Yesterday was a rare Saturday all to myself, so I decided to take a drive around the county collecting flowers from some of the ladies who offered me art supplies recently! I actually started at the Dollar Store getting more tubs, towels, and nightlights for upcoming projects. Next stop Hobby Lobby where I only stopped to get silica but since they didn’t have that I browsed the frames and shadow boxes for a couple other projects… Oh so heavenly!
My first garden stop was closest to town where a lovely lady named Cheryl came to the door, which I didn’t have to knock on because her big dog was like an automatic doorbell named Maisy. Cheryl had responded to my request on Whatcom Gardeners Facebook page asking for dead daylilies. I recently, by accident, discovered that daylilies give off the most beautiful pigments when they are near death. Cheryl kindly showed me all around her garden and gave me some lovely blue flowers (roots and all!) that I can’t for the life of me remember the names of. She also gave me Balloon Flowers! These were so cool – purple hot air balloons that open into beautiful blossoms. She shared several other blossoms which I should have written down, but all were so lovely!
Next stop was Joanna’s farm, which I’ve visited a few times in the past to forage and to buy dahlias. Joanna’s daughter, Hannah, also does flower art and makes gorgeous jewelry which she sells at the Farmers Market. I was again greeted by a very large dog, this time larger than me – a great dane with no tail. He’s very sweet and friendly. Next came two more great dane “puppies” which were crazy dogs – one had just come flying out of the pond covered in mud and decided to bless me with a big swipe of his face on my belly! There was a black lab or something in the mix but he was definitely out of his league with those two characters.
Joanna had offered grape vines – the tendrils will make something, I’m sure, as they are very elegant and dainty. I came away with a pile of everything from gladiolas to marion berries, dahlias, roses, larkspur, blueberries, and many things I have no idea what they are called. Joanna has acres of beautiful land with horses, pigs, and of course, dogs! She is always gracious and generous with her time and flowers.
Morning was long past and I needed to get to my final stop, way out in the county, and the day was heating up quickly. With all the lovelies in my trunk and back seat I was worried about wilting all the treasures.
About 30 minutes east toward Mount Baker, the community of Everson and the surrounding farms never fail to bless me. The high hills, flat fields, and the snow-capped peaks all make for such a relaxing, scenic drive. I arrived to the greeting of another dog, this time a German Shepard, and a very sweet, quiet man named Joe who was out working in the yard. Joe and Jade live in a cute little house surrounded by acres of beautiful land. Jade had invited me out in the past but last year Saturdays were dedicated to my mom so I never made it. This year she invited me to pluck blossoms and even asked if I wanted to stay for a yard party! If only I was sociable… So blessed by her offer but that would be beyond my abilities to manage!
I expected that Jade would have a lovely garden, but I was not prepared for the absolute sweetness that filled her plot. You see, Jade is a newlywed. Joe got her a book on growing flowers and it turned out to be a “How to”…. meaning Joe ended up having to build a greenhouse and Jade had to learn “how to…” grow flowers from seed and begin a wonderful adventure in selling her flowers at her absolutely adorable roadside stand and online. Check her out on Instagram @doublejflowerranch (https://www.instagram.com/doublejflowerranch/)
Now, I have never seen “cupcake” flowers, and so many colors of cosmos, and I can’t even begin to remember what else… so many absolutely gorgeous flower petals I could “paint” for the rest of my life with! I felt like I was back in time and that this new “flower lady” I felt I had known forever.
As soon as I made it home I spent hours sorting. Some were definitely wilted but all still viable…and so beautiful… piles and piles of flowers! Some went in the freezer, a pile went into the fridge, and the majority went into tubs of silica to dry and preserve.
I took a few and did a “painting” with the pigments – from gladiola, blue delphinium, and rose petals on canvas paper, a new product I wanted to try. Today I cut a piece of raw canvas and hammered an array of roses, marionberries, gladiola, and grapevines… awaiting the final result is always the hardest part!
I have met some lovely people through the Whatcom County Gardeners Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/623454961004098/ – Nancy is now my friend – she has been doing art with flowers for over 40 years and blesses me with good ideas, encouragement, and kindness. Check out her beautiful work at https://www.instagram.com/fortheluvofflowersnc/
And Diane, Kathy, Kristy, Jen… and I’m sure I’ll leave someone out, all the flower ladies I’ve met and who “follow” my art…. I am truly blessed by each of you.
