It was a delightful day to be working outside in the Cottage Greenhouse. In my cozy shelter, I was protected from the cool, north wind…surrounded by smells of earth and growing things, soothed with a background of birdsong, and the greenhouse door was opened to the lake beyond.
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.”
Charles Dickens
It was a delightful day to be working outside in the Cottage Greenhouse. In my cozy shelter, I was protected from the cool north wind…surrounded by smells of earth and growing things, soothed with a background of birdsong, and the greenhouse door was opened to the lake beyond.
by Trenda
“Dear old world … You are very lovely, And I am glad to be alive in you.” ~ from Anne of Green Gables
It’s May! The darling month when everything seems possible. Look at this sweet description of May Day from The Old Farmer’s Almanac established in 1792.
“With winter’s retreat, colts and calves kick up their heels and frisk over fresh grass, seedlings seek the sun, and birds call for mates….And we humans join their revels for one day: during spring’s “May Day” festival, even serious-minded folk put work aside to enjoy Nature’s exuberance!”
Still quoting The Farmer’s Almanac … “Here are some joyful May Day traditions marking the return of spring and the renewed gift of life.
Hanging May Day baskets is an enchanting custom that is fun to incorporate into your own family traditions. Sweet paper cones made from stock card paper with scalloped edges and ribbons are easy to make and are a delightful surprise to find.
Supplies Needed:
Instructions:
What a lovely surprise to find hanging on your door … a May Day gift cone filled with silk flowers, a package of “Ferrero Rocher, fine hazlenut chocolates” and Unicorn Sparkle Nail Polish. (:
This sweet little May Day cone is filled with silk flowers, a tube of lipstick, and a small bottle of perfume.
Hope your May Day is filled with lots of sunshine and happy surprises!
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda
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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com
This week I’m joining:
Chloe Crabtree with Celebrate & Decorate
by Trenda
With the coming of Spring there are a lots of opportunities for celebrations. Whether you host a Spring Luncheon, a Tea Party, a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, a Kentucky Derby Party, a Mother’s Day Brunch, a Graduation dinner, or wedding buffet (whew!) one of the first things you’ll need is a centerpiece to “anchor” your tablescape. Putting together a centerpiece can be daunting task. Recently, I was asked to make the floral arrangements and decorations needed for a Mother/Daughter Tea for the Women’s Ministry at our church. Today I am going to share some of the tips I used when I made the 25 centerpieces needed for the Tea … tips that helped make this job easy and fun!
1. The first thing that you need to decide in making your centerpiece is what color and type of flowers you are going to use. Unless your arrangement is all roses, the general rule of thumb in flower arranging is to use at least 3 different sizes of flowers for visual interest. Do you want your centerpiece to be elegant, rustic, casual, playful, spring-y, lush, or whimsical? These questions will help you decide what type of container to place your flowers in. The theme we wanted to portray for our Mother/Daughter Tea was a combination of three themes: a springtime/rustic/casual elegance theme. Springtime flowers were chosen … daisy’s, daffodils, tulips, narcissus, and wisteria (none too fussy!) in a profusion of spring colors!
2. Mason jars dispel any hint of stuffiness and had dainty embossed filigree on the fronts and added just the right touch of casual elegance. Then, to add texture and a hint of rustic flair, I hot-glued a strip of burlap ribbon edged with lace around each Mason jar.
3. Whenever you work with flowers that are a part of a bouquet, cut each stem from the bunch and trim off all the leaves to make them easier to arrange. To determine the length I wanted my flowers in the centerpiece to be, I gathered the stems of my largest sized flowers (the Daisy’s) and bent the heads of the flowers so they looked natural. Then I cut the stems so my flowers would stand upright in the Mason jar, with the blooms gently draping over the rim.
4. The Mason jars I used will be used again for other events. For ease in changing out arrangements, I wrapped clear packing tape near the flower heads (so the tape wouldn’t be seen) to keep each arrangement together and so they can be easily removed.
