Category Archives: Family and Friends

Inspiration from family and friends

Sharing my bouquets: Autumn flowers

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Everything is mended by the soil.
― Andrew Crofts, ghostwriter and author, from Secrets of the Italian Gardener

The calendar turns its page from September to October. We are still in our Indian Summer here, but the light is changing, its angle, its slant, it rise and fall. our dahlias are going dormant. I likely cut the last dahlia bloom from the garden on the last day of September. How apt. Here now are the autumn bouquets. Enjoy.

Labor Day Weekend seems so long ago. Here’s a bouquet I made for my cousin Janet and her husband Tim from a bucket full of flowers that we brought down to Terra Bella for our annual Labor Day Weekend visit. Looks beautiful on their dining room sideboard.

Close-up of this bouquet with the lone cream-colored gerbera daisy. This particular plant is a hardy producer and still going strong.

Here’s the other bouquet that I made, featuring the big red dahlia that started producing later in the summer.

Another view of the second bouquet full of zinnias, scabiosa, dahlias, and rudbeckias.

Close-up of the second bouquet, featuring my favorite deep-blue scabiosa.

The first gerbera daisy that hasn’t been hit by powdery mildew, early in the season or even now. With purple bee balm in the background.

A nice pairing – blue scabiosa and yellow rudbeckia.

Last view of the second bouquet – pulled back to include zinnias, baby’s breath, a different kind of scabiosa, and dahlias.

A compact September 6th bouquet for Joann.

Close-up of the September 6th bouquet.

A vibrant mix of pinks, blues, limes, and yellows in this close-up.

This zinnia is a favorite of mine. It stands out in this bouquet.

Looking down on the second September 6th bouquet, featuring rudbeckia hirta “Chim Chiminee,” dahlias, Helipterum roseum “Pierrot,” pale yellow and delicate scabiosa ochroleuca, and pink alstroemeria,

Dahlias are still going strong in early September.

Focus on the orange dahlia.

Another view of this September 6th bouquet.

September 11th bouquet. Remembering this date with light and life.

This is a surprise pink zinnia that sprouted this season, surrounded by cornflower blue bachelor’s button, baby’s breath, rudbeckia saraha, and rudbeckia hirta “Cherry Brandy.”

The second September 11th bouquet, topped by asparagus greenery.

Another view of the second September 11th bouquet for Joann.

The first of seven – I know, I need to be better about curating, but it’s near the end of the season! – close-ups of the second September 11th bouquet.

I love the intricate petals of this lime-colored zinnia.

Another close-up of the second September 11th bouquet.

One of my favorite dahlias still producing in September.

The bright and delightful rudbeckia hirta “Chim Chiminee.”

Rudbeckias (including rudbeckia hirta “Prairie Sun” to the left) and zinnias signal fall.

Last close-up of the second September 11th bouquet. It feels like fall in the garden. Still going strong, but different flowers shining in autumn.

I almost dug up this Scabiosa caucasica “Perfecta Alba,” which was planted last season but did not bloom. It’s now blooming like crazy. I’m glad I waited.

September 16th bouquet.

Close-up of the September 16th bouquet. The alstroemeria are still blooming. Imagine what a little regular watering will do.

Another side of the September 16th bouquet. The blue Scabiosa atropurpurea
“Florist’s Blue” is blooming like it’s the thick of summer.

Last view of the September 16th bouquet. With orange alstroemeria.

September 20th bouquet for Joann.

Close-up of blues and yellows. And a peek of the Helichrysum bracteatum 
“Double White” “Strawflower.”

Another view of the September 20th bouquet.

Close-up of the September 20th bouquet.

Last view of the September 20th bouquet.

September 28th bouquet for Joann. Lots of fall colors.

Another view of the September 28th bouquet.

Close-up of the prolific Scabiosa caucasica
“Perfecta Alba.”

Top view of the September 28th bouquet.

Last bouquet of the month, September 30th, featuring scabiosa caucasica “Perfecta Alba.”

Full view of the September 30th bouquet.

