Wedding Flower Advice

"As much as I didn’t like my flowers at the time, I have with time, learned two important lessons. 1) don’t be talked into flowers that you don’t want, and write down those you do and 2) the flowers aren’t what make the day. As much as I love flowers, I’d rather have bad flowers and my husband than perfect flowers without him"

That is what Gwendolyn has to say about it. I enjoyed reading her reminiscence of her family's wedding flowers. Reading through her story, I shared her angst with such a callous florist. It sounded as if the sales pitch was geared toward what an unimaginative designer wanted to foist on their client. How sad.

Today there is no need to settle for such poor service... with all the books available, the internet sources for flowers, and so many creative people whose designs are accessible through many media sources (Martha Stewart, alone, offers some of the most beautiful designs in print, online, and through florists, etc).

I did the flowers for my daughters wedding, except for the Brides bouquet which had to be absolutely perfect. I didn't feel I wanted to be responsible for that. The advice I would give to a d-i-yourselfer: arrange for some helpers. It is a daunting job if you only have one pair of hands, but it is lots of fun.

someone's wedding in the park

At the time I wrote posts about it, (of course!)

• April Wedding Flowers 
• February flower choices  the original date we were looking at
• Wedding Flower Books - the ones that helped me the most at the time.
• How it all turned out

For me, the wrench in the works was the pressure of the wedding "overseer" at Franklin Park Conservatory- more interested in moving along the wedding party to make room for her next client of the day. I should have ignored her insistence that the gear get gathered up by the mother of the bride. There are always plenty of others who can be drafted into it. but this is what we don't always foresee- for the people who make their living from events, sometimes it is just a business to them, and they pressure for their own agenda, not yours.

The only way to avoid that is to hire someone like Derek Bergemann, the chef who catered the wedding. Yes, he was a friend of ours, but more importantly for the outcome of his service, is that he has a true love for what he does. That creates a winning situation for the Bride- she has the best possible service. Just as in the marriage, nothing really makes up for passion if it is missing.

Same is true for those who provide the flowers. Someone who takes pride in what they do will care about your happiness that day.

Best advice all around: Get something you love.

---

Be sure to see Gardens in Ohio and A Botanical Wedding.

June Flowers

A sampling of some flowers that bloom in June, here in my Central Ohio garden. I had plenty of deep blue larkspur and mammoth-sized dill that came up in the vegetable garden. The heat caused most things to go by all too quickly, and we have now entered a seasonal lull in which the container plantings fill in with their annuals. The heavy storm last night blew over the top heavy Annabelle hydrangeas. I was surprised to see them splayed most awkwardly- this type usually has sturdy legs.

before the storm

How Did I Get Here Again?

Life is Good

A fellow garden blogger has to cut back on the hard labor in the yard due to medical issues. I can identify. We all grow older, and our gardens grow older... we can move from a garden (or house) that is too much work, but you are sort of stuck with your body. This becomes the next challenge for many of us.

Lots of garden ideas and their accompanying pictures are lots of work, and probably involver the work of more than one person. I don't think this sort of gardening is going to be sustainable... not because of the environment, but because of the nonrenewable energy of US! At the same time gardening is becoming more important for health and economic reasons. What to do?

Sure, machines.... but even machines require a certain amount of strength and energy. So it comes down to design.

