California Poppy

Every spring, these wonderful perennials pop up in my front garden. Sometimes they pop up in the place where they were last year as a true perennial growing from last year's roots. Because poppies are excellent at reseeding themselves, sometimes they surprise me by popping up in new places that they haven't been before.

The serendipity of discovering new feathery poppy seedlings is always a treat for me in the spring. I see their little green leaves begin to come forth after we've had the winter rains of December and January. By February, they're beginning to make themselves known. But I have to wait until April to see their gorgeous brilliant blossoms. More often than not, I'm a bit impatient for them to bloom, so that when they finally do bloom I am dying with anticipation. Who knew that gardening would be so much like Christmas morning when I was a kid?

A Tribute to Jan

All photos in this post were shot in the gardens of my father- and mother-in-law

Agapanthus africanus

This afternoon my father-in-law, Jan, was freed from the cares and pains of his physical body and passed to the other side. I know there was a joyous reunion awaiting him with his parents and his siblings that have gone on before him. I know this without a shadow of a doubt. Like births, graduations, and marriages I view deaths as "rites of passage" as part of each of our existences. Death is, in its own way, a "graduation".

So this tribute is not meant to be one of grief and sorrow. Instead, I wanted to publish a celebration of what Jan loved. He loved the Lord and his family most. Very close after those came his love for the things of nature.

I have had many opportunities to shoot photographs in the gardens that Jan enjoyed around the home he shared with my mother-in-law, Beth. He and his lovely wife worked with landscape architects and gardeners to make the gardens fit the vision they both had with redwood stands providing shade from the intense heat of California's Central Valley.


Jan and Beth's vision also included places where birds feed, nest and find safety. Jan loved the birds that came to visit the garden. He doted on them with the best seed contained in the best feeders. I even convinced him that even though Scrub Jays sometimes have a predatory tendency on other birds, they also are a wonderful garden ally for eliminating snails and other pests. Jan would put out a pile of peanuts by the pond especially for the Scrub Jays (you can see the peanuts in the photo above if you click on it to enlarge).


Jan enjoyed the hummingbirds the most, I think. The hummingbird feeder hanging right outside their family room window provides wonderful views of their tiny beauty. I've always noted that "his" hummingbirds were always more polite to one another than the cantankerous and territorial little ones I have in my own garden.


Jan was also a very talented painting artist as well as an avid art collector. His own paintings and those he collected all contain the beauties of nature. He and I would love to sit and appreciate art, birds and gardens--usually with only a few choice words. Just two months ago, Jan shared with me his secret to having a crop of large and luscious peaches every year by selectively thinning the clusters of fruit when they are small. Now every time I thin my Pippins on the apple tree, I think of him and employ his wise counsel.

This is not a goodbye, dear Dad. You and I always knew that even though a hummingbird would take wing and flit away, we would surely see it again. Dad, I know with even more surety that I will see you again. I love you. Say hello to all the hummingbirds for me.

Week Eight--Symmetrical Isosceles Triangle Arrangement

Today (week 8 in my floral design class) we learned how to construct a symmetrical arrangement based on an isosceles (equilateral) triangle. It was an interesting challenge because each of us had a different vase so each arrangement had to be proportioned to the vase that would contain it.

My container was a low plastic container so my arrangement ended up smaller and tighter than the other arrangements in the class. But I found the proportions easier when it came to achieving the triangle (which is kind of tricky when you're using round-ish flowers).

The other advantage to my arrangement being smaller was that I got done earlier. Since the triangle arrangement we were doing only contains a dozen main flowers (carnations in this case), I had leftovers of both my carnations and my wax flower. Since I had leftover time as well, I did up a quick symmetrical round arrangement for practice in a container I had in my tool kit--a goblet I found at the thrift store.


Once I got both arrangements home, I was happy to find that they fit perfectly on our fireplace mantle out of the reach of kitties that are dying to munch on the greens. The mantle ended up being a fine place to photograph both arrangements as well.