Close-up of the September 30th bouquet. A red dahlia to the left, and a white dahlia to the right.

One last look at the September 30th bouquet with the last dahlias of the season.

Sharing my bouquets: late-summer flowers

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Gardening is akin to writing stories. No experience could have taught me more about grief or flowers, about achieving survival by going, your fingers in the ground, the limit of physical exhaustion.
― Eudora Welty, American short story writer and novelist

Yes, it’s almost the end of September. The air has taken on a slight chill, and the slant of light has moved closer to the earth. I’m behind on my gardening blog posts. Plain and simple. Before we are fully immersed in autumn, here’s a look back at the late-summer bouquets through the end of August. These bouquets were made for family and friends.

July 27th bouquet for former fellow Lunafest East Bay committee member Anja.

Close-up of the most gorgeous dahlia in the garden this season, hands down!

Another close-up of this mesmirizing dahlia. See how intricate Nature can be!

Another view of the July 27th bouquet. Dahlias galore.

Close-up of a pink zinnia and a velvety burgundy dahlia.

Another view of this bouquet, packed with different colored dahlias.

Beautiful white dahlia with intricate layers of petals.

The second July 27th bouquet for fellow East Bay Lunafest committee member Peggy. The gladiolas were late this year, but whereas last year they didn’t come up at all, this year, they came up in abundance. Next year, it will be even better.

Close-up of zinnias, dahlias, and baby’s breath.

Lime green zinnia paired with a bright pink zinnia.

A ginger plant and salmon-colored gladiola anchor this July 30th bouquet for Joann.

Close-up of bouquet with burgundy dahlias, zinnias, alstroemeria, bachelor’s button in blue, baby’s breath, scabiosa, and Helipterum roseum
“Pierrot.”

Close-up of July 30th bouquet.

Another close-up.

Another view.

Bachelor’s button blue with yellow dahlia and pink zinnia.

First bouquet of August, on the first of the month.

Close-up of the rare gerbera daisy, the lone plant in the backyard garden.

August 5th bouquet.

Hot magenta and orange dahlias in this close-up of the August 5th bouquet.

August 7th bouquet of pinks and burgundies – roses, dahlias, zinnias, alstroemeria, and baby’s breath. For my neighbor Carla.

Another view of this bouquet.

Yellow, orange, and salmon colored bouquet, second August 7th bouquet. For my neighbor Faith.

Close-up of second August 7th bouquet.

Another close-up.

Last view of this August 7th bouquet.

August 11th bouquet.

Close-up of August 11th bouquet.

Another close-up of gladiola, zinnia, dahlia, scabiosa flowers.

Another view. Look at that big yellow dahlia!

And here’s the full-on view of the dinner plate-size dahlia.

Second August 11th bouquet, featuring rudbeckia hirta “Chim Chiminee” – the yellow sunflower-looking flower on the right.

August 14th bouquet.

The other side of the August 14th bouquet.

August 17th bouquet.

Close-up of August 17th bouquet with a magenta dahlia and yellow rudbeckia.

Full-bodied August 17th bouquet.

August 18th bouquet.

This August 18th bouquet features a double-flower gerbera daisy and the proliferation of rudbeckia flowers.

Close-up of the double-flower gerbera daisy.

Another view of the August 18th bouquet.

Dahlias are still going strong in August, despite the creep of the usual powdery mildew.

Close-up of my favorite rudbeckia hirta “Cherry Brandy.”

Orange and lime-green zinnias, baby’s breath, and yellow dahlia.

August 25th bouquet.

Second August 25th bouquet.

Another view of the August 25th bouquet.

August 26th bouquet. Baby blues and pinks.

Close-up of August 26th bouquet – pink dahlias and zinnias and yellow rudbeckias.

Close-up of the reliable pink zinnia.

The last day of August and we have bee balm, rudbeckia hirta (Cherry Brandy), gerbera daisy, and scabiosa.

