The Flowers of Northern California

Northern California is a gardener's dream.  While on our trip celebrating my husband's birthday this year I couldn't help but photograph all the gorgeous flowers along the way!

Along the coast at Half Moon Bay the flowers just thrive in the coastal fog and mild temperatures.  No frosts or 100 degree temperatures to stress their growth produces beautiful blooms to enjoy almost all year long.  

The hydrangeas at our hotel were truly breathtaking...a fantastic mix of colors and varieties along the front greeted our arrival.  A border filled with a combination of mopheads and lacecaps...what could be more beautiful? 

Lavender edged the back patio's flower borders mixed with begonias and impatients.   A wedding in the garden for all to enjoy and a real treat for the guests as we got to "attend" without a formal invitation. 

The gazebo is magnificent and while we were there the hotel had three weddings and receptions within a 24 hour period.  This is a wedding destination and people travel from all parts of the country to have their "dream" wedding with attention to every detail.   I must say it is the perfect setting for any special occasion!

My favorite flower is the stargazer lily and in the hotel foyer there were four magnificent bouquets each in their own niche that perfumed the air on arrival.   Just beautiful!!

The day we spent there the fog hugged the coast but fog is very common in the morning and usually clears in the afternoon.  When the sun breaks through there is no prettier place to be!  

We drove back through San Francisco on our way to Sonoma and snapped this picture of poppies 
growing seemingly unattended in the median! 

We headed up to Sonoma and Napa for a several days which is  another fabulous place to flower gaze.  I think everything grows in this region...even if you have a "brown thumb". 

  

At an olive orchard and vineyard in 
Glen Ellen beauty is all around!

Roses were blooming among the 
olive trees and in the vineyards.

I love these large standards.  My mother-in-law had a rose garden very similar to this...brings back lovely memories cutting them and bringing them in her house. 

The fountain is surrounded by a bed of ornamental kale
 and is the focal point in the rose garden. 

This display of begonias is in Yountville

 is a great splash of red!!

     

These containers are perfect for fall in front of 'Napa Style'.

Great courtyard garden.

Window boxes in St. Helena..I visit them every time we are there as they are always planted differently and 

with such vibrant flowering plants.

Great sweet potato vine 
trailing out of  a citrus tree container! 

Morning glories under control.  (If you have ever grown them you know what I'm talking about)  

Our last morning was spent having a wonderfully organic omelet in the Sunflower Cafe on the Sonoma Square...our trip was a welcome break to our brutal summer but now fall is here in Oklahoma and it's a beautiful day!  I'm headed out to the garden to do some flower gazing.  




I'm linking this week with:


Seasonal Sundays
Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays
Tootsie's Fertilizer Fridays
and Beverly's Pink Saturday


Make sure you go by for a visit!


Happy Fall Y'all!!

Fall Tea Party

We have a front moving through and our temperatures are going to fall down into the 80's overnight. We have had almost 60 days of temperatures over 100 and are rejoicing that the front will move through so we can enjoy our labor day weekend!

So in celebration of fall's soon arrival I'm getting some inspiration from last year's fall posts. I posted my fall tea table last year and can't wait to create a new fall tablescape in the weeks to come. I'm joining Chari's Sunday Favorites and The Tablescaper's Seasonal Sundays this week. Go by and say hi!

I know I've said it a lot lately ...but I just LOVE fall!!  The temperature has finally dropped down into the 50's at night and the sky is a beautiful blue hue that makes everything prettier! 

  One of my best friends surprised me with a package and to my delight it was a fall teapot!! 

Thanks Valerie!!

My little kitchen table is a perfect place for a  fall tea for two.  We love spiced chai tea and

it smells  so good!

I had found this pretty wire cloche for only $8 and just fell in love with the design and burgundy color!   Cloches just make me think of  Marty...the "cloche queen".  Marty is the reason I now love cloche's with all the weekly inspiration and ideas she shares!  I'm linking with her

Tabletop Tuesdays

this week.   Thanks Marty for being

such a  gracious hostess!! 

My table started with a yellow tablecloth that I purchased in a thrift store in Pacific Grove, California while on vacation.

The runner was clearance for $2 at Wal-Mart last year and I love the extra long length..I also use it on my large formal dining table as well. 

The pumpkin plates were purchased a few weeks ago at Wal-Mart for $3.00 each.   I layered them on

my favorite ivory Target plates for a fall look.

