GARDEN GLORY MORE GLORIOUS THAN EVER. . . . . .

I spent the morning finishing the photos of my garden. . . . . . . such a grand difference than from the beginning of the season.  With all of the rain we have had, everything is so lush and so green. 

Quite a difference in growth from the original photo

of Garden Glory ~ Part One

At a garden club meeting, we were shown how to make these little guys.

Bob Friese, a famous Chicago floral designer, was our guest speaker

and he showed us how to cover a Styrofoam ball (two sizes) with moss and

using white birch, create this whimsical bird on a stick.

                                         

This Big Daddy hosta is about 4 feet wide.  I adore the Blue Spruce

and how it contrasts with the hostas.

My vine wreath is about 5 years old and is beginning to fall apart.  I purchased

moss, soaked it and filled the pockets with the moss so the dirt and flowers

selected, wouldn't fall out of the vine pocket.  I planted Creeping Jenny

and lavender Impatiens.  Love how this wreath looks against the cedar fence.

A pink Hydrangea's first bloom

Asiatic Lilies ready to burst.

Hostas, Zennias, Astilbe, Violets and a gift..............this Asiatic Lilie just

showed up here.......probably the work of a squirrel while gathering for the winter.

I love to use containers within the gardens in my yard, they

provide another level of interest for the eyes to rest.

Looking out . . .

Looking in. . . .  

Looking from the trellis to the deck.  Note the profile of a molded face

that I purchsed from an antique dealer nearby.  He bought it in New Orleans

following Mardi Gras.  It had been part of a float.

More pathways to walk and enjoy.

The walkway leading to the front of the house.

One of a pair of urns planted on either side of a step.

Birdbath turned bunny bath. . . . that Blue Spruce conifer so yummy!

Roses from my garden, lilies from Whole Foods

This hosta is called, Sweet Home Chicago.  For some reason, I could never

get it to grow in my front garden . . . .I moved it to the back garden

last year and finally, it has started to grow.  In both places, there was

a lot of shade, so I have no explanation for this hosta dilemma. It never

had any more than about 3 or 4 leaves and they were small.  Not so

this year. . .

Love the color of this grass specimen . . .

Limelight hosta

Angels in my garden. . .

My Anabelle's are ready to turn white.

Connecticut Blue Stone walkways. . . my River Birch to the

back right

My high school buddies sent me this symbol of friendship

after a visit to our home.  They were here for 4 days visiting from

the suburbs of Detroit.

The back walk . .  

Still more hostas . .

HOME SWEET HOME

Not much more to see at this time for the exception of my berm in the

front which still has yet to bloom.  It blooms at different times of the season

and presently my daisies are ready to bloom. One or more hot days and I

promise to take a photo.  They will be gorgeous this year. . . . so full and thick

with blooms.   Many thanks again for stopping by. . . .

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Garden Glory

Summer is officially here and the results of  time spent planning and planting is finally starting to be enjoyed.  My  favorite time of the day, is coming down to the kitchen, making a cup of coffee and walking my garden with only the sound of my flip flops.  As  I walk the path to my perennial gardens and listen to all of my little friends chirping away, they too seem to enjoy the environment we have created for them.  It is the most calming part of my day. that in the design field is never ending, and always demanding.  It is my time and the joy of it all is unexplainable.

A wonderful mix of hostas, violets and lilies.

                                                                                 

Well, good morning.........

We have a lot of shade in our back yard and these Begonias

are so happy in the shaded gardcn.

I love hostas and my collection continues to grow, literally!

Gracie's Garden

My Victorian birdbath that seems to be loved

by the Robin's in our garden

I purchased this flower cage at a wonderful  yearly flea market

in Charlevoix, Michigan a few years ago.  It is always held around

the 4th of July weekend and one that is not to be missed!

A fountain that no longer worked became a

planter filled with lavender verbena.

More paths to walk. . .

There are so many more places to visit and more to see. . . . . I am waiting  for my
Asiatic Lilies to burst and they will be here in all of their glory . . . . we just need a sunny
day..................it is misting today and the plants love it!  

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MEETING SADIE. . . . . .