Sharing my bouquets: mid-summer flowers

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‘All gardening is landscape painting,’ said Alexander Pope.
– Rebecca Solnit, American author who writes on the environment, politics, place, and art, from Wanderlust: A History of Walking

The second week in July, the other auction winner family came back from their summer vacation, so I resumed putting together two deliveries each week. But now, since I started back in March with one family and May with the other person, I only had two weeks left for the 10-week weekly bouquet donation.

July 10th bouquet: Architecturally sound bouquet featuring my late-coming gladiolas.

Close-up of zinnias, dahlias, scabiosa, Cerinthe major purpurascens
“Blue Honeywort,” and Love in the Mist seed pods, July 10th bouquet.

Close-up of “Fama Blue” scabiosa, white gerbera daisy, and dahlias, July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet.

Another view of the second July 10th bouquet.

Close-up of second July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet.

Deep burgundy dahlia next to “Fama Blue” scabiosa, July 10th bouquet.

“Fama Blue” scabiosa next to the salmon gladiola, July 10th bouquet.

A deeper-blue “Fama Blue” scabiosa. I’m so pleased they are really blooming this season after so many paltry seasons, July 10th bouquet.

Deep burgundy dahlia close-up, July 10th bouquet.

The deer have yet to get to my gladiolas, which are coming up in the front yard around our Japanese maple tree, July 10th bouquet.

Fuschia dahlia, July 10th bouquet.

More dahlias, July 10th bouquet.

July 10th bouquet detail with dahlias and rare white scabiosa.

Here are the final bouquets for the two auction winners. And thus ends my donation for Korematsu Middle School’s auction. In previous years, I donated to El Cerrito High School and Harding Elementary School, all in El Cerrito. It’s been a nice run, and I’m happy to have supported my kids’ schools through the years. The next bouquets will be special because I’ll get to make them for friends.

July 15th bouquet: The red-and-white dahlias finally bloom.

Close-up of red-and-white dahlias, July 15th bouquet.

The second July 15th bouquet.

Close-up of dahlia, July 15th bouquet.

Another view of the second July 15th bouquet.

Bonus: A third July 15th bouquet.

Close-up of rare fuschia dahlia in third July 15th bouquet. Nice paired with the “Fama Blue” scabiosa.

Pale peach and yellow dahlias, third July 15th bouquet.

Another view of the third July 15th bouquet.

Close-up of echinacea (coneflower), dahlias and zinnia, third July 15th bouquet.

Prolific yellow dahlia and fuschia dahlia close-up of third July 15th bouquet.

July 18th bouquet. Last delivery to Grizzly Peak in Berkeley!

Close-up of July 18th bouquet: dahlias, rudbeckia, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), chocolate cosmos, helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

Another view of the July 18th bouquet.

The second July 18th bouquet anchored by a ginger plant.

The other side of the July 18th bouquet.

Compact side view of July 18th bouquet.

July 22nd bouquet: Last Korematsu Middle School auction delivery: Dripping with cerinthe major purpurascens “Blue Honeywort.”

My rare snow puff cosmos in the July 22nd bouquet.

The other side of the first July 22nd bouquet.

White echinacea close-up of the first July 22nd bouquet.

Second July 22nd bouquet topped by a single gladiola.

Deep burgundy dahlias surrounded by yellow, pink, blue, and orange, July 22nd bouquet.

Another view of the second July 22nd bouquet.

And finally, the last view of the last Korematsu Mddle School auction winner’s bouquet for spring/summer 2018.

Sharing my bouquets: Early to mid-summer flowers

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We are exploring together. We are cultivating a garden together, backs to the sun. The question is a hoe in our hands and we are digging beneath the hard and crusty surface to the rich humus of our lives.
– Parker J. Palmer, writer, teacher, and activist, from Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

The beginning of June was quite busy, with preparations for Jacob’s high school graduation and our impending family vacation. But I dutifully made the bouquets for the Korematsu Middle School auction winners.

This June 6th bouquet features big yellow dahlias that look like fireworks.

Alstroemeria love, June 6th.