The scarecrow was on the 80% clearance aisle  at Hobby Lobby last year...I bought  several...after all ..they were almost free!!  I always buy holiday items off season..especially tablecloths..the savings are tremendous.  

The cups and saucers were purchased for 99 cents each at Goodwill.  They only had a set of two so into

my basket they went!

The small ceramic pumpkin was purchased at the Dollar Tree this year.

 I have collected lots of silk leaves and ornamental pumpkins and gourds over the years and accent with them all around my home.  I thought the windowsill needed a little something so I used a swag I made and just added some ornamentals.   

My flowers in the garden are revived with all this cool weather and are blooming again!  I love the view from my little kitchen window.  Someday (when all the kids are out of college) we plan on putting in a large bay window for an even better view of our garden ...a girl can dream but until then I enjoy my garden view.    

Enjoy your week and hope you take

 time to enjoy your favorite  cup of tea!

I'm also linking with

Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday

Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
and
Susan's Tablescape Thursdays

Go by and join in all the parties!

Hummingbirds, Hawks and Heat!!

It's official we have beaten the old record of 50 days over 100 degrees in Oklahoma City.  The heat has been brutal and I have to make sure I change the nectar in the feeders every two to three days.  My little hummingbirds have been so active...an even a red-tailed hawk has been hanging around.  Mr T (our resident turtle) came out of hiding yesterday as our sprinklers came on...I'm sure he loves playing in the sprinklers like my boys did when they were little!!   

July 2010

 While most of my flowers are not flowering at all this heat has allowed  me  to notice the plants that have tolerated this summer heatwave and still bloomed. 

 Next year I am going to be sure and plant

more of these varities!    

Golden lantana

(Internet)

Pentas

Lady in Red Salvia

Blue Daze

Lavender

Hyacinth bean vine

(I have mine growing with a morning glory vine)

Shasta Daisies

(Source:  Perfect Places)

Sweet Potatoe Vine

(Source: Callaway Gardens)

 I would definitely say these are winners for hot, dry summers.

  I am looking forward to some cooler weather with fall  just around the corner...

it will be time to clean up the garden and plant  my beds with  pansies,  pumpkins and mums!!


I'm linking with Susan's Outdoor Wednesdays..
go by and visit everyone this week!

Heat Wave & Inspiring Lavender Farm

We are having record breaking temperatures here in the heartland.   The past few days have been the hottest since 1980!!  I moved here in 1983 and don't ever remember a heat wave like this.  I've been trying to be positive and find something pleasant to do in this sweltering heat.

         (Lavender Wallpaper-internet)

  We decided to visit a lavender farm about 30 miles outside of  Oklahoma City that I have been intending to visit for several years.  What a  pretty and charming place we found out in the countryside and backroads! 

   There lavender embraces the summer heat and thrives in dry conditions while reminding me that some of God's creations NEED what I find almost unbearable.

Back porch and deck area

Country Cottage Lavender Farm is located near Shawnee and the owner grows several varities of lavender behind her charming gift shop. 
Website:
http://www.countrycottagelavender.com/

A red barn next door houses her husband's woodworking shop and they sell his handmade furniture and country primitive pieces  in the adorable cottage he built himself.  

The front porch greets you with
 handmade "pretties" for purchase and made me want to run home right then and
redecorate my porch.

 The porch is just picture perfect and is edged with a flower border of sun loving plants and flowers.  When you open the door to the shop the aroma of lavender welcomes you inside.  The sales lady offered us complimentary lavender lemonade that was so refreshing and explained all the different classes they offer in the adjacent craft building.  

    June is prime lavender blooming and cutting season and we were there a little past prime, but there were still lavender blooms ready to harvest.  You can cut your own lavender bouquet for a modest price.

Somehow walking through the lavender field made me feel better about the heat just knowing that this wonderful herb is happiest this time of year.   

My lavender tea table last summer was
a favorite of mine so after  

returning home I decided I would love to grow more lavender! Early yesterday morning Mr. Bloomers began helping me create a raised bed out of some leftover railroad ties.  I will  fill the bed with a mixture of sand,  gravel and garden soil and have it all ready for planting
 lavender this fall.  Next year instead of dreading the dog days of summer I hope to be looking forward to abundant blooms!

 Hope you find inspiration from even the things you  dislike or dread...if life gives you lemons...

Country Living Magazine

make lavender lemonade!!!


I'm joining Tootsie's Flaunt Your Flowers Friday
can't wait to see what everyone is posting!!