5. The smaller flowers … the tulips, narcissus, and daffodils had much smaller stems and were easy to tuck into the arrangement of larger flowers already taped together. These smaller flowers extended beyond the tops of the daisy’s so they would “peek” over the top of the arrangement, adding dimension and interest to the bouquet.
6. The last thing to add to any centerpiece is the “filler.” The filler ties the whole arrangement together. Like the name suggests, filler “fills” in the gaps of the arrangement and “softens” the look of all the separate flowers and unites and blends them into one arrangement. The filler can be … small flowers … baby’s breath … grasses … decorative filament … eucalyptus … seed pods … or any variety of decorative picks.
The filler I used for these centerpieces were tiny flowers and buds with leaves.
Look at all these sweet little arrangements … jars of Spring ready to be placed on the table! Wouldn’t they look charming dangling from a shepherd’s hook lining the walkway to a woodland wedding or filled with sunflowers along the way to a bbq and barn dance? Hmmm … perhaps another DIY on a future post! 🙂
Wishing you “beaucoups of bouquets” and many happy Spring celebrations! (:
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda
Thank you for reading my blog! To have all my posts delivered to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above … or click on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com
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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com
This week I’m joining:
Marie-Helene from Kingsbury Brook Farm
Chloe Crabtree from Celebrate & Decorate
Spring has arrived in Texas in a profusion of azalea blooms, perky bluebonnets and the unfurling of spring green leaves. Sweet trills and twittering’s are heard throughout the day as birds flit about gathering building materials for their new homes. Just like outside, it’s time to dress your home in Spring decor! It’s easy to do with touches of romance, charm and whimsy tucked in unexpected places. Little nests placed in crystal bowls … a gathering of eggs in decorative containers … fresh flowers “about the house” and the use of bright and pastel colors suggest all things Spring-y.
Spring wreath and birdbath filled with moss and speckled eggs.
An etched cache with blown glass finial is filled with Spring proffering’s … some spongy moss and sweet little eggs. A crystal Frog Prince and favorite childhood books are reminiscent of fairy tales and magical possibilities.
A little pewter bunny on a chartreuse pedestal … a matching chartreuse bird … and a little bird’s nest woven with spring leaves and blossoms perched on a chunky urn herald Spring’s arrival.
All things bird- y! (:
A desk corner in my music room is filled with “suggestions” of Spring and some “of my favorite things.” A mottled watering can filled with a collection of paintbrushes … antique glass frogs for flower arrangements … miniature hinged birdhouses from a precious son … and a favorite miniature from a dear daughter that says, “A Mother’s love is what make a house a home.” ❤
A chippy mirrored frame holds a picture of a pair of White-breast Nuthatches atop a twig-y silver easel.
A miniature wooden easel holds a rough textured canvas of an egg-filled nest among leafy boughs … a collection of bird nests are perched, nearby.
Books, eggs, and birds … ❤
A pair of lovebirds gaze into a mirror … a spring green bucket is filled with carved wooden pencils and a spool of twine is easily reached and handy.
What was just a resting spot for this sweet, what-not shelf (while I went to get a nail to hang it) became the new, permanent location and a favorite spot once I saw how all the “lovelies” on the shelves were reflected in the mirror. Treasures from our children, my grandmother, two of my dearest friends … fill these compartments and are looked on each day with fond memories.
Reflection …
Gazing beyond the window at blue skies and spring blossoms, and inside … lace-y tree branches reflected on my grandmother’s glass-topped table … a dreamy place to work!
Have fun finding special ways and little nooks to “bring” Spring into your home!
From my cottage to yours ~ Trenda
Thank you for reading my blog! To have all my posts delivered to your email address, just click FOLLOW in my post above … or click on my site: cottagegreenonthelake.com
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Trenda@cottagegreenonthelake.com
This week I’m joining:
Chloe Crabtree from Celebrate & Decorate
Courtney with Feathered Nest Fridays at French Country Cottage
Cottage Green on the Lake 