Close-up of dahlias. One of my favorites continues to be the deep pink dahlia, June 6th bouquet.

Another view of the June 6th bouquet.

When you turn this June 6th bouquet around, you get multiple nice views.

Yet another view of the June 6th bouquet: alstroemeria, dahlias, zinnia, cosmos, geum, and a ginger plant.

Last repeat view of the June 6th bouquet. I guess I’m not doing a good job of curating these photos of the bouquets!

We went on vacation to France and were gone from June 14th through July 1st. I must admit that I didn’t want to be away from the garden during peak dahlia season! But I got over it once we left. As we were making our way home on July 1st, I thought about coming home to the garden and our deliriously happy dog. My sister had been taking care of the garden and sending friends and relatives home with bouquets, which warmed my heart. The whole point of having a garden, besides enjoying being surrounding by flowers, is to share in the bounty. So I was happy to get reports that her friends and our cousin Daniel were appreciating the flowers.

June 10th bouquet. Introduction of a new flower – Cerinthe major purpurascens “Blue Honeywort” – the curling green and blue flower on the right side of the bouquet.

Close-up of some of my favorite flowers – scabiosa caucasica “Fama Blue,” dianthus “Chomley Farran,” and geum quellyon var. flora plena “Blazing Sunset.”

Close-up of dahlias and cerinthe major purpurascens “Blue Honeywort,” June 10th bouquet.

The cerinthe major purpurascens “Blue Honeywort” adds a nice architectural shape to this June 13th bouquet.

June 13th bouquet.

June 13th bouquet – a little bit of white verbena at the opening of the vase.

June 13th bouquet with yellow dahlia fireworks.

June 13th bouquet.

Dahlia close-up of June 13th bouquet.

When we returned home, I came back to a bountiful dahlia garden!

The dahlia garden is ablaze with big blooms, July 1st. What a nice homecoming.

Right away, I got back into making bouquets for one of the auction winners. The Fourth of July was only days after we came home, so I set out a bunch of cut flowers in vases, which guests at our annual Fourth of July party would go home with – a memento of summer to take with them. I also made a couple of bouquets for my friend Jane.

An exploding bouquet for July 3rd. The salmon-colored gladiolas are finally coming up!

Close-up of an amazing burgundy dahlia in the July 3rd bouquet.

July 3rd bouquet.

The second July 3rd bouquet.

Not a bad side in this July 3rd bouquet.

Dinner-plate dahlia galore for the Fourth of July 2018.

My latest dahlia addition – dinner-late white dahlia from Costco is going strong, shadows and light, strong architectural lines, Fourth of July.

A rare dahlia nowadays in my garden – orange tipped with yellow, Fourth of July 2018.

July 6th bouquet: Look at that ginormous burgundy dahlia! That’s not a dinner-plate dahlia but a serving-plate dahlia!

Burgundy dahlia – thar she blows, July 5th bouquet.

July 5th bouquet is practically all dahlias now, as they explode in the dahlia garden.

The second July 5th bouquet.

Another view of the second July 5th bouquet, featuring dinner plate-size dahlias, as in this beauty of a white dahlia, and topped with alstroemeria.

Red-and-white dahlia for Fourth of July bouquet.

Sharing my bouquets: Late spring to early summer flowers

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I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.
– Ruth Stout, gardener

I planted a greater variety of flowers this season so I could have a greater choice of flowers and inject some new blood into my bouquets. I started my Korematsu Middle School auction donation bouquets much earlier this year so I could take advantage of those new flowers. Instead of starting in May, I had the good fortune to start in March and use spring flowers. With last year’s crop providing bouquets all the way till Thanksgiving, I now have flowers nine months out of the year. Enjoy these late spring to early summer bouquets!

For the first time, I became interested in succulents. I initially was trying to find a succulent arrangement to give to my old college roommate, Susan, but I couldn’t find any in a number of local nurseries. So I made one myself, and it was quite fun. Here’s my first attempt.

My bouquet for an April 28th dinner party at the home of Susan, my old college roommate.