1. Redesign your ideas. About what you want in your garden. About what you expect from yourself. About what portion of time and effort goes into the garden work. My husband and I want more time to enjoy what we've worked on. we have worked hard on the house and garden for lots of years. LOTS. Mostly it was to nourish and shelter our growing family. Now our family is shrinking along with our ability to put the work in. Even if we did have equal ability to expend effort, our desire now is to enjoy our lives more. That is an idea that is not age-related... we ought to have redesigned that part of our view years ago.
2. Figure out how your redesigned ideas and goals will look in garden projects and plantings. Now act like you are in a whole new place with a whole new garden. Rethink how you want that to function. I'm starting to view everything with the desire to simplify the look. This is hard because I am such a collector/conservator sort of person. But as I discover that a clean look and ease of maintenance is a good aesthetic for me... it becomes easier to part with those work and energy pit ideas of fussy plants, or rock edgings that require lots of hand snipping, or plant companions where one just swamps another, etc.
3. Go ahead and be brave- implement those revolutionary ideas. In the house it has been room by room, outside it is the same method. I am changing gardens one by one to require less work. The heavy duty vegetable space out in the back 40 ( OK, just half and acre deep into the yard) is getting raised beds. The tiller is a more manageable size for me and fits inside those raised beds. We resumed food growing because it makes sense for our future. Flowers are now in containers, for annual types, and the hardier, self-sufficient type in mixed plantings. I gave up the former English style perennial border, and don't even plan to have another. I am growing cutting flowers in the old veggie garden, which still shares space with lettuce and Swiss chard.
4. Frequent and small tasks rather than marathon work extravaganzas. I am trimming down  my life, and have been for many years. I decided my garden was important to me on many levels, so it actually is now gaining a bigger share of the pie chart. For some, this change involves a new view of gardening- an end in itself, rather than an obligation to keep the curbside value of the house. Keep it simple, but not to the point of dead boring- expand the interest in your yard to the extent that some consistent efforts will produce satisfying results. Stay outside long enough to get some vitamin D. Puttering can be fun.
5. Design for small areas of big impact. Small areas are easier to take care of, if your work is restricted to a few parts of the yard, and the results are apparent. This includes a large empty urn, a few big rocks, a grove of small ornamental trees underplanted with groundcover. Good design keeps the picture big and unified, not small and bitty and all over the place...which is really hard to take care of, anyway.

Change is good, embrace it. Include enjoying life as part of the plan.

Knee Deep in June

"Long about knee-deep in June,
'Bout the time strawberries melts
On the vine."
-   James Witcomb Riley

That is where we are in the year's rivulet which we mark in our short span of life. Knee deep in June already! Ohio's strawberry time, where small, but bright red strawberries with their sweet summer aroma are in the field and farm markets. I once had a big patch of Earliglo, and this year, in the memory of that, planted out some strawberry plants under the heirloom tomatoes in my new raised bed. I should try to plant more strawberries I think. If I do not get things planted within this short window of early June, I risk losing to the heat of July.

It has been hot, but very rainy here. The raised bed planting has proved fortuitous for my tomato plants, since our water table is high. Last night was another soaking rain, with its ominous claps of thunder breaking the quiet of the night.

I wonder about this summer. It seems so prematurely hot and I wonder what that bodes for the rest of the season. Checking in with the Almanac, they seem to have gotten it wrong this year. "Summer will be cooler than normal, with the hottest periods in mid- and late July and early to mid-August. Rainfall will be below normal, with the greatest threat of drought in the east.". Doesn't sound like my weather.

Endless Collages

Not really. Just two collages highlighting the Endless Summer Hydrangea. My soil is neutral to alkaline, and unless I add acidifier the bloom colors will not be blue. This year has been extra wet and hydrangeas love the water, so bloom has been good. 2010 has not been the norm, the mophead hydrangeas are much more happy than usual.

I very much like 'Endless Summer', so I think it is one of the best for Central to Western Ohio. Eastern and Southern parts of the state have more acidic soils and more reliable moisture- hydrangeas probably don't struggle as much for you. I always have to water throughout the summer; it even wilted once this summer.

Enjoy the photos.

Summer 2010, various stages

2009 Endless Summer photos

The more pink color of 2010 is not a photo difference,' Endless Summe'r last year was more lavender bluish, this year it is a shade of pink. 

You'll Rue The Day...

Rue with no view of the flagstone path

Ever heard that saying? It might become all too meaningful if you are working on a hot summer day, especially while trimming back the "Herb of Grace" Ruta graveolens, AKA "Rue". The sap from cut or bruised plants can be very irritating. Some people actually blister from it.

