Sunday, October 11, 2009

Yard Art





Last week I began a course in floral design. I loooove it and am so impatient to start learning how to make arrangements. We have been instructed in the basics of design , but so far just learning concepts and names of flowers.

So.... I went out in to my back yard and started looking for raw material from which to "play" floral designer.

Here you see my pitiful hydrangea bush... yep... I "scalped" her.



Next was my quest for greenery. Hmmm ... I wonder how this evergreen cedar bush would work... well a couple of snips here and there and she got herself a nice little trim.

Oh.. and you see the rosemary bush in the foreground? Well, even though I like to save it for my "not-made-from-scratch" spaghetti sauce, I decided it would add a little different texture , not to mention fragrance.





Under the anemic hydrangea bush, I had some little purple mums ... Okay! Beggars can't be choosy, so I added a couple of stems to my collection.




Sorry I'm such a slack blogger... I should have shown you all the different steps, but I was concentrating too hard on making it and moreover, I really didn't think it would be turn out to great, so I just went into my pantry, found an old aluminum ice bucket and used it as my vase.
You ready?!?



















So here's my transformation... from yard to "yard art".








Be sure to head over to Susan at Betweennapsontheporch to see more transformations.

43 comments:

~Country Lady~ said...

Lovely!! Way to go girl! Nice texture and color. Hope you have a wonderful week.

Kristens Creations said...

I was hoping you would have something for us this week!! I worked at a shop for 15 yrs as a fresh and silk designer. I loved doing fresh flowers. I'll tell ya...this turned out beautiful!! It has lots of interest and the design is just gorgeous...especially for using what was in your yard. Great job! Have a good Met Monday! Kristen

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Beautiful! I love the shape...looks so professional! Can you believe that you found all the parts to make such a gorgeous arrangement right in your own yard?! Awesome...you'd pay a fortune for that arrangement in a floral shop! :-)
Susan

Lorna ~ Lace and Ivy Cottage said...

What a gorgeous arrangement! And to think that they all came from your yard, that's awesome!

Stacey said...

Oh my goodness that turned out beautiful! Great job. :)

EmBee said...

Lovely Rose, simply lovely!
:-)

"And all she touched turned to gold."

Charlene said...

WOW! Great JOB! You did indeed Morph it! I love the way it turned out & the silver bucket was perfect. Your teacher should be so pleased with your practice piece. Thanks for sharing.

Signing Out said...

It's gorgeous--great job! I love shopping in my yard to make decor items.

Jane

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

It turned out gorgeous. I love the arrangement and it did turn out so pretty. What a fantastic thing to learn. I love floral arrangements and yours really is pretty. Hugs, Marty

xinex said...

I hope you got an A in class cause if this is the result, you did excellent! So pretty and you just gave me an idea of what else to use my rosemarie for...Christine

Atticmag said...

Wow that is some arrangement you made there. Looks like an expensive floral shop piece. Really, really lovely (and free!)
Jane T.

trish said...

What a beautiful arrangement!

Four Paws and Co said...

Wow! That's gorgeous Rose!!! You're a natural!

I've taken floral arranging & have my moments - somethings are better than others for me. ☺ Diane

Its So Very Cheri said...

i love the hydrangeas. They are beautiful.

cheri

Marjorie (Molly) Smith said...

looking good, great job. Can't wait to see more.
Molly

Anonymous said...

Oh, you've learned very fast! This is just a beautiful arrangement! Lovely! Now hurry and make some more so you can show us.
Thank you so much for the prayers for my daughter.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Unknown said...

very pretty

Bill said...

I love finding "ingredients" for an arrangement or centerpiece during a stroll through the garden. You put it all together beautifully ... great colors, shapes, and textures. You definitely have a flair for this!

Hope your week goes well.

Bill

Sherri said...

That is AWESOME! I would LOVE to take a class in floral design. From the looks of that you'll be a PRO in NO time! Great job.