Close-up of the bouquet for Susan’s dinner party, April 28th. This bouquet comprises watsonias, gerbera daisy, geum, roses, dianthus, scabiosa, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), alstroemeria.

For the hostess, Susan, my old college roommate: a bouquet, a miniature succulent garden, and a beautiful handcrafted wooden cutting block from the Gardener, Berkeley, CA, April 28th.

Close-up of a bouquet for my friend Kelly’s birthday, April 29th: Roses, African daisy, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), alstroemeria, watsonia, and straw flower.

May 11th bouquet of calla lilies and alstroemeria.

Look at this beauty of a dahlia!

May 11th bouquet: Note the beautiful and delicate aquilegia chrysantha “Yellow Queen” in the center of the bouquet, the aquilegia vulgaris “Black Barlow” at the top of the bouquet, and the blue delphinium at the bottom right of the bouquet.

Close-up of the yellow dahlia, Yellow Queen aquilegia chrysantha, and scabiosa, May 11th.

Close-up of the aquilegia vulgaris “Black Barlow,” May 11th.

Another close-up that includes the baby-blue delphinium, May 11th. The “Yellow Queen” aquilegia chrysantha is as graceful as a diving swallow.

May 13th bouquet. Note the little white flower with the black center in the lower front of the bouquet, helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

Emboldened by my succulent garden success, I made another one, this time for my friend Felicia, May 13th.

And I made a miniature succulent garden for our kitchen, May 13th.

May 17th bouquet of alstroemeria.

Close-up of the pink-and-yellow alstroemeria, May 13th.

For this May 17th bouquet, I added my favorite blue hydrangea and the purple succulent.

Close-up of the yellow dahlia and blue hydrangea, May 17th bouquet.

Another side of the May 17th bouquet.

Close-up of the May 17th bouquet featuring the aquilegia chrysantha, “Yellow Queen.”

May 20th bouquet that includes the sunny and colorful gazania sunbathers “Totonaca.”

May 20th bouquet featuring pink zinnias, one of my favorite annuals.

May 20th bouquet of dahlias, alstroemeria, geum, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), dianthus, and helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

May 24th bouquet with a centerpiece of ginger, dahlias, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), dianthus, scabiosa, pink hydrangea, and aquilegia chrysantha “Yellow Queen.”

The other side of the May 24th bouquet.

May 24th bouquet of pink alstroemeria.

May 27th bouquet of orange alstroemeria.

May 27th bouquet, with orange zinnias and my favorite dianthus, caryophyllus, “Chomley Farran.” You can see the purple and red striped flower to the right of the orange zinnia.

Two dahlias, May 27th bouquet.

Close-up of dahlias and geum in this May 27th bouquet.

May 30th bouquet exploding with alstroemeria.

May 30th bouquet, featuring a white echinacea or coneflower.

The other side of the May 30th bouquet, with greenery – foxtail asparagus fern at the top and right side.

Close-up of the white echinacea or coneflower, May 30th.

June 6th bouquet, featuring white cosmos.

The other side of the June 6th bouquet, featuring dianthus caryophyllus “Chomley Farran.”

Close-up of the June 6th bouquet. Note the dianthus caryophyllus “Chomley Farran” – the two flowers surrounding the pink and white dahlia, and the green seed pods of the Love in a Mist.

Another view of the June 6th bouquet.

Close-up of the June 6th bouquet. See the Love in the Mist pods, dianthus caryophyllus “Chomley Farran” and white helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

Close-up of the June 6th bouquet. I love mixing brilliant blue, fuschia, and pink.

Sharing my bouquets: Spring bouquets

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My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.
– Claude Monet, founder of French impressionist painting

In my fervor over working on my novel-in-progress, I let go of many things. One of them was blogging. And as my garden came to life in the spring and I began making and delivering my bouquets to give away as my donation to the annual Korematsu Middle School auction, I racked up a lot of bouquets and pictures, but no blogs. So even though spring is a distant memory and we are more than half-way through with summer, forgive me if I revisit my bouquets and share them with you.

