Celebration of Fall 2018

You asked why the graceful containers with the pedastal bases were called compote vases, but I didn't know. And I still don't, but I have a theory!

Wikipedia tells us that the word compote is derived from Latin word compositus, meaning mixture. A compote is a dessert originating from medieval Europe, made of whole pieces of fruit in sugar syrup seasoned with vanilla, citrus peel, spices, etc.


Further investigation reveals that during these medieval times, the compoted fruit was served as a special dish, during special occasions- and so it went- before DelMonte started putting it in a can.

So would it be fair to speculate that this dish merited a special presentation such as raised pedestal container? 

And that floral designers, then stole them away for flowers? 

And that is was perhaps Constance Spry, the British Martha Stewart of the early 1900's who first did the stealing? What do you think?


It is with great pleasure that I present your compote arrangements. These are among the most complex we take on. Give yourself 
a hand!

 

Aztec Dahlia Workshop 2018

Last night I returned to the scene of the crime- that is; if flowers, and creativity have been outlawed by the current administration..... Whew, they haven't! So it wasn't a crime scene I came upon, but one of a more benign and curious activity. 

I arrived at Aztec Dahlias at 6:30 PM, as the sun was softening in these shorter days. Buckets were filled with water and flower food in preparation for a big dahlia harvest. Yes, 7oo or more blossoms for various orders. E- Gods, could the field give up that many flowers? Kate had been keeping everyone away from her white dahlias for the past two weeks in anticipation for cutting 250 , which was about what the field had to offer. Three of us got to cutting; pausing every so often to look at this or that amazing dahlia and a short pause to watch the sunset. 

But we were not dawdling. We were racing the light of day. That order was done and dusted pretty quickly- next! Then it was on to other colors of the rainbow. Then it got a bit trickier. How to determine whether a color really was coral in the fading light, was that a cool yellow or warm yellow? We finally put on head lamps to continue our harvest. We were more than half done when I took off,  the rest to be picked at the crack of dawn. I took no dahlias home last night, too tired and too dark to dahlia shop. Kate said that we would be surprised how many dahlias would open up during the night to replenish what we had cut. Truly a field of dreams.

I wanted to share that experience with the 12 of you who came out for our splendid 3rd Dahlia workshop at Aztec Dahlias. You have walked those fields and felt the magic. You were newcomers and accomplished designers alike. Always a good mix as the experienced designers help lift the others energetically.

Thanks to Mary, Diane, and Lourdes for providing some photos. I hope we got everyone's in here somewhere. What a special day.

Daily Vase

Dahlias can be such stand-alone flowers. But a little chocolate cosmos doesn't hurt either.

How to Make Store Bought Bouqets Look Great! 2018

This fearless, awesome group met just a few weeks ago. Hold onto summer by admiring these beautiful "after"pieces!

 

A Wedding bouquet

I was practicing a new technique for making a cascading bouquet for a bride recently and ended up making two bouquets. This one didn't make the grade.  

Some weddings are planned out in advance and you get to know the bride and groom quite well. It's a strange kind of intimacy. Usually the affair lasts only till the day of the wedding.You can be in contact daily, exchanging photos, thoughts and a creative journey. Then- it's over. The little flower world you have created is taken apart and dispatched. Sigh... 

Other's are a simple delivery request for flowers without fanfare or much knowledge of flowers on the bride's part. As was the case for this cascading bouquet. The once standard meet and greet in person is now done by email. So I didn't meet Sarah till the delivery. She paused (not all women in this state of preparation do) and seemed truly delighted. The flowers for this wedding, with the garden roses and dusky pink carnations was one of the most scented groups I've made. Making them was a feast for the senses. It made me wish that I had been making them for a couple I had more of an the opportunity to connect with. 

Ah well. Regardless of the depth of the relationship, I give the best I have. Keeping that effort true and strong is what matters and requires as much intention as practicing any mechanical technique.

Aurora Bell, Chapter 3

My cat told me that it is here. She is on red alert; her tail smacking the bookshelf perch that allows a bird's eye view of all the action on the quiet side street below our second story. The coyote is back. Every day once or twice a day, it passes to and from it's territory in the hidden creek nearby. I run downstairs and chase it off when I see it, "hazing" it's called and recommended by the nearby Wildcare Facility -so that coyotes don't get too comfortable in urban settings.

Aurora Bell has in fact been up close and personal with Mr. Coyote. A few weeks  back a neighbor called to tell me that she and this young male coyote were sitting was only 3 feet from each other. By the time I got outside he and she were circling round a car. Inter species friendship or stalking? Not going to find that one out. So now she is a mostly indoor cat.  A move neither of us ever expected down the the urban flat lands of Gerstle Park. I feel bad for her. She's young and loved to roam. Time for a different life.

Six weeks later finds me crouching down in the bushes across that little side street. My neighbor drives by and I poke my head up and nod. Hmmm... what is she doing, they might briefly ponder. Why I am on a cat walk with Aurora. She is now somewhat leash trained, which means she doesn't spring up vertically anymore at loud sounds and wiggle out of her harness. 

Cat time.... At first I was rather annoyed by the inconvenience of giving her a daily outside time, rather than just enforce an indoor life. But how could I do that? Outside time is supervised time, off leash in the yard and on leash out of it. I have to watch her so there is little time for weeding or doing tasks in the garden. I can take my phone out and answer some texts, but mainly I am following her. Her pattern is arrive, roll, lay and what? Asses her domain? Then move on. We repeat this here and there and there, which sometimes takes me into the bushes and other odd places that I didn't realize I would be squatting, sitting and waiting on a daily basis.

 
Now I mostly enjoy this little enforced meditation. Do nothing. Enjoy the garden without seeing it as one giant to-do list, see the neighborhood from a new perspective. Breath.

             And spend time with my girl.

Rose Workshop at Garden Valley Ranch

I pulled into the hidden driveway at Garden Valley Ranch at an ungodly morning hour and no one is  around. Yes! I was hoping to be here by myself for awhile. As I've begun doing destination workshops, I've discovered a secret agenda to enjoy these flower filled places alone, in the soft early light. It's a little mediation, a time of appreciation and quiet before all the tasks at hand.

Garden Valley is not only a rose farm but an event venue so the grounds are beautifully magical; the many vistas perfect backdrops for wedding photos. But today's gathering was not that of a bridal party, but for people who will go to great lengths (or distances, in this case, Petaluma) for the adventure of working with uncommonly beautiful flowers- they are not just for brides, ya'll. Today we were working with the queen of the flowers, Roses.

                                                                                                        Photo courtesy Garden Valley Ranch

And here is the work made that day:

Pave' Workshop!

The rainy skies cleared, so where was everybody? A mix up in printed times caused a staggered arrival and finally our group was gathered.

It was a mix of those who have worked with flowers a lot and those who had no experience. The best combination really. I think there is something about a group of people with a spirit of adventure and goodwill that lifts everyone up, no matter their experience level.

And ah, the agony and ecstasy of a manual camera. The ISO was set really high and gave the photos a grainy sixties feel. I feel like these arrangement photos could have been pulled out of an old "Life Magazine"!