On the Library Mantle
I think it was when we moved into this family house that I began the fresh cut flower habit. It is the first time I’ve ever had a garden that offered a beautiful possibility for every month of the year. Even in December and January – usually the hibernating months around here – there is holly with its bright red berries and glossy green leaves.
Right now, as we close in on November, we still have dahlias blooming. I haven’t a clue as to their name but they are showy, outdoors and in, with their deep magenta blossoms, spikey and pert with good cheer. I often arrange them in my grandmother’s old silver bowl that we keep (as she did) on the library mantle. Nowadays, some of the silver plate has worn away and bits of the silver beading around its scalloped edge are missing, but none of that is noticeable when it is filled with flowers.
On the Dining Room Table
The other place in our house that calls for flowers is the dining room table. Yesterday I placed a vase of delicate pink-almost-white rhododendrons there. They grow along our east fence on plants which we’ve allowed to grow eight or nine feet tall. I don’t really like this particular rhodie ‘on the hoof’; the blossoms seem too small and sparsely located to be effective. But, indoors, they provide a sprightly note for the dreary days of late fall.
Given enough flowers and unlimited time, I think I would have flowers in every room. I don’t know where that urge comes from, but I suspect it is from my father. In every house we lived in when I was growing up, he had a dahlia garden. It was he, not my mother, who chose the flowers and made the arrangements for the house. I never thought a thing about that until we moved into this house, the site of his last dahlia garden. Thinking of it now makes my heart ache a little. He and I never really had a conversation about flowers…
….a good habit to have, flowers on a table, kitchen and/or dining room….when our “garden” fails to provide, T.J.s and Safeway and the Farmers’ Market have a myriad of choices…feathery anise tops look lovely in a tall, clear glass vase too….
Back in ‘the day’ I knew a man in Berkeley who had fresh flowers delivered by a local florist twice a week. I always thought it a wonderful indulgence. We do have cut flowers available at Jack’s or Okie’s now and then but I just can’t bring myself to buy them — too many other necessary priorities! I count myself fortunate to have flowers in the garden!!
Sydney,
We always love seeing the flowers in both your home and garden. I too have the need to always have flowers in my home and garden. My Mother was the one to arrange the flowers in our home but my father was the gardener and always had a huge rosé garden where we lived. Mother arranged the flowers for Sunday church services on a regular basis and entered the rose shows with flower arrangements made from Dad’s garden. I think it was Mother saying as Dad would bring home unexpected guests for dinner, with a beautiful bouquet on the table no one will notice the dust. I too would rather arrange a vase of flowers than dust my furniture.
I love you mother’s attitude! It’s right up there with my mother’s “Don’t start dusting. If you do, you’ll disturb the patina that goes with an old house.” Our mothers definitely knew best!!
Sydney, I’m so jealous! I can’t imagine moving into a garden and knowing it’s history. Really enjoy reading your thoughts and views there in Oysterville!
It is pretty wonderful to think about what’s happened here in the past and how many people have had a hand in it. But it’s sort of an awesome responsibility, too.