Blossoms & Blooms
I need flowers in my life! I've been buying some here and there, but not weekly as I usually do and I can definitely see a difference in how my home looks and feels. Maybe some are not as sensitive to whether or not they have flowers around, but I am. My mother was trained in floral design before I was born so you can imagine how our home and yard looked growing up - flowers and plants and a gorgeously landscaped yard that was the envy of the neighborhood. In fact, our neighbors loved our yard so much that they'd ask my mother for tips and often when I couldn't find her I'd see her planting and digging next door as the neighbor stood there grinning ear-to-ear. It was just her way. She planted, cultivated, picked and styled flowers, shrubs, trees, you name it... The flowers would often end up in pretty containers in our home and she even painted them onto canvas with oil paints simply because flowers inspired her and they just made her happy and still do.
Illustration by Jennifer Murphy, photo from Domino.
Watching a mother so passionate for these things couldn't help but leave an impression on me. But it wasn't just her, my grandparents lived on a working farm where she was raised and so this passion was also planted in me at a very young age whenever I would visit them. And no doubt if and when I have children, I'll be teaching them at least how to arrange flowers as I didn't inherit a green thumb -- though lately I've noticed my plants are no longer dried up and withered but healthy so perhaps my black thumb days are over.
My own arrangements are shown above in both my current and last home.
What about you? When you look back on your childhood do you recall any experience or even a parent or sibling, aunt or uncle, even grandparents who had a deep appreciation for nature, namely plants and flowers, that they passed on to you? How did this influence your adult life? Or perhaps you did not have this influence early on but rather, picked it up as an interest later in life? And if so, what made you think more about bringing plants and flowers into your home? And how are you doing with raising them? How often do you buy flowers and style them? How does the experience make you feel? I ask all of these questions because I believe that demanding schedules and life in general gets in the way of slowing down to consider how and why we do certain things, why we have specific rituals around the home and how they make us feel and contribute to our overall sense of well-being. And by the way, the common expression, "Stop and smell the roses" is so true! As you are styling your arrangements at home, take time and really get into the moment as it can be quite an enjoyable experience of the senses.
More generic arrangements but beautiful flowers from 1-800 Flowers. Note: Once they are delivered you can add in some of your own store bought blooms to design a custom bouquet.
This week I plan to buy some flowers that I've never bought before, lately I've been bringing home mostly tulips and roses and orchids. I will go to the farmers' market tomorrow and try something new. The thrill of the hunt, even for something as simple as a bunch of flowers, can turn a rather mundane task into something pleasurable. There is nothing wrong with making some of the simple things in life matter in some way. It's comforting somehow, like days aren't running into weeks and months without me slowing down to feel all of these precious moments.
Just a simple plant...Stella Nicolaisen
Heather in my living room from last Autumn.
Sunday Suppers, Karen Mordechai.
Well, who thought that simply thinking about flowers this morning would lead to an essay? Aren't flowers uplifting and altogether lovely? I can't stop but appreciate them whenever I pass by an intriguing flower shop window. I peeked into a shop yesterday around the corner from my home and saw some sweet mini cypress trees that I may buy for my windowsills, or perhaps a small potted olive tree for my kitchen window. I can't wait until Spring so I can hunt for some flowering branches to put in my living room, they make such a difference in the mood there and it only takes one or two in a tall vase. All of these beautiful photos show, whether large or small, flowers have a profound impact on our mood as well as our interiors. Don't you think it's time you took a walk over to your local flower shop?
(images linked to their sources above, please click on them to find the work of some pretty amazing creatives out there!)