The Garden

use what you have - here pink rhododendron, blush mountain laurel and and white rose in a silver wine bucket - fragrant, fresh, fabulous.

jasmine or 'mock orange' - a sweeter scent is hard to fathom. so simple and delicious.let this light, narrow vase of gorgeous May blooms welcome your guests in a foyer or dining room.

chives, a long lasting, funky vase with a surprisingly gentle floral fragrance. they will keep opening and growing for days after you put them in a vase.

Something different

For a classic simplicity of asian floral art - deep pink mini phaelanopsis orchids in a decorative ceramic container or timeless white calla lilies in a slate ikebana vase.... anniversary, birthday, wedding or just because - there are lots of variations on including flowers in your life.

Pensive Weeds at Pennington Day

It turned out to be a nice day. Anne-Renee and I talked to a lot of people. She can be contacted at studiospruce@gmail.com for more information and to sign up for cooking classes. I gave away all of my business cards and now must start working on a new format. It was lovely to see so many people out. My booth with the hand sewn sign at the top and all the perennial garden plants was between a party hairspray booth, a bank table and a chachki booth with bugles and cars made across the seas.... the global warming champions. Across from me was an angry icecream man with a generator big enough to sustain a village. Now he had an unequivocally successful day. I had a great deal of fun, though and am looking forward to next year. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and thanks to Bryce and the kids for helping with set up and take down.

A birthday party

Peach, white, lavender....touches of yellow - classy spring. It was a modern clean decor 40th birthday celebration for a charming lady with plenty of texture in her tastes. The flowers added just a little something extra. Hydrangea, freesia, tulips - all usual suspects, plus 'girlie folie' peach sweetheart roses to kick it up a notch. Peach is a great color to offset the overall scheme.

The 2 big arrangements have also white calla lilies and bridal wreath spirea for added trailing effect as they went up high, variegated hedera helix (english ivy - almost a must do, as a 4 year old would say).

Happy 40th!

Here is a variation on those lavender roses with baby birch branches this time. I love the ruffled outer petal and the contrast of the chunky rose with the slender branch. The sparkle of misty water droplets adds an extra dimension.

Pennington Day - Saturday May 16th

Come visit the Pensive Weeds booth on Main street at Pennington Day tomorrow May 16th from 10am to 4 pm. We'll have garden plants, flowering plants, floral arrangements, festive gift baskets and lots of handmade items - see you there.

a centerpiece

a french tablecloth, dutch hydrangea, carolina peonies, lilac, white sweetheart roses - what's in a place....

special touches

Anne-Renee had her Spring in Provence lunch today, which was wonderful - information on her classes can be found at http://www.princetonol.com/newsletter/pdf/studiospruce0509.pdf

these napkin rings are made with small wicker wreath and california leptospermum and lilac flowers. they do take a lot of time, but the way they transform any around the table event is simply priceless.
lilly of the valley in the powder room - the most perfect fragrance comes from an early spring flower.

happy mother's day

lilly of the valley - true may flower, birch branches and translucent lavender roses, bear grass in a square clear glass vase - perfect for any occasion, but especially on mother's day.

Wisteria

these gently lavender very fragrant blooms will not last in a vase for too long. but the days that they will, are filled with the glory of spring.