Trader Joe's Valentine to You

I enjoy Trader Joe's flowers so much I'd work there (in the floral department, part-time, if the store was down the block.)

Their bouquets are fresh and varied and reasonably priced. Plus their offerings are unique and creative.

In the fall our store sold small  in  yellow, orange and purple kolanchoes in tiny color-coordinated metal buckets. They were darling. I put one next to my kitchen sink because it took very little room, and it's still alive (but done with the blooming cycle.) Their larger succulents were reviewed in Southern Living as perfect hostess gifts. 

second blooming

In December they sold amaryllis bulbs covered in red wax. They looked a  flower version of edam cheese. No pot or watering required. I was curious to see if the bulbs would really flower. Wow, they did, four blossoms each for two cycles. 

You can see out my window to the snowy golf course, wind whipping, temperatures dipping into single digits. The flowers cheer my soul. 











I dropped by last night to see the latest, and picked up some Pussy Willow for a hint of spring. (They won't be budding here for three months.) And I love freesias anytime I can get them.  

They also had tulips and hyacinth rooted in water to take home and bloom--couldn't pass those up either. I chose a hyacinth.

The bulbs are from one of the largest bulb growers in the US, and labeled a Women Owned business. (The website has a searchable list of women owned businesses organized by type, fun to check out.)  There's an organization that certifies businesses at least 51% owned and managed by women! This one is a third generation family business. 

Two more reasons to love Trader Joe's flowers. 

Wow, the bouquet and hyacinth won't even be finished blooming by February 14th, but you can bet I'll drop by to see their Valentine for me!

Sprigs: flowers in the alley

I love this re-creation of an old ad. 

Last year I wandered around a small coastal tourist town on Whidbey Island, remarking about the alleys full of flowers. 

A friend reminded me our own Mt. Airy, small inland tourist town, does a pretty good job too. 




She's right. These show how a walkway between old brick buildings can be quite charming. 

Even the parking lot is welcoming. 


Good job, Mt. Airy. 

summer at the arboretum

Summertime, and the livin' is easy...

NC Arboretum near Asheville

Recently hubby and I headed west to Asheville and revisited the North Carolina Arboretum. Last time was in early April, no leaves, no flowers, but we enjoyed the empty limbs as we walked through the woods.












This trip, we hiked the Bent Creek Trail. And the rhododendrons were gloriously blooming.

All stages of development were evident. The pink buds swell, and the color fades to white as they open. 










Once the bloom ebbs, the individual flowers fall off.  For the first time I noted that each of the hundred flowers that make up the full blossom have five petals

From the cafe's screened porch, we watched construction on some new addition and munched a delicious apricot chicken salad sandwich. 

But the biggest difference between trips of course, was the flowers. I loved the pots in the water feature, and the simple repetition in the design of the wall behind the feature.













The quilt garden flouted common species, but some unusual forms and cultivars. I imagined turning a particular bothersome section of my garden into a mini-quilt next year. 

Like an umbrella in a beach drink, there was another excellent art display.  I was captivated with the images Barbara Sammons created using a photographic scanner instead of a camera. Be sure to use the link to see her stunning images of flowers, some manipulated electronically.

If you haven't been to the Arboretum recently--you really need to go. You wouldn't want to miss the gem. 

Make a pumpkin vase for Thanksgiving

My grandchildren enjoyed creating this table decoration. 

First they scraped out all of the seeds. We cleaned and roasted them. 
They really were delicious.

Then, we walked through the neighborhood clipping little pieces of greenery and dried grass to add to the flowers. (It's okay, we didn't go into anyone's private yard.)

Finally we put a jar inside the pumpkin filled it water and created our floral arrangement! It lasted for three weeks.

The Betther Homes and Gardens website has some lovely ideas.

Sprigs: Glorious Flowers Greet Fall

Glorious color in this late display along Highway 601 in Surry County, NC makes up for the trees. They're only turning brown. 

I saw a car stopped by the side of the road here, and the family had plopped the baby in its car seat in the midst of the flowers for a photo. 
I was sorry I didn't have my camera along to take their picture.