Dahlias

August’s Garden Update

0 · Sep 5, 2017 ·

September has suddenly graced us with it’s presence. From the instantly cooler temperatures to the passing of Labor Day weekend, it’s clear that fall has made it’s arrival.

However, I really want to live in denial a little longer. As much as I love the crunching of leaves and sweater weather, August departed all too early and I’m still longing for the warm summer sun. Plus, I’d really like some more time in the garden – which has in all actuality turned to a weed plot with a few dahlia’s poking through.

If you remember in my last update, I had the beginnings of a few lush dahlias plants and a couple slow starters. Throughout the last month, I watched some steady growth and then suddenly, the leaves started disappearing and were replaced by blunt ends. I have a theif in my garden. At first, it wasn’t quite obvious who the culprit was. Perhaps a little groundhog or bunny rabbit. But as the plants grew, I knew it was the handy work of our taller woodland friends, the deer were eating my dahlias.

Slowly, my little buds began disappearing from my plants and my heart sank. So much time and effort had be placed into growing these and the deer were treating them like dinner. I had read in serveral places that deer really don’t like dahlias or might eat them only if there weren’t better options availible, so I really didn’t stress about putting up a fence or other boundry. There are 3 apple trees within a few yards of my plants, bursting with fruit. We have 6 acres of other greens, grasses and treats. And yet they were eating my dahlias.

However, I found a little home remedy that seems to be doing the trick. A little concovtion of water, egg, garlic and cayenne seems to be teaching these pesky deer a lesson. I now have several buds back on my plants and have actually seen two flowers bloom. The anemone mix have produced two beautiful yellow flowers and my cafe au laits finally have buds and I cannot wait for these beauties to bloom. My slow starters are growing but I’m yet to see any signs of flowers, hopefully they’ll produce something before the first frost – which I fear will be really early this year.

And those gorgeous white fluffy flowers there? Those are not my dahlias. But I did use them for a wedding a couple weeks again, gathered from a Grand Rapids grower and they were simply heavenly. The single yellow ray of sunshine is all mine though.

July’s Garden Update

0 · Jul 24, 2017 ·

I did a little “gardening” today. The quotes are very much needed because my efforts growing flowers this summer have been pitiful, to say the least. If growing weeds were the real mission, I would be a pro. I was thinking today back to spring when my dreams of ruffly blooms and handgrown goodness were thriving. That was a time when I didn’t have to feel ashamed of my failures and when I was full of excitement (you had read all about these pleasent dreams here).

This spring I started some seedlings. I had excellent intensions and my husband and I worked hard designing a garden layout, measuring and planning, mowing, tilling and preparing the land. But we needed to work harder. Nothing ever turns out to be as easy as anticipated, not that I really imagined planting a garden would be easy, but just the same, there were challenges that I failed to expect. It seemed to rain on nearly every day we had set aside for land prep. The tiller broke. And the tall grasses currently taking up residence on that plot of land just refused to give up.

I had started some seeds prior to planting. Day by day, my hopes of getting them in the ground diminished. Finally, I swept that dream to the side and admitted defeat. It was a sad day and I’m a little embarrassed about the entire process. No rows of glorious sweet peas or cosmos. My zinnias never ever left this seed packets. Time was not our friend. All I can do at this point as hope for better luck next year.

However, we did manage to get a portion of the original layout into planting condition. While my mixed flower beds are going to have to wait, I decided to focus my energy on my dahlias. I ordered just a couple of different varieties, from a couple different suppliers and crossed my fingers. They were planted in the middle of last month. A little late, but better late than never.

So far, I’m seeing progress. Within a week’s time, there were little shoots standing proudly on the sky’s side of the soil. Little by little, the leaves have unfolded and more green has graced the garden floor. It’s so interesting watching the stages of growth and various sizes of foliage present. These pictures were all taken earlier today of the various varieties, even though they look more like I tracked the progress of one plant.

I have the most café au lait dahlias. Looking at my wedding season ahead, this is the one I will find the most use for in the coming months and I’m desperately hoping that they bloom. The plants look healthy and strong.

Cafe au Lait Dahlias | The Day's Design

Above: Cafe au Lait Dahlia

I also took a chance on an anemone mix. I’m not really sure what colors will burst forth when these blooms finally make their appearance, but something on the grower’s website did appeal to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have ordered them. But in this moment, I can’t remember much about them. They are the largest plants in my garden area right now so I’ll take that as a positive sign.

