Mexican Sage

Fall must be near, because my Mexican Sage is beginning to bloom. I'm really not in the correct climate for it to flourish (or so the guy at the garden center tells me), but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about it spilling over a brick path and being all purple and soft and wonderful.

Happy Weekend!

* Photo info here.

Alternative Christmas Greenery

Christmas trees are great, but I think I love a pretty wreath or a long string of garland just as much. And the fresher, the better! I usually stick with traditional firs and pines, but how pretty are these seeded eucalyptus wreaths and garlands from MyHomeIdeas?


Locally, my wholesale florist usually has seeded eucalyptus (you should probably call ahead for this much). As a bonus, it looks great as it dries and smells fantastic. You can find directions for the garland here.


And directions for the wreath, here.

Photos by Jean Allsopp.

Hydrangea + Cedar Shingles = Perfection

It's hydrangea season, which makes me think of this wonderful house.


And that house reminds me how much I love cedar shingles.


New, or weathered to gray, they are so lovely.


Especially when paired with the Stars and Stripes. Now if that doesn't say "summer," I don't know what will!

Photos: Cottage Living, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, via Mod Girl, and unknown.

Day 1063's pretty

The gardenia is blooming all over the grounds of my office building and the scent is intoxicating! I haven't plucked any yet, but that is on my list of things to do very soon!

Happy {long} Weekend!

Photo: Jacob Termansen Photography.

Simple and Beautiful (and smells nice, too)

I picked up a bunch (okay fine, two bunches) of peonies at Whole Foods last week and have so enjoyed them! They smell divine and look better as the frilly flowers fade. Makes me wonder why exactly I haven't planted any of my own.


I also snipped a Magnolia bud from a nearby tree. I knew it wouldn't last long, so I got it before it opened on Friday (it was brown by Monday morning -- they also shed like crazy, as you can see). The soft white petals and waxy green leaves are impossible for me to resist!

Southern Magnolias are one of my favorite blooms and they also smell woooooonderful. The sweet scent instantly reminds me of my childhood and the hours upon hours my sisters and I spent climbing the huge trees in front of my dad's office after school.

Day 1024: Week in Pictures

This isn't so much the week in pictures as it's five-minutes-on-Tuesday-evening in pictures. I got home in time to see the setting sun looking so, so lovely on the azalea in the peak of their bloom. By the time I changed out of my work heels and grabbed the step ladder (one of them has got to be six-feet tall!), the light (above) was all but gone. I still managed a few nice shots, I think.

Day One Thousand!

Today Wes and I have been married for 1,000* days! I think maybe we'll celebrate with a fun dinner out and then more deck-building tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

* Did you even know that that is what the numbers on our posts mean? Someone asked me about it the other day, and I hadn't thought about it being unclear/random before. But I think I'm going to disable it next week, in case you are wondering.

Photo is by Salis Studio.

flowering branches

One of my favorite things about spring are the flowering trees and bushes. Here, the forsythia is out in full force, and the redbud trees are putting on a lovely show. The buds on the Bradford pears are looking heavy and swollen, and they will be followed by the magnificent cherries and then the dogwoods and azaleas. I am smiling just thinking about it!


As lovely as they are outside, these flowering branches are just wonderful when brought indoors. We have a few forsythia in the 'woods' behind our fenceline, so I bring some branches in each year. Mine were looking a little frost-bitten, but they perked up and bloomed almost immediately after I brought them indoors (and if the sun ever comes back out I will take a photo).




Flowering quince is blooming now too. I don't have access to any free branches, but Whole Foods often has them for sale this time of year. You've probably seen this arrangement by Katie Denham before, but it is just too pretty not to include.


Dogwood blossoms might be my favorite. This hanging arrangement by Martha (who else?) has a tree-like quality.


Cherry blossoms are the fullest and are real show-stoppers. I might just have to do some side-of-the-road gathering for these this year.


All striking on their own, they are also lovely in a mixed arrangement. Wouldn't this be just wonderful for Easter?

Photos: via Habitually Chic, Housemartin, Sisters Choice, Katie D-i-d, Martha, Country Home, and Martha.

Day 977: tulips and portraits

This image caught my eye this week because it reminded me of my house ...


And the white tulips sitting under my little portrait. I loved the way they drooped the night I brought them home from the grocery store, but of course they were standing at attention by the next morning. Tulips are so unruly. Maybe I just need to let it go* and let them do what they want. Trina says they shouldn't even be trimmed!

*Don't worry, I'm not losing sleep over tulips.

Day 958's pretty

I hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day! I personally love the holiday -- I don't expect or want any grand gestures, but it is the only time of year I don't feel like a total dweeb wearing pink or doodling hearts. I'm going to do some holiday-themed baking and we'll celebrate with a quiet dinner at home (and okay fine, probably a little housework).

Happy Weekend!

Lovely, lovely flower arrangements and photos courtesy of Saipua.

Day 839's pretty

Photo by Paul Costello

I love this arrangement of fall leaves and hydrangeas. Are the leaves changing where you live? They are just starting to think about here, and I am ready. I need some fall foilage, ASAP!

Happy Weekend!

Day 832: Friday Flowers

Today I'm thinking about dahlias. The dark ones, particularly (I think they're called Arabian Nights?). I keep walking into stores -- even Starbucks! -- to find bouquets of the biggest, most beautiful I've ever seen, and the shopowners say they were donated by a generous customer. Wonder if it's the same person?


I suppose that means they grow nicely here. I think I will add them to must-plant-for-next-year list, which is getting kind of long.


For now, I'll admire these, and maybe hit up the farmers' market tomorrow morning (it's the last weekend!).

Happy Weekend!

Photos, from top: The Bride's Cafe, this flickr stream, and this flickr stream.

Day 828: fall flowers

I never quite made it to the farmers' market to look for sunflowers on Saturday morning. Instead, I spent three hours on the patio at my favorite Starbucks catching up with two friends (and hanging out with Maddie). Better than an even trade, I think.


But I did get to add some pretty fall flowers to the house. Goldenrod is blooming all over the place, and I cut these from behind the pizza place near our house (side-of-the-road weeds are my favorite!).


They're so fluffy, and I love the burnt-yellow color. I've been pleasantly surprised to find that they haven't shed a bit while sitting in the vase. Best of all, they are f-r-e-e.


The same hydrangeas that were blue in the summer are now green with red-purple tips.


This is a great time to cut them for drying. They hold their color well when picked late in the season, when the petals feel papery. The method that has worked best for me is to leave them in the vase until the water evaporates. Doesn't get much easier than that.


And I was so thrilled to find some of the beautiful flowers that I admired on a trip to California in May. Erica helped me i.d. them last week, and I was thisclose to ordering them online when I spotted a few plants at a local garden shop.


I've been obsessed with Mexican sage since I spotted it here, at a hillside hotel along Highway One near Big Sur. It was so huge, and has a romantic, cottage-garden feel to it. It's also drought-resistant, which is great for the sunny beds on the front of our house.


I especially love the velvety flowers. What did you do this weekend?