Hellebores, fritillarias, anemones, ranunculus, tulips, blooming branches….
The Northwest offers such bounty: spring fever has been in the air for several weeks! Isn’t the awakening of Mother Nature incredibly inspiring?
In late winter, there aren’t many chartreuse flowers or greenery to be harvested in the garden yet , except for the fabulous hellebore and euphorbia.
However, blossoms of cymbidiums and glads as well as hypericum berries, succulents and foliage of favorite houseplants like maidenhair and begonias, offer plenty of choice for chartreuse table arrangements at this time of the year.
Last week I blogged about hellebores and mentioned that I had visited Honeyhill Farms Nursery in Raleigh Hills. Owners Jim and Audrey Metcalfe are hellebore hybridizers. Earlier this week I went back with my friend Jamie Bosworth; she wanted to see and document this magical place.
Thousands of plants were in full bloom and we discovered new treasures in each flowerbed. Jamie’s pictures will tell a much better story than I can narrate. Savor the beauty of these incredible flowers that grace our gardens from early January til April or May. They are such a delight when nothing else is blooming yet in the early winter months.
Mr Jim took us graciously around on his 2 acre farm and answered our many questions. It takes 3 years to find out what the hybridized flowers will look like – so much patience and anticipation… You can find information on the many varieties that they grow and how to care for these jewels on their website.
Call them at 503-292-1817 if you’d like to visit their garden and purchase plants in bloom. Or you can visit them at the Hillsdale Farmers Market on February 21 or on March 7.
Last week I went to visit Honeyhill Farms Nursery in Raleigh Hills. Owners Jim and Audrey Metcalfe are hellebore hybridizers.
What ‘eye candy’ to see hundreds of flowering hellebores: they start blooming in January and still look gorgeous in April. What a treasure in the garden!
Call them at 503-292-1817 if you’d like to visit their garden and purchase plants in bloom. Or you can visit them at the Hillsdale Farmers Market on February 21 or on March 7.
Two more months before the Spring officially starts – but luckily there already are plenty of cut spring flowers available: tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, anemones, hellebore and primroses as well as blooming branches like forsythia, hamamelis and quince. What a treat!
In my garden the crocus and miniature daffodils have been poking through the soil for the last 3 weeks. Soon I will cover them with a warm blanket of black gold: mushroom compost. It is such a fabulous soil amendment and the plants thrive on it. I am thrilled that the various hellebores – a favorite! - have started to bloom already – in my book, spring is right around the corner…
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Kathryn Elsesser
Even though the selection of flowers and texture is certainly limited at this time of the year, the choices of white blooms shine. Early bulb flowers, such as tulips, anemones, paperwhites, ranunculus, cyclamen and hyacinths are here! Add to these the year-around availability of freesia, roses, sweetpeas, lilies, iris and phlox and voilà, the choices are abundant. Kale, parsley, brussel sprouts, small fruits, succulents, berries, evergreen foliage and vines from the garden will complement the arrangements beautifully!
An easy project in winter is to force paperwhites or hyacinths in water or soil; watching them grow steadily is fun and once they bloom, their fragrance will fill the room. My Mom used to force hyacinths every winter; their scent always elicits fond memories.
Thank you Joni and Jamie for photographing these winter arrangements!
Joni Shimabukuro
Joni Shimabukuro
Come join us and learn how to make a stunning Autumnal Wreath on November 16th (there is only one space left) or November 17th.
Create an eye-catching textural wreath , which will provide a classic welcome at the door – or a beautifully seasonal centerpiece. You’ll use materials which reflect the abundance of the Pacific Northwest landscape: rough bark, cushiony moss, lichen-encrusted twigs, bright berries, and small fruit from apple and pear trees.
Monday, November 16 or Tuesday, November 17 6:30 – 9:00pm $75
http://www.francoiseweeks.com/classes/am-sched.html
Joni Shimabukuro took these lovely pictures.
September 26,2009
Clear, sunny weather was delightful on Jannette and Charlie’s wedding day! The ceremony took place in the quaint chapel at Camp Colton and the rustic reception hall was fabulous for the reception. Rebecca Dryer captured all the beauty and joy of the day perfectly.
Jannette’s parents, who own a nursery, provided lots of birch branches which were incorporated in the centerpieces and the altar arrangements. A great special touch!
Jannette’s favorite flower: orange ranunculus!
Tom Hassler
Woven flax leaves inside a vase is a very time consuming project, but the result is worth it!
Shannon Spence
The yellow, red and orange veins in croton foliage make these leaves a great choice to cover containers with.
Rebekah Johnson
Instead of buying glass or ceramic vases, let’s take advantage of what is in our cupboards (any types of glasses, bowls, plates). Or even better, let’s create our own. It’s a bit time consuming, but a lot of fun and the end result offers a more sculptural effect.
On Monday September 14, I am offering a class on designing with fruits, vegetables and flowers; let me know if you’d like to sign up.
The options to create natural and organic containers are endless:
-Cover plastic containers with double-sided tape; then attach glossy leaves (laurel, croton, camelia) all around the container. Using twigs, rosemary or pieces of snake grass cut at the same length also creates a fabulous effect.
-Certain varieties of fruits and vegetables and fruits, such as melons, eggplants, squashes,… can be scooped out and filled with foam to create perfect water tight containers.
-Asparagus and leeks or halves of artichokes glued to a plastic containers look fabulous!
-Core an apple or pear half way (or drill a hole in gourds), add water and you’ll have a great vessel that will hold a few stems.
-Fill a glass vase with fruits or small vegetables (cranberries, unripe plums, figs and pears, small apples, lines and lemons…)
-Use 2 concentric vases and fill the space between them with rose petals.
In the next few weeks I will be posting more images to show examples; but here are some pictures of my favorite organic container: the Artichoke!