Jane (Artfully Graced) said...

What an interesting combination of flowers and greenery! Your arrangement is lovely. And it's all from your yard. That's a double bonus!

Melissa Miller said...

It is truly a stunning work of art
Rose!

Thank you for your kind visit tonight. I had missed seeing you around for a long while my friend.

Have a wonderful Holiday!
~Melissa :)

bj said...

Rose, you are so talented in every thing you do. This is wonderful!!

Unknown said...

Your arrangement is just beautiful, I love all the textures.
Great job.
Sandy

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Wow!! I am very impressed!! What a fun class to take and you should get an A ! I hope you show us more as you make them! Cindy

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

It's lovely and I know what you mean about blogging... I never take my camera and forget to take pictures of project. I call myself the "Lazy Blogger". Thanks for visiting.

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

Well, that just turned out beautifully! Great inspiration for a walk in the yard!

Christi

Anonymous said...

Oh so pretty!
If you haven't already come link up at my Room a month makeover. http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/10/room-month-monster-dominoes.html

Debbie said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I am in charge of a 1935 Historical Dinner and am always needing centerpieces, wish I had you around to give me some ideas. This is just beautiful!

nannykim at spindle cottage said...

Just gorgeous!

Julie said...

WOW... Great JOB! It turned out gorgeous...I love hydrangeas I have them all over my yard
xoxo
Julie

Justine said...

Rose, I'd like to come over there and kick you right in the patooty! Why? Because you just weren't talented enough with decorating, reupholstering and all the other various crap you've shown us. now you're a floral artist? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Just gimme one teeny tiny bit of your talent and I'd be happy. Either that or get your patooty down here to FL and do over my house!

Justine :o )

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Rose, that's beautiful! If you still haven't even done an arrangement in class and you're doing this great, you are obviously going to be the validictorian of flower arranging school, but I'm not surprised. Are you busy making Santas? Tis the season - well, almost! laurie

Unknown said...

Fantastic arrangement! Inspired me to go into the yard to see what I have left after 3 months of 100 and above weather...
Hope you are having a great week!
Rainey

Tardevil said...

And that would be about $100 in a florist! It turned out great! I took a class one time, and spent all of last weekend looking for an urn that I did an arrangement in which I believe I have donated. Lesson learned, keep the urn, and pass on the flowers. I tell you that so that 10-15 years from now, you keep your urns, and just replace the flowers and don't go crazy looking for something that you probably don't have! :o)

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

SHUT UP!!! This is absolutely gorgeous!! I don't want it to die! So beautiful! You are a natural at this!

Lou Cinda :)

janet said...

I think you did a gorgeous job, and all the better because everything came right out of yard. Congrats on your floral arranging course, im sure it will be loads of fun.
hugs
janet

Tootsie said...

it turned out just beautiful!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Rose! Your "yard art' is lovely! How fun to take a class! See you soon! :-) ...hugs...Debbie

Salmagundi said...

Great job! I can smell it from here! Keep at it - we all know what a wonderful, creative person you are so it has to extend into floral design! Sally

Madisen and Friends said...

Your hydrangeas and mums are beautiful! I love your photography! The pictures turned out great!

Madisen

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Oh Rose, I love this beauty. It turned out gorgeous. So professional looking. Amazing what we can find in our backyard in the way of beauty. I'm sure with you taking this class you'll look at many different things with a different eye huh? Sure wish we lived closer I would love to be taking this class with you.. I hope you are doing well.. think of you often my friend.. hugs ~lynne~

Anonymous said...

Your talents just have no endings.That is truly gorgeous.If you had to pay for it,you would have to pay a small fortune.I don't know why you would take lessons,you probably can teach the teacher,ha....ann

Lady Katherine said...

Many years ago I had a florist, I love your arrangement. I love it for it was picked from the yard. The best for me! You have a great talent for it. Just a few basic and girl you are already great at it!