here's a wonderful {flower-ish} wreath that was made from unbleached coffee filters, but once finished sure does resemble beautiful hydrangeas!

so simple, so sweet!

falling back.

sorry we've been slacking here. time just keeps ticking too fast...

but we didn't want to miss this one!

oh, there are certainly reasons why we love autumn the best.

these are a few of them.

in the garden.

not much of a green thumb, mostly because of patience issues.

but i sure do enjoy living with mr.green thumb himself!

aren't "my" zinnias pretty?

baby, baby.

just a lovely summer Sunday afternoon

full of sunshine and celebration.

simple, and oh so sweet.

the best kind of bouquet for me to receive

is one that speaks sentiment.

so imagine the sweet surprise

of coming home to find these perfect blue hydrangeas

arranged on my entry table.

nearly ten years ago,

they were the starting point

of my own wedding design inspiration.

now, they still remind me of that day...

but they're even sweeter because of the years in between.

just a side note: i love it when brides carry

vintage handkerchiefs around their bouquets.

mine (as pictured) was navy blue linen

with a perfectly embroidered initial of my groom.

welcome weekend.

aren't gifts wonderful?

recently, i received this amazing vintage birdcage from a friend.

and the best part?

it was just because.

something cheery.

trust me, we needed it as much as the recipient!

happy thoughts to you & yours.

it's hard to have a favorite flower when there are so many,
each offering unique blooms and fragrances...
but if we had to choose,
this would certainly be at the top of the list.

the lovely peony.

nothing fancy.

we like texture, and variety...

and throwing in a little something special

from our own garden!

bright & bold.

friday's wedding featured a beautiful bride,

lots of contrasting color

& the sweetest bouquet pin that i didn't get a photo of!

dear anemone,

you're quite temperamental and fussy...

still we can't help but love you!

windowsill.

celebrating life

every day.

cedar lake farm.

this weekend's wedding was far away from the city-

off a beaten path, in a modernized barn setting.

not your typical "farm" wedding, by any means.

lots of green hills and pretty ponds

and a funky bride that was fond of bling!

happy marriage to you both!

last weekend.

indigo, celadon & salmon.

what a brilliant color scheme

to cheer any event.

happy easter!

from our cottage to yours.

celebrating:

under water.

to commemorate thirty wonderful years, we used lots of glass vases

and laminated pictures of the birthday girl.

we mixed the flower's types and colors and

created a festive palette of brightness and character.

submerged in water, the pictures become magnified

and add such a personal touch.

thrifty and special still.

that's what we like here at bloom.

looking forward to more events where we can incorporate similar arrangements!

good 'ole masons.

this season, we're getting lots of requests for arrangements in mason jars. happily, we oblige, because we also agree that these lovely antiques make for a beautiful backdrop to most bouquets.

my grandmother had nearly a barn full when i was little, and now i find myself using them for all sorts of reasons: to hold my beloved button collection, paper clips and tacks... leftover candy conversation hearts and kids' reward incentives for a job well done.

here's a peek at part of our collection of blue ones- which are especially charming.

although not florally related- we must share this find we stumbled upon while searching out some of these jars. a wecolite cake decorating kit. we can't wait to put this baking classic to use!

the elegant ranunculus.

meaning:

you are very attractive

origins:

the ranunculus derives its name from the latin word rana, meaning "frog"-hardly the picture these dainty blooms bring to mind. the name refers not to the flowers' appearance, but to the moist environments in which they typically grow. ranunculuses are members of the renunculaceae family, and are related to peonies & anemones. these flowers have gently bending stems covered with soft, fuzzy hairand sparse foliage.

availability and vase life:

february through june. 5-7 days.

oh, and did we mention?

this lovely bloom is absolutely one of our favorites!

peaches 'n cream.

there's maybe nothing we love more than pretty vintage vases

(except for the flowers arranged within).

this one: milkglass goblet,

and it's recipient: much-deserving.

contrast.

certainly one of the best ways to use an ordinary flower is in high quantity and against an opposing color. red & aqua is at the top of our list for contrast favorites. really, could these red carnations make a bolder statement?

and sometimes it's fun to mix different textures and colors to showcase a beautiful bloom. so whimsical and delightful are these blue agapanthus- especially being hugged by the brightness of yellow & green poms.

the hope for spring...