flowers for friday ~ one of a kind

as our faces turn to the light in these days of lengthening sunshine ...

so do our yearnings for everything springy ...

and vibrant ...

and flowery ...

and most certainly ...

new handbags!

a bouquet to my niece for introducing me to ellis designs ...

sure to put a little spring in your step ...

and maybe a bag on your arm ...

prairiegirl xo

ps. oh yes! it is quite natural that ellis designs has been part of the infamous oneofakind sale ... too cool!

flowers for friday ~ growing up

yes, even when the onions bloom, i have a weakness to trim them off ... put the long stem in a bottle on the sill ... let them go to seed and dry ...

to be admired ...

i've got it bad ...

i guess i am just getting a little itchy for the earth and all that will bloom forth ... you, too?



anyways ... quite a while back, i was visiting di overton's designer block* where i first learned of vertical gardening ...

i was totally captivated at this growing method ...



what really drew me to this particular image was the idea of possibly growing produce right within your kitchen ...

could you imagine fresh lettuce and herbs at your fingertips ...

right through the winter?

i have kept a tub of herbs over the cold months many times ... there is nothing like snipping parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme to put in the stuffing at christmas ... but a whole wall? ... wow ...

well, that's nothing ... get a load of this ...



and this!



ok ok ... i don't have it that bad ...

but you have to appreciate the incredible artistry of the guru of vertical gardening ~ patrick blanc ... wow ...

he has taken this age old, yet wonderfully 'green' concept of the living wall to a whole new level ...

thanks to inhabitat ...

one commenter there sums it up ... 'this is majorly gorgeous' ...

now i have a major itch on ...

prairiegirl xo

ps. *i've linked you directly to di's garden postings ... but you ought to check out the rest of her blog ... she has found some of the most outrageous designs for almost anything ... best put your kettle on, polly!

also ... second and third images originally from smith and hawken, who are 'reblooming' at the moment ... xo

flowers for friday ~ gourdeous

i love sculpting, and i love how the flowers on this 'the look of tuscany gourd bowl' by artist louann was created petal by petal and leaf by leaf ... it is elegant yet raw ... it has presence and is artful ... it is gourdeous ...

to learn more about this beautiful bowl, do pop by louannsdesigns etsy shop to learn more ...

by the way ~ thanks thanks thanks again for everyone's wonderfully kind comments on my hundreth ...

i am such a lucky prairiegirl ... xo

flowers for friday ~ beautiful flower

the gardens may be frosted and ever so silently nodding off ...


still, there are beautiful flowers blooming everywhere ...





turning their faces to the light ...

believing ...

thank you india arie for sharing your beauty ...

prairiegirl xo

flowers for friday ~ dreamy organic flora

i think you know by now how much i love flowers ... and ... quite sincerely all the flora of mother earth ...

i believe for all of our mother's flora to flourish, she must be respected, protected and nutured ...



and that is just one of the reasons i am forever fond of melissa and her exceptional online boutique ...

reverie daydream boutique embraces a love for our planet by being as environmentally and ethically conscious as possible ... and by offering products that support artisans and small businesses from the world over ... a philosophy so simple and so welcomed ...

i just love that melissa's mission is to bring creative designed, earth-friendly, made-with-love goods to us!

i have been giddy since the day that i discovered these flowing flora designs on organic cotton extra long scarves, created so beautifully by artist alena hennessy (i love that melissa has bios about the artisans featured in her boutique!) ...

imagine wrapping one of these perfect-in-every-way lovelies about you ...



organic scarf - flora on sage




organic scarf - east poppy




organic scarf - tree on heather
i love, love, love this one and have indicated to the jolly fellow that i have been extra good this year and am so deserving ... wink wink ...




le jardin organic twill bag

. . . sigh . . .

there are oh, so many other delightful pieces for you, your loves and your home at reverie daydream boutique ...

and if you seek further reverie ~ the most single blissful states of being in the world ... here is where you want to be ...





thank you melissa, to you and your family, for caring ...

from me and mother earth,

prairiegirl xo

flowers for friday ~ hauntingly beautiful

in celebration of all hallows eve, i bring you these eery elegant black beauties ...

: : :

and this ~ a most hauntingly beautiful video with my favorite opera ~ the flower duet lakme ...






prairiegirl xo


i googled 'black flowers' to find the top image

flowers for friday ~ blooming business

in 1995 heidi reimer epp and her mom mary reimer had a dream ... and now their dream business botanical paperworks ~ paper that blooms into flowers ... is blooming beautifully!



they began creating handmade paper ... and added a most pleasing element ... flower seeds!

that's right ... any piece of their extensive stationery line can be planted ... and flowers, or even tree seedlings will grow! brilliant!


press

each piece of their line is so appealing ...

i have chosen a few of their ideas to get you ... well ... growing! ...


plantable seed wedding favours


plantable confetti


plantable wedding & party invitations


seed baby shower favors



gives beautiful results ...



all images graciously shared by heidi ~ do check out every little thing botanical paperworks has to offer and what nifty way you can celebrate with blooms!