White calla lilies, daffodils, and euphorbia characias for a March 11th bouquet for Korematsu.

Miniature bouquet of dianthus, African daisies (venedio arctotis), straw flower, and rudbeckia, March 11th.

Close up of bouquet of dianthus, African daisies (venedio arctotis), straw flower, and rudbeckia, March 11th.

Another view of dianthus, African daisies (venedio arctotis), straw flower, and rudbeckia, March 11th.

Tulips, March 18th.

More white calla lilies, daffodils, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), and euphorbia characias, March 18th.

Tulips, March 25th.

African daisies (venedio arctotis), dianthus, and scabiosa, March 25th.

This academic school year, I agreed to donate two separate auction bouquet winners – 10 weeks of a weekly bouquet. I was pleased to hear that each auction winner donated $500 to the middle school, for a total of $1,000. One winning bid ended up being a gift to a parent’s mother-in-law, which was sweet. The only problem was that her mother-in-law lives off of Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, meaning up, up in the hills. The other auction winner lived, ironically, next door to Berthe, who has won the auction bouquets the last few years. This is also up in the hills, but straight up from me.

White calla lilies, tulips, and daffodils, March 25th.

Another view of calla lilies and tulips, but in the dining room, March 25th.

Close-up of the beautiful lines of the calla lily and tulips, March 25th.

For my second Korematsu auction winner, a backyard mix of straw flower, African daisies (venedio arctotis), scabiosa, and orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), April 1st.

Close-up, April 1st bouquet.

I love scabiosa, and they have been growing in abundance this season, April 1st.

Close-up of burgundy and pink African daisies (venedio arctotis), April 1st.

White calla lilies and red tulips, April 1st.

Watsonias and pittosporum “silver magic,” April 1st.

Watsonias, April 8th.

Though I really enjoy putting the bouquets together – my Zen time – I added up the hours (harvesting, stripping the flowers individually, making the bouquets, and delivery) and the exercise began to become more onerous to me than bring me joy. Don’t get me wrong: When the auction winners let me know that they loved the bouquets and really appreciated them, I was over-the-moon happy – sharing bouquets brings much joy. But as I start shifting my focus to doing the things that I need to do for my writing and for my family and friends, time becomes an issue. Plus, I want to start giving bouquets to my family, friends, and neighbors. So I made the decision this spring to retire from donating bouquets to the middle school auction.

African daisies (venedio arctotis), dianthus, alstroemeria, scabiosa, and orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), April 8th.

Close-up of watsonias, April 8th.

On April 8th, Isabella and I went to a bouquet tutorial at Annie’s Annuals with Riz Reyes, a horticulturist from Seattle. And he is a Pinoy!

I learned some great tips on making bouquets at an Annie’s Annuals tutorial with Riz Reyes from Seattle.

Riz Reyes and me at Annie’s Annuals, Richmond, April 8th. You can reach him at his business, rhrhorticulture, here.

Watsonias, scabiosa, dianthus, straw flowers, African daisies, (venedio arctotis), and some greenery, April 14th. A bouquet for my friend Soizic’s dinner party.

Watsonias, scabiosa, dianthus, straw flowers, African daisies, (venedio arctotis), and some alstroemeria greenery, April 15th.

Just watsonias and pittosporum “silver sheen,” April 15th.

I will still make the bouquets, but when I want to and not on demand. And I’ll continue to share them with you all here. I may have learned a few things from horticulturist Riz Reyes, who gave a tutorial at Annie’s Annuals in the spring, and from the beautiful floral arrangements at Château de Chenonceau in Chenonceaux, France. At any rate, here are my spring to early summer bouquets. Enjoy!

Tulips, calla lilies, scabiosa, and alstroemeria, April 22nd.

Geum, gerbera daisy, straw flower, scabiosa, and dianthus, April 22nd.

Close-up of April 22nd bouquet.

The other side of the April 22nd bouquet.

Watsonias, April 22nd.