gardenrooms

Taking A Break

School has started again and I'm taking a much needed break to begin a new garden. Hope your labor day weekend is relaxing. I'll be back with more gardenrooms in September and a give away ! Images from cote quest of course. 

A Garden in the Sunset

   
 

 
This garden belongs to young couple that are both Doctors. They wanted a place to entertain their families on their days off and for Holidays. Another request was there be a native garden. From here things took off... they planted figs, apples, pears and blue berries. There's an herb garden, a vegetable garden and a cut flower garden. The gazebo has a wrap around bench that is wide enough to sit in or lay. San Francisco~ 2010

Grattan Garden

Came across this darling little school garden yesterday. Love the signage and special touches.. 

     

   

One Word..

.. for these outdoor rooms ~ G.o.r.g.e.o.u.s.

images from cote ouest 2010.    

Camping Out

New images from cote ouest mag. Camping has returned..a London couple finds the spirit of the American pioneers in Wales.  

   
 

I love the atmosphere of this wonderful campsite.

Keep it Simple and Sophisticated

 
real simple mag. Summer 2010  

Guest Post : Small but Charming

One of my favorite bloggers is Flower Jane from Small but Charming. Jane will be sharing her flower arranging expertise with you today! 

Thank you Robyn for asking me to write my first guest post. You were also the very first blogger who listed me on their blog roll. It's always a first with you, and I'm flattered.

You asked me to pick a favorite flower and write about it. I'm a floral designer and am usually surrounded by flowers of every hue, scent and season. We get shipments from California, Holland, South America , Australia, South Africa and this time of year, locally.

Me being me I can't just write about a flower, I have to make an arrangement with it. This week, however, I'm home and only have my garden to pick from. My favorite flower of the moment is the lime light hydrangea a cultivar of the Hydrangea paniculata species. It's a big upright shrub (except when we have a mini tornado come through) with blossoms that glow in the sunlight, grow bigger by the day, and last until the frost. They can even withstand our hot, humid summers here in the south.

First things first: gathering and conditioning. I cut a few hydrangea blooms, of varying sizes, stripped off any leaves that would be below water line, gave them a fresh cut with sharp clippers and put them in a big pitcher of water to hydrate. I also gathered a handful of lime green nicotiana stems, blooming white oregano (also delicious), a few stems of white mandevilla vine and a bit of lush Swedish ivy. These too were stripped of any leaves that would hit the water and cause bacteria to grow, then plunged into tepid water.



 
Several hours and iced skim lattes later, I filled a large mason jar with cool water and took all outside to make my mess. First I placed the 6 stems of hydrangea in the jar creating a crisscross pattern with their stems, the smaller ones were reserved for the edges of the container and were cut shorter. I staggered heights of the heads, making sure to put the biggest ones in the center, then I poked the oregano in and around the vase, making sure to keep some tall to lighten up the hydrangea mass and to add movement. Next came the nicotiana, with the mandevilla and ivy filling in around the edges of jar. I turned the jar around as I was working to make sure all 4 side had a full look going on.

When finished I took the jar to the sink and flushed out the water giving the flowers a fresh drink. I placed it on the dining room table and did a little happy dance. Why? Because you have your post and I have a refreshing green and white summer bouquet.

 This one's for you Robyn! A garden bouquet for garden rooms. Thank you again.

Country Home

Great images of gardens from country home mag. peaceful settings.

Hawaii Flora

    

 

  


From Ford Island's adorable renovated 1950's bungalow's to the North Shore's Hale'iwa, I am lovin Oahu Hawaii !