Little Bouquets

One would think, judging by the way I go on and on about my flowers, that I would be bringing armloads into the house every day for bouquets.  Not so.  My gardens are actually very small in size; I prefer trying many varieties rather than lush quantities from fewer plants. I lack the space for "drifts" of any one variety of a perennial.  But I have more plants to talk to this way!    I rely on a few favorite annuals to fill in the blanks and to weave the perennials together throughout the season.  If I were ever to bring in a large and beautiful bouquet the garden would probably looked ravaged and quite bare.  So instead, I borrow a little stalk here and a little blossom  there and focus on small accents in small containers.  Nevertheless, when I see them in my house  they brighten my day.  It didn't take much to fill this sentimental little treasure, a china tea cup that belonged to my mother-in-law.  A couple of years ago I purchased a "frog," which I have used over and over to hold my flowers upright.  Might be the handiest little item I've ever bought.

My favorite garden color combination is of cream, pink blush and pale green.  In the Spring I find it in Helleborus, Astrantia "Roma" and tiarella.  In the summer I find it in clethra and hydrangea.  I love combining different varieties of hydrangea in small arrangements in the month of August.  For this I borrowed from Annabelle, PeeGee and my Hydrangea Tree (which is my favorite of all the trees we have).

I would show you the little vase of lavender and salvia "Cathedral Sky Blue"in the room that I just painted a nice shade of purple, but I just can't bring myself to post a picture of a porcelain throne.  You'll have to trust me. It is a very sweet little accent.