 I was doing just such a task today, and noticed my skin feeling prickly and irritated. The plant is amenable to hedging , and was used in old knot gardens.

The smell, sometime after the first acrid whiff when the plant is injured in some way, is pleasant... and it would be my guess that this contributes to its nickname 'Herb of Grace'.

The historically given reason for the nickname is that the Roman Catholic Church used sprigs to administer Holy Water long ago.

Indigenous to Europe, it grows very well here in Central Ohio. In fact, it seeds itself very readily and while somewhat dying back in winter, a good trimming rejuvenates the small shrubby plants for the coming season. Chemical analysis has unlocked the dominant properties of Ruta graveolens. It has alkaloids which are poisons, and a goodly amount of Coumarin, that sweet smell of cut hay- like the sweeter herb, Sweet Woodruff.

As an ancient herb, quite a few myths and rumored uses have attached themselves to its reputed qualities. I would be skeptical of many of them. Remember that lead was once used as a physic and cosmetic. Not all lore is reliable.

I've had rue in my garden since I started my first herb garden long ago. That garden is gone now, and rue shares the lavender walk with plantings of lavender, iberis sempervirens, white Geranium sanguineum 'Alba'. and Lambs Ear. I like its umbrellas of chartreuse flowers and blue-bloomed foliage.

...but I do have to be a bit careful in handling it.

More Late Spring Pictures... and Thanks

I saw many rainbows this year

The peony season is over, but they were beautiful

Alchemyst bloomed richly though insects feasted .

It is still rainy. In fact, it rained today. I removed the lettuce which looked fresh and healthy, but had gone bitter with the heat. I hoed away the many little weeds which were everywhere in my vegetable/cutting garden. Hot sweaty work!

I try not to feel overwhelmed, but there is a lot of weeding to do- it is like July here. But then I look at how my children have helped and how my husband made some raised beds for the big vegetable garden. And I think of the encouragement I received to rebuild my gardens.... and I just feel thankful. It makes the overwhelmed feelings fade( or in this heat, melt) away.

I've seen gorgeous rainbows, and experienced my garden's aromas and beauty, I've harvested some lettuce salads, and added to my arsenal of working tools with a Troybilt Mantis* tiller. It has been a good year... quite different, but blessed.

I appreciate my online garden friends... and thank each one for their encouragement and support that comes from their interest. It helps to give me meaning to my days. Writing is for the reading, and so many things in our lives are like that. I am thankful.

* I'm not a very good person to remember brand names...oops.

Pictures from my garden.

Late May Flowers

a few scenes

Wet And Wild - Rural Observations

That would sum up the weather this month so far. By now every Ohio Gardener is talking (and complaining) about how wet it is and wondering when we will see the sunshine of June! My vegetable garden is sprinkled with those ominous tiny weed sprouts, but we are mostly mowing and trying to keep up with the grass around here. and let me tell you about the other night's thunderstorm! I was doing some late night reading when a flash of light like the second coming and a powerful simultaneous clap led to immediate electrical shutdown. My husband scrambled around- then said- the tramsformer is glowing. Wow, that did not sound good.

I lit some candles, more for comfort of light than anything... I felt slightly electrified myself. Really. I think my electrons got realigned. It proved far less dire than it seemed, since the electric company came promptly the next day and it was only the lightning "arrester" which was fried, and not our electronics. That was a relief.

However, there has not been much relief from the soaking rains and the fields do not look good. They were well on their way to looking like early healthy crops, but I notice whole sections of field corn yellowing. When new plants turn yellow that is not a good sign. The gorgeous wheat- who knows? But wetness is never a good thing at harvest... and my sweet cherries? They were a bumper crop that have gone moldy on the tree. Not even the birds had a chance at them!

I'm not ready to be discouraged yet... hopefully we will hit a more normal weather pattern here soon.

