Bloom! Garden! Bloom!

No matter where one lives, it is important to slow down and learn to enjoy and appreciate the beauty that's around you. Gardens, parks, and landscaped buildings are a great place to go when seeking a bit of tranquility.

It is fun to learn the names of plants. Often, gardens have small plaques that identify them. And it is interesting to observe how the garden designer placed and spaced plants in the garden. With thought, it's easy to see how they used the principles of design in their plan. Balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis, and unity are all considered when designing a beautiful garden.

I also enjoy observing how designers and gardeners choose plants native to the locale. Grasses, cacti, and succulents accent beautiful flowering shrubs and flowers where I live. What kinds of plants are local to your area?

Pretty river rock, decorative stones, and chippy bark work together to create a dry river bed. Dry river beds works well in many climates. Other gardeners prefer ponds and fountains with the soothing sounds of bubbling waters that flow over rocks and falls. No matter what the choice, gardens can be a soothing to both the gardener and the observer.

Public gardens are common and enjoyed everywhere. The Bloom IQ website shares a map which identifies many public gardens by state. Check it out! Find your state and see what's there.

Public gardens are great sources of information, ideas, and inspiration. Walking through them or viewing them from a blanket on the ground as you share a picnic lunch with someone you enjoy is a great way to observe their beauty. 

What is your favorite public garden? How many have you been to that are on this list?

Hat Making

I suppose it would only be natural that someone so gifted in making ribbon flowers would also make hats. After all, hats create a great palette for all sorts of artistic expression! Ribbon flowers and trims, feathers, ruffles, and tulle can all work together for a stunning effect! So, in addition to silk and satin flowers and trims, Deb shared some of the hats she made. She started by showing us her (antique) wooden hat blocks. Their surfaces were worn to a beautiful patina from use over time. They are the form that heavy buckram is placed over to create the unique shape of a desired hat. The buckram is coated with a vegetable sizing and becomes pliable when wet. It can be molded, formed, tucked, and darted to create the shape the designer wants. After it dries it becomes very stiff and makes a solid foundation for the rest of the hat. At that point, many beautiful fabrics and trims can be stitched on. Deb even showed us how she used builder's Tyvek (high density polyethylene fibers) as a material for some of her hats. They meld, shape, and bond so beautifully when mixed with tulle, laces, and textiles. From fascinators to fedoras, Deb made hat-making look simple yet elegant and fun!

Click on the photo montage for a larger view.

Nature is Art

‎"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an

 oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." 

Stanley Horowitz