Posted on by Donna

A Life Filled With Floral Dreams

” The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”  ~Oprah Winfrey

 

It seems my dreams can still be found in nature, my garden and creating.  And even though those dreams were postponed this summer, there was still lots going on.  So I thought I would share with you some of what was happening in my garden this past summer.  One of my dreams for my garden was to have more flowers for cutting.  So I worked hard in spring to set up my cutting garden, and planted many flowers for cutting in containers.

Of course it all went to hell once I was unable to garden, but prior to that I was able to plant seeds and starter plants.  And I even had some lovely flowers growing and picked some for vases.  So I thought I would highlight the beginning of my cutting garden.  

 

 

This little 3 ft x 3 ft bed was filled with dahlia tubers, California poppies, zinnias, cosmos, gladiolas, cleome and sunflowers started from seed.  It was growing great, then the heat and drought hit.  The bigger issue was the weeds I could not get to because of my back issues. Many plants barely flowered or were dismal.  And even when they did flower, I couldn’t cut them.  But it was pretty to look at for a while.

 

 

I grew lots of snapdragons from seed and put them in containers.  As they flowered in spring, I cut them for many vases.  I love how these snaps look just sitting in the basket.  Even though it is not a vase, it is still a lovely presentation.

 

 

I love this little pitcher and dish that was my Mother-in-law’s.

 

 

It’s perfect for those spring/summer cut flowers.  Aren’t the colors of these snaps yummy.

 

 

I enjoy using this antique china creamer as a vase, that was also my Mother-in-law’s

 

 

The snapdragons create a wonderful cloud of dreamy colors and ruffled petals.

 

 

And I added a few violas I also grew from seed.  Such a sassy little vase.  Hope you enjoyed these vases from this past summer.  And I am glad I could finally share them with you. 

 

I am joining Cathy@Rambling in the Garden for her wonderful In A Vase on Monday meme. The pictures shared here were created with my iPod Touch camera and two free apps, Pixlr and Prisma.

I am posting poetry, almost weekly on Sundays, on my other blog, Living From Happiness.  You can read my latest poem here.

All original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Gardens Eye View, 2010-2018.  Any reprints or use of content or photos is by permission only.

36 Replies to “A Life Filled With Floral Dreams”

  1. Weeds, weeds, weeds! I still haven’t weeded out all the grass from our fruit trees here. The worst weed here is Sandburs – their spiny urchin seed heads stick to my shoes and gloves and they hurt! Snapdragons can live year round here and I planted some at the community garden. They finally petered out two years later! They are a beautiful flower as presented in your lovely vases! I’m sure you will have a spectacular cutting garden in 2019! That’s the wonderful thing about gardening – being able to try again.

    1. Oh my that sounds like a nasty weed Kathy. How lucky snaps can grow year round there. I am thinking of redesigning the cutting garden to add it to a more controlled area and incorporate it into the side garden.

  3. How frustrating not to have been able to use your cutting beds after all the planning and preparation that went into them, but I am so pleased you still had some pretty blooms to look at, at least for some of the time! Those antirrhinums are such a pretty range of colours – I haven’t grown them the last couple of years because the variety I wanted wasn’t available, but I shall keep looking. Thanks for your many years of support , Donna

    1. Definitely frustrating Cathy. I hope you find the variety you love to plant again. It is a pleasure to join you weekly and I hope for years to come.

  5. Weeds are currently defeating me here. Not without a fight, but they are winning.
    And the heat means that each and every summer the garden gets away from me. (My version of MS thrives in the heat)
    I love seeing what survived and thrived in your garden before you health issues put gardening on hold.
    And hope this year is better for you.

    1. Wishing that you make more headway with the weeds…..I know what you mean each year the garden gets further away as the weeds take over and you can’t get to them.

  6. I love snapdragons and recently planted plugs in my own cutting garden as the plants bloom best in the early days of our cool season here, before becoming magnets for rust when the temperatures rise. After seeing your snapdragon blooms I’m looking forward to seeing mine. It’s too bad you weren’t able to realize your cutting garden dreams last year but, as the bones are in place, I hope the coming year will bring better luck. Best wishes!

    1. Thanks Kris! I am looking forward to seeing your snaps this winter….and I am glad you are not too close to the fires…..I was a bit worried.

  7. So sorry that your back problems kept you from the joy of gardening! Your arrangements are all sweet and perfect for today as none is in a vase! I hope your back heals so that you can get back outside again!

  8. Oh, the joys of gardening, oh, the pain of back problems. You have my complete empathy. Lovely post of your floral accomplishments. I decided to give up on my gardening over a 45 year span 5 years ago due to back other issues. I now enjoy container gardening on my small patio. And of course I can always look at others gardens. May 2019 be a year of manageable back problems if not completely pain free for you.

    1. We are looking to rehab and reduce our gardens over the next few years to make them more manageable. And eventually I see more containers in my future. Thank you for your beautiful healing words Janice.

  9. Lovely snapdragons Donna – what a great colour mix! Let’s hope your back is better and you can do more in your garden next spring. 🙂

    1. I am so happy you enjoyed the snapdragons Cathy. I am lucky to be able to work still in the garden. And the winter will bring more healing. Thank you for your sentiments.

  10. So many pretty arrangements you’ve shared here, Donna. A cutting garden is a wonderful thing to have. Next summer I will be expanding my annuals and hope I’ll be able to keep up with it– Mulch and lots of it!

    1. Yes mulch is the key Eliza…..I hope to redo mine for 2020, but I will always have a small area…..can’t wait to see your expanded annuals.

  11. I don’t think of Californian poppies as cut flowers – but – they bloom and reseed themselves with joyful enthusiasm. Will add some to my next posies.

  15. Oh, I love Snapdragons, but I haven’t had much luck with them growing from seed. I might have to start with plants next year because I had more luck that way. Your arrangements are so pretty!

  16. So lovely! You grew such a wonderful variety of flowers. I have made due with whatever happens to be blooming in the “regular” garden but a cutting flower bed is in the plan 🙂 This year, though, I decided not to bring any flowers indoors due to the new kitten – I didn’t want to worry about her getting into something that may make her sick, or worse. I did sneak a small vase of flowers onto the kitchen windowsill a couple of weeks ago and that seemed to do ok since it’s behind the sink & not that easy to access.

  18. Hi Donna, it has been a while since I visited. It has been lovely catching up with you and looking at all these super photos. If you are celebrating soon, Happy Thanksgiving 🙂

    1. Oh my friend I have missed you. I hope to finally begin to catch up soon with you. Yes we will be celebrating Thanksgiving. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving !

Comments are closed.