visit heidi's stationery scoop blog ~ lot's going on!

just so you know ... these wonderful women work these wonders about 3 hours away from me, which really isn't all that far ... but lucky for me, carol's time again treasures is only 20 minutes away and she carries some of heidi's creations in her 'made in manitoba' cupboard ... i especially love heidi's christmas line ... ho ho ho!

prairiegirl xo

flowers for friday ~ wild thyme

with freedom, flowers, books, and the moon ... who could not be perfectly happy?
oscar wilde






as you know, flowers for friday now features new varieties ... of an artistic nature ...

today, i am elated to say that wild thyme has graciously agreed to share her extraordinarily eloquent floral designs with us ... a divine sight, er site!

follow her artistic flair with flowers and her 'musings on gorgeous flowers, individual style, great read, inspiring interiors and wonderful people' at her blog ~ wild thyme flowers for modern romantics ...

a most heart filled thank you to gigi at the magpie's fancy for introducing me to wild thyme ... the quote and these 'flowers for friday' are for you today on your birthday!

prairiegirl xo

flowers for friday ~ new varieties

the frost fell for the first time here last night, and it fell hard kissing all of the green earth goodnight ...

as the blooms in my garden sleep, i will present you with flowers for friday ~ of different varieties ...




i begin with snelling flower girl ~ a brilliant mosaic piece by the wonderfully talented artist barbara keith ...





snelling flower girl is barbara's contribution to this beautiful and ambitious community project led by mosaic on a stick ...





visit lovely barbara ~ artist and teacher ... and 'harriet' ... at barbara keith designs ...



prairiegirl xo

flowers for friday ~ farewell bouquet

flowers for friday ... on saturday, that is ...



this 'farewell to summer' bouquet is the last little pickings of the hardy souls who are b-bobbing about in the garden ... almost defying the frost king to come!



it's like these zinnias, cosmos, blue salvia and sunny flower want to compete with the turning leaves this year ... the leaves are falling yet the flowers are blooming ... it is all very strange to these parts ... it is quite unheard of for our manitoba prairie to be free of frost into october!




as to be expected, the season will turn ... and quite quickly apparently with the forecast of snow for next weekend! imagine...

: : :

with this 'farewell bouquet' i also bid adieu to our local television station that 'faded to black' last evening ...




CKX TV, the 'little station that could' and it's family of dedicated staff brought our community local coverage of everything pertinent to an agriculture based area for over 50 years ...




since 1955 families gathered round their sets to view everything from the rooster crowing contest at the summer fair ... to the weather ... sports ... politics ... education ... health ... local organizations and programming ~ a voice we came to rely on, trust and call friend ...




and you see, the reason this is so touching for me is that this prairiegirl had the privilege and great opportunity of working at this small city station ~ a training ground for many ... first answering the phones ... then writing radio copy ... then tv copy ... then as creative director ... for the better part of the 1980's ...




even though the technology from 'those day's changed a great deal, CKX kept up ... just not enough ... and the little guy couldn't compete with the big guy anymore ...

take heart founders and everyone who worked at CKX throughout the years ~ your voice was mighty and meant a great deal to many ~ you will surely be missed ...




even though the station and channel have faded ... the memories, the deep friendships and great times will never fade!

best wishes to those suddenly finding themselves seeking new jobs today ~ may a new door open for you ...

to everyone touched by the 'little station that could' ~ this bouquet is for you ...

prairiegirl xo

: : :

image of family watching tv found here

all other black and white 'memories' by my friend kb

flowers for friday ~ food blooms

and the miracle of nature unfolds ... when blooms ~ fragrant and beautiful ~ tiny and unassuming ~ and big and bold produce food to nourish us ...


delicate and heady fragrant are the sweet apple blossoms in spring ...


... producing deliciously crunchy apples ...


... and one divine, cinnamon apple rhubarb galette ... sorry, couldn't resist!


the wee yellow flowers tell us that fruit is on it's way! fried green tomatoes anyone?


does anyone ever admire a flower on a hot pepper plant?


you have to lie on the ground to see the true beauty of the eggplant bloom ~ this, just after a rain shower ...


this lovely purple flower is just the beginning of a promise ...


... of bigger and better things! it's exciting when these wonders stretch and stretch to full size ~ now a little olive oil, garlic and the grill ...


is there a difference? there must be a difference in these next three brilliant beauties ... beginning with the yellow zucchini bloom ...


there is usually an overabundance of these sunny specimens of the mallow family ... and around here, as my husband says "no one is safe in zucchini season" ... you just may find a bunch in your back seat when you get home!


a first timer for me is this squash bloom and fruit ~ planted especially for our son's girlfriend who loves them baked with butter ... slurp slurp ~ can't wait!


yet another big yellow orange bloom ... cheery as can be ...


producing pumpkins of course for thanksgiving and halloween traditions!


every season i am truly amazed at what the garden grows and the bounty we are blessed with ...

prairiegirl xo