Roses, Roses, Roses

Click on any of the images to see large

"Golden Showers" climber
(with Oreo underneath)

It's that time of year around here when all the roses are bursting with wonderfully scented blossoms. The scent is so heady in certain parts of the garden that it seems a bit surreal. We have over 30 roses growing in the gardens so I couldn't picture them all here in one post. I decided to feature some of the ones that have gotten less "press" here on the blog.

The "Golden Showers" (above) has really taken off. It towers over my head and makes a great shady spot from the intense sun for both Oreo (the garden kitty) and me.

"Sheer Magic"

The "Sheer Magic" (above) has had a hard time producing photogenic blooms since I put it in 2 years ago. But this year looks promising with it's first bloom that is photograph-worthy.

This is the oldest rosebush in the gardens (above). It is probably at least 50 years old. I call it "Old Red" because I don't have a correct identification for it (although I have a hunch that it's a Mr. Lincoln).

"Hot Cocoa"

Like the "Sheer Magic", this "Hot Cocoa" (above) has had a hard time producing photogenic blooms since it went in 2 years ago. But this first bloom of 2009 gives me hope that it has settled in and found its footing so-to-speak.

"Cecile Brunner" climber

You've all seen my "Cecile Brunner" in past posts. It is such a wonderful climber with thick foliage that gives the best shade. This year we have a sweet sparrow family nesting in the inner depths of this massive rose. I hear the little babies tweeting from inside. It's really a treat.

"Irish Cream"

I usually won't admit to a favorite among my roses, but I have to admit that the "Irish Cream" has bewitched me with its unusual caramel color. It isn't a bushy rose, nor is it as prolific a bloomer as some of the others. But when it blooms... WOW!

"Montezuma" (above left) and "Cherry Parfait" (above right)

The "Montezuma" and the "Cherry Parfait" are on opposite sides of the front garden because each one is a show-stopper that needs the spotlight. It's interesting to see them here side-by-side when I never see them that way in real life.

Many of these roses (and more) have made their debut in a new 18 month calendar that I have hand-produced myself. I got really tired of "18 month" calendars that don't have real pages for the extra six months. So I decided to make a REAL 18-month calendar that has a real page for every one of the 18 months. I took photographs of the roses that grow here at Rosehaven Cottage and turned them into "vintage" rose prints using Photoshop magic. I have a coil-binding set-up here in my studio so the calendars have been completed constructed by me. I even discreetly hand-sign and date each one, because I think each is a piece of art.

Rose Nostalgia Collection 2009-2010 18-month Calendars are now available!

It has a name!

Thanks to a very helpful comment left by Mommy Bee in which her father gave some extremely helpful clues as to the variety of my mystery bearded iris, I believe I have finally tracked down a positive identification!

I think it's a Wabash!

The photo and description at White Flower Farm really cinched it. Here's what it says:

"A look of tailored elegance is the gift this heirloom Iris brings to the bed or border. 'Wabash' was first introduced in 1936 and became a favorite Bearded Iris of the 1940s and '50s. When the sweetly fragrant blossoms open in June, it's easy to understand why. The crisp white of the standards (the smaller, erect petals) poses a striking contrast to the reddish purple of the pendulous falls, which are finished round the edge with a fine, pale piping."

So I've got an heirloom iris and I didn't even know it.

Week Seven--Corsages and Boutonnieres

Click on image to view larger

Today was week 7 in my floral design class, and we were introduced to the intricate world of corsage and boutonniere construction. I had no idea that something which is so small and seemingly simple has so much handwork involved in its creation. It was a fascinating day of instruction. I now understand why florists charge what they do for corsages and boutonnieres. I also have an all new appreciation for anyone doing the flowers for a large wedding.

Click on image to view larger

The other thing that I didn't know until today is that corsages and boutonnieres can be done 2-3 days before the event. They keep very well as long as they are in a fridge away from fruits and vegetables which give off ethylene gas that will wilt any flowers in proximity to the produce. It's a great bit of information to know, don't you think? And now you know why supermarket flowers always seem a bit sad if the floral department is right by the produce.