I did take pictures last month, and captured the Jersey cows on camera.

A quick look at the cow herd...

seeing who the strange lady is....

I hopped out of my car on a neighboring plot... new parking lot for business. At first the cows were all wary, but soon their curiosity got the better of them. They came up close and jostled each other for position. I took my photos, spoke nicely too them and went home.

HOT!!

i ave been AWOL as well for awhile. wish i could say it is housecleaning, but living
alone does have its merits. i would rather dig a hole than run a vacuum cleaner!
my sandy driveway continues its slow migration into the kitchen. visitors and
my old dogs dont help... it has been up in the 90's, with many stormy afternoons.
we do need the rain, but the grass is very tall, and my 4-legged lawnmowers cannot
keep up. i have a borrowed push mower, and have cut back the yard, and pathways
to greenhouse and asparagus beds. you must be up early before it heats up, and i
confess that temps rising are proportionate to my unwillingness to mow. the horse
and goat are out this morning. it has been 70 @ 7 AM, most mornings lately.

here in ga. the rains came at proper time for the fruit crops. little green figs are fast
appearing on my old figs trees. i believe they are "brown turkey"- quite large trees
(bushes?) a large-fruited brown variety- another bequest from past owners. they are
quickly picked and preserved... the yellow jackets and ants love them as much as i do!
all the peach growers have bumper crops. lots of big blueberries and blackberries, too.
i wait 'til mid-july for the "red indian" freestone peaches to freeze, but i have been enjoying
a box from nearby orchard while i wait. a juicy mess on my chin, but heavenly flavor!

there are more and more small organic farms springing up; city markets too.
the demand for fresh organic produce is rising, along with public awareness of their
healthy delicious products. i sold 35 bunches of asparagus this year- some to the local
food co-op, and some to friends.
i recommend the early hard work of setting out the crowns and liberally composting.
after that, wood ash the beds every winter, and occasionally use compost or old manure.
it is the most rewarding vegetable, with the least amount of yearly work. they get mowed
once a year in earliest spring, but live comfortably with the grass. my beds are 25 years
old, still producing big spears of green gold! they will long outlive this humble farmer.

all the flowers have been especially gorgeous with proper amounts of rain and sunshine.
right now blooming in my yard are several salvia gigantica cultivars. cobalt, sky blue,
and one with very dark stems called "black and blue". the hummingbirds love salvia and
i do too. they are hardy, reliable and bloom all season if cut back. the purple globes
of the elephant garlic flowers (alliums) stand high, waving in a sudden breeze. their
heads bent over from a strong storm revive the next day, and tower over the flowerbeds.

even if mimosa trees are a southern pest, i enjoy the fluffy pale flowers while they last.
the magnolias creamywhite blooms fill the air with that sweet lemony scent. my hydrangias
are in full bloom, both the big blue bunches, and the lace-caps. they have grown on the
semi-shaded eastern side of the house since i came here-another gift from a former
resident. even the bonsai enjoy the rain and shine, although they must be watered,
sometimes twice on these summer days. my late-blooming tiny satsuke azalea still
displays pale pink freckled blossoms. i am prouder of this "child" as i made it myself
18 years ago. i ve reduced my collection to just 15, for easier care, but temptation is
always there for "just one more".
almost all gardeners share this desire. (weakness?illness?) i stay away from the plant
nurseries this time of year, and start my own seeds. i still plant too many, and must
find new homes for my babies each year.

the morning chores are done, the lawnmowers are hard at work...so i am retiring
to the cool den, under the ceiling fan to work on my artwork. perhaps this afternoon,
i'll take a dip in the water trough, my redneck swimming pool. %D
a straw hat and a good novel are crucial, and of course that southern sweet ice tea!
i'll emerge, refreshed, to tackle the evening duties once more.
Life is good, even if sticky-sweltering temperatures....
best greetings from patagonia farm!

vty- j-lea