Tablescape chairman allowed me the privilege to match the homes on the historical house walk with the florists that would be giving of their time and talent to this charitable event.    What floral designers will best match the homes that will be showcasing their talents?  One of the homes, on my list to match up was the Gaskey home.    I told  Amy that I  thought The English Flower Garden would be  a good fit  for her home.  (I had only looked in their
windows, they were new!)  Amy is a good sport and I felt she could make it all work!

I had yet to meet the owner, Sadie Belman, but encouraged this homeowner to go over and introduce herself.   At the next meeting, she had done so and was bursting with excitement

and enthusiasm over this new and not-so -familiar shop.  She had met the owner and she loved her!!   Her name is Sadie, she is so warm and full of English charm!  Amy commented that she may have gotten "the new kid on the block", but she was definitely more than OK with it all!!  (She was once the lead floral designer for Martha Stewart's 1-800 Flowers)     Amy's excitement over this talented woman was infectious and I knew I had to meet her as well.   We are fortunate to have many wonderful and creative florists in the surrounding neighborhoods, real talent I would venture to say.   But, how was  one more florist going to 'make it'?

That afternoon, I was so curious that I knew I had to take a ride over to her shop in Clarendon Hills.  I had been by it a few times, but never took time to go in.  This time, I must!   Flowers are a constant  source  of inspiration to me and an essential part of my life.
Could it be that there would be another flower shop for me to peruse, be inspired by and enjoy?

One of the first things I noticed was her use of color. . . and

this was in the cooler!

Her flowers were magnificent, the colors, the types of flowers that filled her shop and what particularly caught my eye were the double headed hybrid lilies. I had seen lilies before, but never a 'double' not to mentions the extraordinary color of these beauties with their green veining.

I had NEVER seen a periwinkle orchid in my life.

It was so beautiful.

My eye caught this beautiful glass container that had

been planted with succulents, which has become a favorite

new plant on my list of garden plants.

. 

Spring was just upon us and there is nothing more mindful

of the season than a hydrangea.  This deep salmon pink specimen

was out of this world.

 

 

Another beautiful arrangement caught my eye.  It wasn't really very big, maybe 6  inches across,

but the way she used color and texture made this just simply elegant.

Unusual colors of anemones, white with bright pink. . .

as tho' an artist had taken her paint brush and touched

the flowers edge.

Multicolored parrot tulips, jewel bright anemones, delicate iris', double headed garden

roses, orchids in colors that were unusually beautiful, birds, nests and wreaths  that were all ready for some

lucky customers front door.

I looked around the shop and saw a woman who I thought might be SADIE!

It was time for introductions. . . . .

I walked up to the counter and asked if it was possible to speak with SADIE. . .she said in

the most wonderful English accent, "I'm Sadie"

That was three months ago.   I have been back to her shop more times than I would like

to share.  She and what she does is inspiring and  unusually beautiful.  If  all of this creativity isn't enough, she couldn't be kinder or accepting of her clientele and their needs  as she multi tasks,  plucking stems  from the 

cooler to create a centerpiece for a client that has just called in.  She will be there in a half hour to

pick up the completed arrangement.  While waiting on another, she does this all with a

smile on her face, grateful for the confidence her customers have given her.

 She is inspiringly intoxicating

and I couldn't be happier than to call her my friend.  She has become a BIG hit in her new

community.. . . and so deserving she is of that ambiance of acceptance.

During our walk through her shop, it came to me that I would have company

over the weekend and I would like Sadie to do something with this antique flower

holder that I owned and could I bring it back....................

She loved the design and wanted to pull the pink opalescence out of the glass.

Here is what I found when I went to pick it up..............

An order of orchids awaiting  their placement in Sadie's shop

Candy stripped amaryllis

A birds nest wreath for someones front door

A reproduction of a French calendar page. . . on tin.

Sadie's shop is always changing with new items arrivinig weekly.  There are always a few fresh, enchanting arrangements ready for purchase.  Or, if you wish, create

your own arrangement. . . .Sadie will be there to guide you and help you. . . . AND

always with a smile!   Coming. . . . vintage and English antiques, straight from her

homeland!

For delightful service and creativity:

The English Garden Flower Shop

8 South Prospect Aveneue

Clarendon Hills, Il.

630-908-7389

 AND oh, don't forget to tell her that Mary Anne sent you!