The Sunflower Knows

sun·flow·er

The sunflower smiles, the sunflower knows.
Unashamed she sheds her clothes.

The sunflower smooth's the restless sky
and lovingly she warms the ground, on which you lie.

The sunflower knows, the sunflower’s wise.
She sees the doubts within your eyes
and so she takes her sunflower time.

Tells the moon to wait and the sun to linger.
Twists the world around her sunflower finger.
Lets you see the wonder of it all.

If you’ve learned your lesson well
there’s little more for her to tell.

One last caress, its time to dress, for fall.

My Sunflower bouquet sits happily on a wooden pedestal in my entryway. Displayed in a coffee press ~ Some flowers still fresh and ringed with halos of red and yellow flame-like petals ~ Others going to seed and beautifully beginning to droop. All searching to face the life-giving rays of the sun under a portrait of my Great-Grandfather Collier.

From young seedlings to stately stalks, Sunflowers continue to give. After all the petals & seeds have dropped, their beautiful, dark & handsome heads take a final bow.

 

It’s easy to see why people love them so much!

 Hope you caught my play with the lyrics of the classic tune ~ The Summer Knows. I hope you could hear Barbara Streisand singing as you read ~ I also hope you're looking forward to a really wonderful weekend.

Click my readers to read more about my favorite Sunflowers grown during the lazy days of summer.

Seeking Shelter

Taking every possible opportunity to enjoy these long hot days of summer.

Even if it means being drenched by occasional rain.

Seems it’s turned my blue bench into a reflecting pool.

Don’t you love the heady aroma of gathered greens ~

This heat though….

has brought with it a bit of tropical flare ~

Mornings are cool and fans move the heavy air.

The sun has arrived, along with the sound of cicadas and the occasional slap of the screen door.

Time to take shelter.

“ It’s the shelter of each other that the people live.” Irish proverb

Thank you, Jamie Shelman, for reminding us that Cats need shelter too!

Earth Cave Summer Ink Drawing by Jamie Shelman

See more of Jamie’s delightful work at her Etsy shop, The Dancing Cat Fine Art and Prints.

Have a wonderful day friends and stay cool ~

Garden Accoutrements

What do these three things have in common?

 

They’re just a few of my favorite things that I’m talking about in the new issue of Styling Magazine!

 

 

You’ll find all sorts of goodies in my article on Garden Accoutrements!

Enjoy!

 

 

Styling | A Digital Magazine Published by Stylist Coty Farquhar

 

Peony Heaven + Addendum

Every year I ask myself the same question.

Do I leave them in the garden?   

Or do I bring them inside for bouquets throughout the house?

Since the old fashioned aroma of this gentle flower is most appreciated indoors, they make their grand entrance in my Grandmother’s old fashioned cut glass vase ~ the kitchen table is best for photographing in the morning light.  

Before long, I’ve pulled out all shapes and sizes of vessels and the house is filled with the sweet smell of peony heaven.

Even though they’re gorgeous when in full bloom, snip them just before they open and they’ll last longer indoors.

Tiny Visitors?
Shake them from the cut blooms, or wash them off with a gentle spray of water. Ants are neither beneficial nor harmful to peonies, they’re only attracted to the sugary liquid secreted by flower buds.

That little lady got a free ride inside.  If she doesn’t bother me, I won’t bother her.

See ~ she’s already disappeared.

Like I said, peony heaven.

If only they lasted all season. Imagine how nice it would be to always have peonies in full bloom for a special occasion, to give to a friend, or simply to refresh a bouquet at your kitchen table.  

 

Good news ~ there’s a way to harvest peonies in their bud stage to save for whenever.

Select flowers with a well-developed bud. Ideally, the bud should be neither too loose or too compact. Pinch it lightly. It should have the consistency of a soft marshmallow.

Cut the peony, leaving at least a 12-inch stem attached to the bud. Wrap them loosely in a damp paper towel and then wrap the bundle in a sheet of newspaper. I used craft paper like the photo below.

Store the bunches horizontally in the refrigerator ~ tell your family. The flowers will keep for 3 to 4 weeks!

After two weeks I was ready. Plus I needed more room in my fridge. So this morning I unwrapped my bundles to find this!

Let’s just say I had my doubts ~ especially about the little pink babies. Those buds were attached to big blooms, hence the short stem.

I removed the lower leaves, gave the stems a fresh cut and placed them in room temperature water.

Then I waited.

My tiny visitor…poor thing froze to death. She’s most likely in peony heaven.

By noon I kid you not ~ I was enjoying big beautiful blooms!

I added fresh greens from the garden & they were even prettier this afternoon!

Like I said, peony heaven.

Learned a lesson along the way too ~ Don’t snip your buds too early.

 Addendum to Peony Heaven added this evening.

Those little pink peonies above that I was about to give up on ~ took their sweet time and blossomed right open today!

Just goes to show ~ you should never give up on your buds!

What’s your favorite bloom in your garden?

I’m looking forward to Herbs, Hydrangeas, Roses & Sweet Peas!