Thursday, March 27, 2008

wedding orchids and seedlings

Today I have been getting flowers ready for a wedding design. The wedding bouquet will be deep purple Naomi calla lilies arranged in a nosegay style (round) and then I am twisting blue aluminum wire into free form circles to encompass it. Blue is being used to contrast with the callas and to add a bit of drama and unexpectedness. The toss bouquet is white and purple and white dendrobiums, hand tied in a very simple design. The bride is wearing white dendrobiums in her hair and the maids will wear purple and white dendrobiums. I am continuing the tropical theme with tiki torches at every table and am affixing dendrobiums and lilies to each. For the head table I am utilizing seashells with the flowers off to the side. The cake flowers will consist of Naomi callas, Starfighter Oriental lilies and dendrobium orchids, all cascading down the 3 tiers to replicate a stream of flowers, and the cake will be placed on a bed of raw sugar to replicate sand. I love doing wedding design, each wedding is different as is each couple getting married. I really get into making sure each brides vision is realized, and doing it in such a manner that she does not need to stress about her flowers. My philosophy too is for each to have all my attention, so I do not book more than one wedding design per day.
The seedlings are coming along great, with the exception of the lavender that resented transplanting. Theres one remainder lavender, and I am now understanding a bit more why it thrives in the garden, I leave it alone. Last night I had a class here at Kindred Spirits Organics about growing herbs in containers. 7 people came to the class and seemed to really enjoy it. Tomorrow night is our weekly guided meditation class after the store is closed, its really a great way to begin the weekend and allow stress from during the week to slip away.

Monday, March 24, 2008

seedling update

Wow! These little seedlings arent so little anymore! This afternoon I will be moving some of the taller tomato seedlings into 6 inch pots. I'll be posting some pics as I transplant them, just like a proud new parent. I also got more seeds this morning, mostly herbs. I picked up other seeds as well, cilantro, purple basil (perfect for flavored vinegar!) more thyme, more green mammoth basil, and oregano.
Shh, I'll let you in on a little secret, I also have a few more tomato varieties started...Black Krim, Marglobe, Rutgers and San Marzano. I love San Marzano for dehydrating and then steeping in extra virgin olive oil.....yum yum yum! Marglobe I haven't grown yet, so this is new for me.
I also got some Watchman hollyhock seeds, they are deep dark purple that looks nearly black. They are flat out exceptional near pale buttery yellow hollyhocks.
I love the whole cottage romantic style of gardening. Flowers billowing everywhere, paths meandering and allowing me to slow down for a moment, fragrances wafting, to hear the birdsong and see butterflies enjoying themselves. Fresh veggies, herbs, containers of plants here and there, and a garden bench to sit on, glass of lemonade or wine to refresh. This, to me, is paradise.