Monday, September 9, 2013

A Few ... Flowers in the House

Keeping my fingers crossed for a few worthy blooms to take to Jane's Party.


 Success!
Zinnias, Butterfly Bush, Roses, Asparagus Fern, and Hydrangea

No fiddling, eye-balling, or arranging... just poked each one into the jar



Zinnias are such happy little flowers!

 I pulled out the 4 little hydrangea clusters for the must-have lovelies on my desk!
Our awesome blogfriend, Madelief, reminded me recently of a wonderful book, The Country Diary of An Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden.  I wondered what Edith observed in her September in 1906.
A lovely book... a fascinating woman, an interesting life... such beauty left for us to enjoy.





 While nurishing the needs of the zinnias, the downpours were unkind to the plants. A bit of twine and a battered rake with a broken handle did the job of holding them steady.


Couldn't leave out the beautiful Gala apples from our resent trip to the mountains.



Winesap apples soon to be apple butter!


 
Autumn is coming!




Please visit/join Jane's Flowers in the House. You are sure to see lovely flowers, read interesting comments, and visit friends across the globe without leaving your chair. Smiles to all!

P.S. Mise mentioned (and I am still giggling) in her post today that we "fling together a few effortless blossoms to display attractively in front of anything that will show us in a good light, lifestyle-wise"... please, please don't look to closely in the hopefully blurred background of the photos... you might see signs that my lifestyle is filled with clutter, dust, and a spiderweb or two!

30 comments:

  1. I love love love you zinnias. I usually get big bunches of them at the farmers market, but they didn't have them this year, which made me sad.
    Those apples look delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jen.. I plant zinnias every year since they don't seem to mind the hot, humid late summer days. They are very easy and the plants can grow quite large with lots and lots of flowers. The apples were a bonus from our trip to Tennessee and North Carolina; however, these are good old North Georgia apples!

      Delete
  2. More than a few worthy blooms - they look stunning, and as a strong supporter of the plonk them in a vase look, I totally understand your reasoning. Aren't zinnias such a happy flower. So colourful and abundant. Apple butter - not something I've heard of but sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amanda... you will have to "google" apple butter recipes. It's a yummy cooked concoction of apples, cider, and sugar cooked into a smooth spread for toast or biscuits. Delicious! If my foray into this is successful, I'll post pics and a recipe. Wish me luck!

      Delete
  3. How nice to meet you, Susan! I'm sitting here looking enviously at your lovely little copper jug, and admiring your charming flowers and lifestyle!

    The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady is a favourite of mine too - its gentle humour is ever so engaging.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mise... The little copper vessel is actually from a vintage set of mugs and pitcher. Reminds me of something that was popular mid-twentieth century in the USA. Thanks for your kind comments.

      Delete
  4. Don't zinnias have the greatest colors? And all in one sometimes too. You poke well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amelia... took real talent to cut and poke those flowers all the while swatting the invasion of lovebugs buzzing around me! I love the pinks, but am always tickled to see the pretty deep orange or pale coral. Zinnias ROCK! Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  5. Now I want a winesap. And I want it now.

    Great cutting in your garden. And I love the rake stake. very clever.

    Thanks for coming to the party!

    xo Jane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane... wish you had one of these fresh from the tree apples! The flower beds are looking pretty puny, but the tenacious little zinnias bring a smile. When my husband saw the rake stake, he just shook his head... he has learned that I am apt to turn any old thing into something special/ridiculous! Thanks for the visit...

      Delete
  6. I agree you poke well! We call it jam it in a vase style. Sometimes it is just about the colorful flowers and not some style. Apples look yummy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks... I do a passable job with the poke or jam... which ever is called for. The flowers had such presence for late "hot" summer, I was just the "jar toter". The apples were fresh from the Georgia mountain orchards and are delicious! Appreciate your visit!

      Delete
  7. Well, clutter, dust, and a cobweb or two makes me feel right at home! ;o) Gosh your flowers are so pretty - love that you just throw them together and they end up as beautiful bouquets. I know this is about the flowers, but I have to tell you and a gasped when I saw your old rake being used as a prop for your flowers. LOVE that idea and am totally going to copy you. What a fun post. :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Deb... just come on over! I have plenty of all the above mentioned. Please do recycle an old rake into a garden stake... I guarantee it will bring lots of smiles! Thanks for the visit!

      Delete
  8. What nice flowers you have! Thanks for visiting with me today. Hope you will come again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Webb... thanks for popping in. Isn't this fun? See you again soon.

      Delete
  9. I wish I could put flowers together to such good effect. The bouquet is lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind comment... seems karma took over and produced a pretty result. I do so love those zinnias and the butterflies, bees, and other critters they attract!

      Delete
  10. How wonderfully pretty, you have a real eye for it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Green thumb.. Thanks for stopping by. Would you believe I have almost finished the photos for your AUGUST scavenger hunt? Never too late to join in, right? Smiles across the miles to you and yours!

      Delete
  11. Dear Susan.
    your bunch of flowers looks very lovely - mixed together on the spur of a moment gives often very wonderful results! I have still to find out what the blue plant - you call it butterfly-bush - is, and who is visiting the zinnia on one photo. (A grashopper?) I love Edith Holden's 'Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady' very much (but beware of little rivers). A dutch illustrator, Marjolein Bastein, moved into the USA, and her drawings might please you too (wonderful calenders, drawing a bit like Edith's).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Britta... I am unsure of the proper name for the "butterfly" plant. I planted it many years ago. Because our climate here is humid and subtropical, it never completely dies back. We just given the bare limbs a good springtime pruning and it rewards us with delicate plumes of tiny purple flowers. Yes, the grasshopper was taking a respite from the heat of the afternoon. Appeared that he was using the zinnia as an umbrella! I will definitely look for Marjolen's work. Thanks for the suggestion. Hope you have a pleasant week!

      Delete
  12. Beautiful flowers, a gorgeous mix. Especially love your hydrangeas. I'm looking forward to planting zinnia seeds when I get back home x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The hydrangea bush has outdone itself this year... The more I cut, the more blooms appear! I must confess... I have "hydrangea envy"... A friend has a hedgerow of deep purple ones. The blooms are 10 inches or more in diameter. Just stunning! I hope you have a bumper crop of zinnias... Please share photos...by then we will be deep in winter and wishing for some zinnia love!

      Delete
  13. Hi Susan,
    I LOVE your photo of the Zinnias and rake. It's very artisitc (and a great idea too!). Did you think that they will make such an interesting photo when you used the rake to support the Zinnias?
    Christa

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just needed something to prop up the lanky plants that were toppled by the daily rains and the broken rake was behind the shed... very handy! Thanks for stopping by...Susan

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hello Susan,

    I really love all your photos, especially that one with the rake standing up in the Zinnias. I want to paint that! Maybe a few white fluffy chickens would look good in front of all those colors in the background. LOVE your blog and thank you for sharing Jane's blog too.

    Susan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Susan... I think you could do a wonderful interpretation of the rake and zinnias ... Especially with a few sassy hens scratching around looking for wiggly treats! Can't wait to see it! Thanks for your kind comments.. Appreciate the visit! Susan

      Delete
  16. I love zinnias and hydrangeas. Zinnias because my grandmother always grew them and hydrangeas because they are so gorgeous. Beautiful pics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra.. Thank you for visiting and your kind comments. The zinnias usually last into October here and make the bees and butterflies really happy! I hope to plant several more hydrangeas next year... They never disappoint! Isn't it wonderful how we can tag things in our memory to those we love? Happy Wednesday...Susan

      Delete

Your visit is appreciated and thank you for taking the time to comment, too!