Monday, July 22, 2013

Flowers In The House Of Hydration: July 2013


6:00am: wake up to a cat's paws patting your face, rather insistently.

Very reluctantly open your eyes and see two cats sitting on the bed with expectant faces, like you promised to take them to the circus for god's sake.

Get up, drip espresso, add ice and milk, feed cats, find sunglasses, open back door.

See the potting table you bought off Craigs List sitting in the back yard. All three of you are surprised.  You because you forgot, it all happened quickly and after work, the cats because they hadn't seen it till now.

You walk down the stairs, the cats leap from deck onto potting table and begin sniffing. The woman who made it has dogs.

What a morning. Rain and cloudy skies in the forecast. Forecast be damned, full sun.

Walk around the garden and decide on a green and white theme for FITH. Hope to project a cooling feeling. Already covered in sweat.

Pick, strip, plunge into pitcher of water, flowers I mean, spray on bug repellent, ice more espresso and get to work in the garden.


10:00am: switch to sparkling water and lemon syrup. Drink deeply.
11:00am same
12:30 ditto.

Leave garden, eat, shower, fall into deep sleep in airconditioned house. Nice.

3:00pm: Decide to use green vases to follow theme. Go up in attic to unearth some. Negate shower.
Make mess in kitchen arranging flowers in vases. Make and ice more espresso. Sweep.
4:30pm: Move vases and shells around, take pictures in a hurry. Friend in from out of town and bringing over her 6 year old son to visit.

6:00pm: go out for fish tacos and limeades.
7:00pm:come home and find yourself playing a hot and sweaty game of soccer with 6 year old.
Score a trillion points. A TRILLION I tell you.
He's a generous goalie.

8:00pm, back on the sparkling water and the computer.

9:00pm, post written.

Gardenias in kitchen window.
Washing dishes no longer a chore.

Dining room green vase full of the first of the limelight hydrangeas, mandevilla vine, oregano, lisianthus, coneflower,lemon verbena,and baptisia greens.

Living room, another green vase full of scents. Rose geranium, pineapple mint, verbena, oregano, abelia, painted fern and more mandevilla.


Delicious.
And on a shelf, a little vase filled with the leftovers, a bit of bush ivy, herbs and a sprig of acorns.


I love FITH, I would never have so many flowers unless I was having people over.

And I am aren't I?

Now, off to your house. I'll stop by Starbucks on the way. Latte anyone?


50 comments:

  1. Insomniac me, dropping by early. Bringing tart lemonade. Tell me more about stripping. Flowers of course.

    I'm all over your green and white. So cool and fresh. No blowzy reds or pinks need apply. Does anyone do green and white weddings or parties?

    Does the gardenia have that crazy rich gardenia scent? All of your arrangements are gorgeous--so many wonderful shapes and shades, textures and patterns. The green and clear vases enhance the whole cool thing. Inspiring.

    I'm off to plunge into a pitcher of water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stripping: taking off any of the lower leaves that might sit in the water thus hastening the life of the flower.

      Your new green vases were the true inspiration.

      Delete
    2. Okay, that I do. And the cutting at an angle thing.

      Plenty of green vase love here. I was thinking about trying putting the same flowers in different color vases to see the effect. Maybe next time.

      Delete
  2. Love the green and white, and totally covet that gardenia -

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  3. Beautiful flowers! I really like the colors :)

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  4. It's so funny hearing about iced coffee and hot weather as I wrap myself in a blanket on the couch.
    Love your green and white arrangements.......very cool x

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  5. All done; wish my flowers looked as exotic, varied and just downright gorgeous as yours! As usual, Mr Linky hates me, so I'm hoping you'll sort him out for me yet again?

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  6. Yes - the green and white is beautiful, and your arrangements are so lovely. Worth the extra trip up to the attic for the green vases. Limelight hydrangeas - I must remember to track some down for my little garden.
    Hope there is some respite from the heat soon, although the iced espresso remedy sounds ideal. xx

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  7. Green pottery, vases, Gardenia, green, white, acorn sprigs, other . . . stunningly beautiful. You have a gift . . .

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  8. Ooooh I can just smell that beautiful gardenia. And I love love love your green vases. Flowers, gorgeous as always, but I want to see the potting table.

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  9. I want to see the potting table too. I saw the perfect one at a garage sale this weekend but foolishly left it behind and now it's all I think about.

    A zillion goals, huh...I couldn't even think about playing soccer in this heat. It's so nasty here, I have to take flowers from the shop because my garden is looking a little droopy. Happy Monday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well I must cnfess I didn't grow the lisianthus, the Amish did.

      But everything else is mine, this month...

