all year long.  However, at this time of the year, the boxwood is especially beautiful. We collected tubs upon tubs of boxwood for our 'Topiary and Tea' event, then took them back to Blooming Hill to give the boxwood enough time to soak up as much water as the branches could hold, in order to prolong their suppleness and freshness. Peter seemed right in his element pruning the boxwood.  Given free reign, I think he would still be there cutting and reshaping it.

The day was sunny, easy, breezy and beautiful, just like these cover girls who dressed for the lovely December weather.

Everyone can use some sort of holiday tree to "green up" their family room and what could be more appropriate than a fresh boxwood tree topiary to make, take and enjoy at home?  So, we put the word out and lots of our friends came to take part in the festivities. We had a wonderful time helping them create their own little piece of whimsical holiday greenery that even Santa included on his own "must-have" list.

Working hard, or hardly working but having fun--all the same while creating the perfect boxwood tree.

You guessed it.  No one is really listening to his instructions on how to build the perfect tree.  Yet, he persevered and when some trees were "finished" they really weren't until P.Lorenz applied his own pruning signature to them--whether it was with a scissors or a hedge sheerer.  I was a little worried he might just go for the electric clippers but there was no need as each tree turned out beautifully, with or without his stamp of approval!

The day was all sunshine and lollipops, rainbows and and cheeriness, full of friends making new friends while exercising their Christmas creativity.   Boxwood clippings seemed to be everywhere, being transformed into conical shapes coiffed in red and green ribbons, glittered balls and silver and gold trimmings.  The fresh air of early winter and bright sunshine, mixed together, completed this outdoor party before we all went inside for cranberry orange scones smothered in Devon cream, star anise cookies with sugary lavender icing, dark chocolate truffles and lavender-infused ice cream all topped off with our own blend of piping hot citrus and lavender herbal tea to relax chilled fingertips and warm tired toes.  John Denver used to sing of a "Rocky Mountain High."  Well, we boast of a "Blooming Hill High," sugar-coated in our own kind of sweet treat happiness with a view of the Blue Ridge out our back door.

Holiday "Au natural" greenery artists at work

A few of our guests who beat the topiary rush into the "tea room" enjoyed their own peaceful moment and quiet conversation along with their tea and scones.

A Yule Log burned brightly in the fireplace while our life-sized Christmas tree played host to our guests and glowed with colorful ornaments and glittery lights in our cozy living room turned festive tea room.  For at least a little while, our guests forget their lists of "things to do" and "places to be" and shared with each other Christmas stories of past, present and future, all in the spirit of the season with holiday music floating above the tables.

Making boxwood trees was so much fun, we think we will do it again!  If you missed it, you may want to put it on your "must-do" list for next year.  We know we'll be here and hope you will be, too!

After it was all over and our guests had taken their boxwood masterpieces home, Peter and I sat down to make a couple more trees and, of course, Tucker the boss supervised, as usual.  Happy Holidays and enjoy your festive greens and trees, whatever they are made of and however, they are decorated.