FLOWER CENTERPIECE

Do you know how much this centerpiece cost? I am talking the flowers here:

Apart from the vase which I bought many, many years ago, the flowers cost- NOTHING!!  Yea!
My Mum in Law gave me a couple of roses she had and the rest came from the garden.
The large leaves are from one of my Hostas.  The fuzzy magenta flowers are from a Spirea.  The grayish stems are from a Dusty Miller.  A little note about he Dusty Miller is that I planted them last year and I forgot to pull them in the fall.  Well we had a very mild winter and they went dorment and they survived!  They are very big so far.  So I cut off the flower stems and added them to the bouquet.  The tall red flowers are the flower part of a Heuchera.  I wanted to make a bouquet but I wasn't in the mood to spend.  So off to the garden I went.  I love it when I can pull something together out of what is available.  So what I guess I am saying.... look around and be creative-you never know what you may be able to pull off!

Just as a side note- the Red Glasses I purchased at Home Sense a couple of years ago for $3.99 a piece!  How could I not at that price??  The lanterns I spoke of in another posting.  The lanterns were originally Navy and were purchased at Ikea.  The clear glasses were also purchased at Home Sense- they are pressed glass and I have 2 different types- one with a bee motif and another a shell motif.  To say that I love them would be an understatement.  I originally saw them in a store.  They are pressed glass and are made in France.  They tend to be a little pricey but they were very reasonable at Home Sense.  The Vase-well I have had that for donkeys years. I cannot remember where or when I bought it.  But it is my favourite.  It is not expensive but when you love something-cost just doesn't come into it!!  And finally the runner-I made that one myself a few years ago out of remnants I had lying around.
So there you have it.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan

WHATS BLOOMIN'-END OF MAY-AND A BIG SHOUT OUT!

First of all - I just wanted to give a big shout out and thanks to Kristin at Favorite Paint Colors blog. 

She posted about my Living Room yesterday!  So Thanks Kristin!  It is people like her that make this blogging community so great.  You should check out her blog- it is full of inspiration from everyday people.  You know when you see a room and were wondering what colour it was painted-well she lists the paint that was used in that particular room.  Not only that, but other people can then hop on over to that persons blog to check out stuff.  What a great idea!!  So go on over and check Kristin out-you won't be dissapointed!!



It seems that everything is blooming slightly early.  And the heat today and tomorrow is really going to push my Siberiam Iris' to the max.  They won't last long.  But when they do bloom they are gorgeous.  They are the most gorgeous purple ever!!

Doesn't nature just rock??  That purple and blue!  It is redonkulous!!

Gloxinia- Pratt and Lambert

I also have the most amazing Poppies this year.  I planted them 3 years ago. And like any perennial it takes a few years for them to really establish.  And boy have they delivered this year!!

Flame- Pratt and Lambert

This Poppy looks like it is on fire-  It is the most beautiful Orangey Red.

Deep Cerise- Pratt and Lambert

This Poppy is a gorgeous deep pink.
They look as if they are made with the most delicate crepe paper ever.  You know what I mean when I say crepe paper??  Like the paper that streamers are made of.  The center of the poppies is and amazing purpley brown. 

Kalamata Olive- Martha Stewart MSL 195

I'm in love!  Can you tell??

Have a great day everyone.
Megan

BLOOMIN' MAY!

Well Spring is definitely under way here in Southern Ontario.  Although we did have a very mild winter and an early spring things cooled down a bit to slow things down just slightly.  The lilacs are blooming and so are the ornamental trees.  I wish you all had Smellovision-it smells just amazing!
I thought I would share with you all some of the things that are blooming in my garden along with some paint colours that I pulled out of them:

I love Irises!  They are just so amazing!  I received these from a friend of my Mum-in-Laws a couple of years ago.  Now that they have established, they are going to bloom really well this year.  This is the first bloom and it is gorgeous!!

Lemon Freeze 2025-50 (BM)

Vintage Wine 2116-20 (BM)

The Yellow chosen is much more of a yellowy green in real life.  And it has a brightness to it as well.  The Purpley brown is a great contrast to the yellow.



And of course the violets are blooming.  I do think that they are great-to point.  They can tend to be a little invasive.  But their little purple flower is really quite lovely!  I really love the combo of the bright green with the purple.

Something similar in paint may be.....

Scandinavian Blue 2068-30 (BM)

Gassy Fields 2034-30  (BM)

The Scandinavian Blue is much more purple in real life. They look pretty sweet together!

Bleeding Hearts are such a magical flower.  They almost look unreal!  The shape is just crazy.  And the pink!  Love it!  Pink is my favourite flower colour.

Raspberry Mousse 2076-40 (BM)

Fresh Lime 2032-30 (BM)

 Doesn't it sound like these two would be good enough to eat together?? Raspberry Mousse and Fresh Lime  I just love the colours of pink that are in Bleeding Hearts.  There is a white version of Bleeding Heart but the pink is by far my favourite.

Gotta love Lilac not only for how they look but for how they smell.  The scent that they are pumping out right now is just amazing!  I tried to get a better pic but the blooms are quite high up in the tree.  One tip for lilacs is that when pruning them make sure that the main tree has around 7 or 8 good arms.  If you get suckers of smaller ones growing-trim them off.  This helps to keep the shape and to make it put all it's energy into those 7 or 8 branches.

Lavender Lipstick 2072-50 (BM)

Beach Plum 2072-60 (BM)

When it comes to my Lilac tree, Mother Nature sure knew the right colours to pick.  It is such a lovely Lavender colour.

The last item in my garden that is blooming besides the weeds, is my Viburnum.  I must say that I am not very fond of it's scent but it sure is pretty.  The flowers are such a nice shape.

Well that's it for now.  Other things in the garden are growing like the Hosta's and Dayliliies but they aren't quite there yet.

Have a great day everyone.
Megan