      Delete
  10. Oh man, I love that you used oregano in your arrangements, Jane. Beautiful bouquets and entertaining words as always. :) Have a great week! xo

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  11. damn your flowers look good jane. now i want an iced espresso and a potting table.

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  12. Jealousy here - gorgeous cool flowers. Can't wait to see the bench!

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  13. What a beautiful bouquet Jane!

    Happy week,

    Madelief x

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  14. Such pretty flowers!

    Those kitty paws. I tell Lucy, "Cat. I KNOW where that paw has been. Get it out of my face!" ...she just keeps on demanding attention in a way that gets my attention...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, there's nothing worse than the scent of litter drifting up your still half asleep nose.

      Delete
    2. You are certainly right! Lucy particularly likes to aim her paw at my mouth - yuk! My one comfort is that Lucy has no front claws, Molly on the other hand, er, paw, does but she's not into face patting.

      I was wondering, other than herbs, do you grow any veggies?

      Delete
    3. I seem to be killing more than I am growing this summer.

      Only things hanging on are sungold cherry tomatoes, jalapenos,maybe eggplant,I think that's all that's left. Sad, bad, hot summer.

      Delete
  15. LOVE the green and white :) So refreshing.

    I had a cat named Stanley waaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when I had a water bed. He used to balance on the wooden edge, w-a-i-t-i-n-g for me to open my eyes so he could pounce and knead :)

    Now we need flowers to celebrate the new royal baby boy!

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  16. Hi Jane,

    I bought flowers! Your green and white color theme inspired me.
    I hope you know what they are.

    xx,
    Denise

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  17. Love your cool refreshing flowers. I am supposed to be working but I couldn't resist a little party... so much fun. Stay cool.

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  18. Thanks for linking me. I did somerhing wrong. A few degrees cooler today, but humidity went up. Garden is not happy, nor am i.

    Think we could convince Marie and Vince to relocate to the Nation's Capitol? I hate that she has to move just as the book comes out. Stay cool as you can. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm afraid they'll leave the country. And DC? Never. She's already lived here and I don't think there's enough outdoor space for Vince.

      But I wish!

      Delete
  19. First time I've ever read your blog and love it. These arrangements are to die for!
    Lynne in Georgia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well thank you, come on back, we do it every month. almost...

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  20. Those are really lovely - especially the big green vaseful. Perhaps my favourites in the whole series.

    And I'm glad it's sitting on the fig book.

    When are you taking them to the circus? You did promise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fig book features in many photos:-)

      Now it's the only fig I have.

      They're fussy cats,insisting on Cirque De Soleil.

      Delete
  21. Jane darling, you know I would never miss a party at your place! I do love all of your gorgeous white and shades of green arrangements in your green vases and the bottle with that amazing Gardenia. I even love the way you have them arranged on the green wood table. And the story about the six year old and soccer, very sweet!
    xo
    annie

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  22. Laughed out loud at the promising to take the cats to the circus. Love your green and theme; it's so elegant. A big fan of the scented arrangement.

    I trust you slept well after that busy day.

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    Replies
    1. Yes I did, until 6:00, the magic waking hour. Shall I bring the cats to Boston?

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  23. Hi Jane...
    Your blog is lovely...and your photos and words as well..
    Love the green and white arrangements...
    Have you ever added Hosta leaves?? They look stunning around the edge...

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a good idea, I should use them before the slugs have at'em.

      Delete
  24. Gawd, that's a perfect descirption of Blossom when I get home!!! You'd think that playing ball was as big a deal as Disney World.

    Your greens and whites are perfect after the hell we've suffered! That arrangement in the green ceramic is just gorgeous.

    You're the mostest!

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  25. Green-and-white takes the edge of that heat, doesn't it? I have a paltry offering, but hey! this is winter shut-down over here!

    for the record: my URL is http://moreidlethoughts.wordpress.com

    because blogger hates wordpress so I'm trying to comment from a google account.
    Kinda like the Middle East, innit!

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  26. Your cats in the morning sound just like my baby- peering out of the cot ready for the fun to begin. Love the cooling green and white.

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  27. Jane... as usual you have outdone yourself! Lovely, lovely flowers and vases. The green and white combo is stunning. You and the kitties are welcome here anytime... it has been a 3-ring circus lately. Can Gus or Lucy ride a bicycle?

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  28. I always go a bit week at the knees at all white and green arrangements - just lovely. Sorry to be a day late for the partayy! xx

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    Replies
    1. My door is always open. Just happy to have you, time is no matter.

      But your beautiful flowers matter mucho.

      Delete
  29. Beautiful ... green and white just has to be my favourite ... it's always my go to, and half of what I grow here is white, or green :D

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