Winter Bouquet and a Question for You....

Dear Readers - Coming up on the first anniversary of launching this blog, I'm giving content some thought, and would love a little feedback from you...

Would you like to see a fresh, local, handmade bouquet every week of the year? I've often posted photos of little bouquets just picked from my garden. There's no foristry, no wiring involved, just the intimate experience of picking what's fragrant, what's at its best, loosely arranging the flowers and foliage (usually in one hand) then plunking them into a vase. I think of it as a wabi sabi take on flower arranging.

The wonder of it is that even my tiny garden (less than 2500 square feet) provides bouquet fodder year-round...you just have to think of every tree, groundcover and everything in-between as a possibility for cutting. 

Can you please comment right here on the blog and let me know if enjoying these bouquets? Please tell me what you think... If you're keen, I'll try to give you a bouquet a week...

Here's a winter bouquet, picked yesterday, with three colors of hellebore hybrids, euphorbia for texture, and several twigs of Daphne odora (in bloom amazingly early).. The  hellebores hold up well if you cut several slits up their stems, and the daphne perfumes my entire little house with its sweet scent.

Comments

[Kathy A]

Valerie, every morning I check your blog with my cup of coffee. It's a great way to start my day. I would love to see what your bouquets will look like from your yard.
With anticipation, Kathy

[Susan]

Hello Valerie.

I, too very much enjoy seeing your artful and beautiful bouquets and would especially
appreciate any hints, like slitting the stems of the hellebores, that you can add
for making garden flowers happy once they are
brought inside for bouquets.

My daphne's are at least a month early this year, too!

Thank you,
Susan

[Vicki]

I really like the bouquets!

[Ruth]

Your bouquets are one of the favorite parts of you blog. I, too, love the cutting techniques. Do you also do a soak in warm or hot water with the hellebores? I'm failing to get the hand of picking mine. Must be warm up there in Langley, my daffs are barely showing color in the bud.

[Rhonda]

Valerie, I check your blog every day also. I enjoy the pictures you post and I would love to see more of your bouqets from your yard. Also like the tips on how to cut them to last longer. Thanks for a great blog. I realy enjoy it.Also enjoyed your book on low maintenance gardening.

[Martha Ferguson]

> I have always loved your seasonal bouquet style! I still miss having your weekly bouquets here in the Miller Library, so I make do with the ones on your blog!
> Keep it up, okay? I enjoy them tremendously. Cheers, Martha.

>

[Jan]

I am a recent transplant to the NW and comb everything you write for hints as to how to garden in this climate. I started reading your books and blog long before I moved here, in preparation. I really enjoy your floral offerings, as I too love bringing the "outside, inside" to further enjoy the beauty of my garden.

[Deirdre]

I enjoy your flower arrangements, too.

[Debbie Kate]

I hope to see your bouquets every week. I love your free spirited arrangements. Go for it!

[Lisbeth Cort]

These are delightful! Please keep posting for all to enjoy.

Also - wanted to let you know that the Coupeville Community Garden now has a blog http://coupevillecommunitygarden.blogspot.com/ and we're looking forward to garden opening on April 1. We have Spring Fever!

[Karen]

I would love to see a bouquet every week. Your arrangements are creative and beautiful and I love to see what is currently blooming in your garden!

[Linda Gage]

The bouquets are lovely. (By the way, did you ever track down the pink and white version of begonia boliviensis which you pictured in your article last year?)

[Emma]

The bouquets are beautiful! I would love to see more.

[Sydney Singer]

Hi Aunt Val!
I would love to see a bouquet a week! Your beautiful pictures are what get us through Alaska winter!