My Secret Collection.

I have a secret collection that my Farmer is unaware of.

 Isn't a bouquet of flowers

the nicest way to brighten a room?

 Our hydrangeas have been beautiful this year,

and even though they are still small bushes,

I couldn't resist picking their few flowers.

  The heat of summer

was threatening to wilt them in a hurry.

 Aren't they just amazing?

I abandoned most of my collections soon after we married,

only sparing pieces from special people or events.

I had enough collections to give nightmares to the greediest of hoarders,

so it was a relief to me

and my Farmer.

However, I kept a secret collection:

vases.

I treasure my vases that people have given to me,

and also have my own assortment of "favorites."

 This sturdy beautiful vase was a wedding gift from an aunt,

my father's sister Lilly and her family.

It reminds me of her:

it's beautiful, classy, capable, and a pleasure to have around.

So I think of her whenever I use my "classy" vase.

 This milk glass vase reminds me of one of my mother's best friends.

She's a loyal friend, and can make the simplest day turn into a ball of fun.

Her laughter is infectious and abundant.

I've always felt a little jealous that she is my mother's age.

 This green vase was a Christmas gift from my mom.

I said I was looking for a single flower vase,

and she found this sweet one.

It's green, her favorite color,

a clean, cozy, hospitable green,

and it's feminine, and fun.

I'm going to show you how I make a full bouquet

in this next vase,

one of my favorites.

 After a pleasant walk of picking flowers

 from the color scheme I am aiming for,

along with a large amount of filler plant

(usually a leafy plant with nice color or delicate features),

I strip the leaves off the lower parts of the stems...

 so the vase has less vegetation in it to turn the water green

(For my filler plant, I used branches from my variegated Kerria bush).

 I then place taller pieces of the filler plant in the center

and shorter pieces all around them.

I don't use them all,

just enough

and save some for the end,

to fill in anywhere that looks empty.

 I then took my taller flowers and situated those into the vase,

followed by the others,

spreading them out in random array.

 For this grouping I used Black-eyed Susans,

White Swan Echinacea,

and Queen Anne's Lace,

which I stole from Jake's pasture.

I wanted the Queen Anne's Lace because we used it

in the bouquets for my sister's wedding;..

years later,

her sons picked this vase out for me

as my wedding gift.

I always think of them and smile

when I use it.

Of course,

I never took any lessons on flower arranging:

this is just the way I find it works for me.

But perfect arranging is not always important.

I think this arrangement my daughter made for our table

is as nice as any...

sweetness from a child always gets the 

"Best in Show."




Linking up to these fun places:

Between Naps on the Porch: Met Monday