Above: Anemone Mix Dahlia

Lastly, I ordered just a couple of plants from Floret Flowers. I’m seeing very little growth from these tubers and am pretty disappointed. I’m certainly not blaming Floret, I’m sure it’s operator error on my part. Two out of the four tubers haven’t shown any signs of life yet and the other two are barely peeking out of the ground. At this rate, it may be a miracle if they bloom before the first frost, but we shall see.

Dahlia Tuber | The Day's Design

Above: Mystique Dahlia

So gardening, that’s my progress report and my sad little tale to share. I do have a few perennials in bloom in a space I created last year, so at least there’s a little color in my world. And oodles of overgrown grapevine, so if you need any of those, you know where to find me.

This is the land where foraging is king.

All Hail the Red, While & Blue

0 · Jul 6, 2016 ·

We’re now six days deep into July and it’s taken me this long to dig through my portfolio to find a somewhat patriotic, or red white and blue flower arrangement. While these colors might not be every bride’s dream palette, it doesn’t seem like it would be that difficult to find something with a little red in it.

This little challenge of mine has got me thinking, once again, about color. I just can’t seem to get the impact of it off of my mind. Color is everywhere.

Through this searching process, I have realized why there’s very little red, white and blue in my work. Perhaps not that surprising unless you’re part of a military wedding. But the real reason is, red doesn’t inspire me. I don’t choose to add it into my creations. After all, how am I supposed to work with a medium I’m not inspired by?

Of course I’ve had brides tell me that they’re using shades of cherry, burgundy, garnet, marsala and berry in their palette. We’ve always worked together to bring this vision to life in a way that is inspiring and artful to both of us. But just red, count me out.

Perhaps one of my favorite sources of color inspiration was when dear Mary showed me a picture of her maid of honor’s blooming dress. The dress was clearly fabulous but suddenly I was panicked, I would have to use red flowers.

And then she told me how much her and the groom love food. I started dreaming of eatible berries and olive branches and other seamingly obvious ingredients. But then, I started taking a deeper look during my weekly grocery shopping trips and examining the various tones in the produce section. Their wedding flowers were no longer about color, but a feeling and a representation of them. I began to reshape my thought process and take notice of the small details in the everyday world around me. I experienmented with wiring chilis into buttonholes and scheming of how to sneak a few apple branches from my neighbor’s tree. Trips to the farmer’s market, searching through greenhouse herbs, bay leafs, lavender, peppers, artichokes and pomegranates created a palette that wasn’t just pleasing for the eyes but really was good enough to eat. Together, we worked to find something that was beautiful to both of us – and it’s one of my favorite weddings to date.

So if you’re presented with an obstacle in your wedding planning that at first glance may seem less than ideal, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and tackle the challenge. Sometimes you just need to approach things from a different angle and not be so quick to judge a color (or venue, chair, suit, etc).

Photography: Cory Weber Photography

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday!

And if you want to see my chili pepper buttonhole, pop on over to instagram – it’s red, white and blue perfection!

Real Weddings :: Nolan & Jessica

0 · Apr 29, 2015 ·

I don’t know if I believe in destiny or fate, or that there’s only one person in the whole world that you should marry and (finger’s crossed!!) you’ll meet them and timing will be perfect and you’ll fall in love. I do however, believe that God has a plan and know’s exactly what’s going to happen before we even have a chance to contemplate the possibility. I suppose he controls our destiny then.

Nevertheless, I think the way our paths are intertwined is really interesting, and our story of friendship is no exception. Back when I was just an under-aged, beauty school grad, I also had a late night weekend gig at a bar. And so did Jessica. However, we rarely had a chance to speak and although we worked at the same club, I’m not even sure I knew her name – she was just the girl with the most amazing highlights. And she’s always been someone I remembered and who stood out in my mind.

Fast forward a few years and here we are. I met my husband who happened to be best buds with Nolan, who would eventually become her fiance. My husband predicted from the beginning these two were in it for the long haul. And I guess he was right. Anytime I get to be involved in someone’s wedding day is really special to me, but when the bride and groom happen to be a couple of your closest friends it becomes one of the highest honors. It was more than just a wedding, it was a very happy celebration.

In the height of dahlia season, we watched Jessica and Nolan say “I do” at the historic Felt Estates. I handpicked every flower myself with sweet Jessica in mind knowing how important this day was, knowing that in just a few short hours she would marry her best friend, a relationship that I was lucky enough to see from the beginning. And will continue to see for years to come.

Dahlias

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