More Gardening at The PORCH & Atelier~

There are two large urns flanking the Atelier entrance. The urns themselves have served us well, making it so far through six years of winter to summer and then back again. It's a treat for me to change out their seasonal botanical statements~Yesterday, I planted catmint - three one quart pots in the center of each urn, with yellow viola and dusty miller around the rim. Catmint (Nepeta) is easy-growing and drought hardy, so when I came across their airy lavender blooms (at Lowes), I couldn't resist them~
It's a tough location for plants, and it was trial-and-error for a few years - some plantings couldn't survive one missed watering day. Moss roses and Victoria Blue Salvia (coming to the doorstoop urns this Sunday) have thrived in the conditions on our corner~

For now, my only question is if the catmint will have constant bloom. I love it's airy growth habit, the leaves are soft and smell somewhat like sage - I can always add moss roses for color, right?

Nepeta, or catmint, is a member of the mint family, and is perennial in Minnesota.

For now, I think they look pretty great for just-planted - it will be fun to show you the filled-out plantings in a few weeks.

Note: we won't be hosting our annual mid-July Garden Day (local garden tours and party) event this year. (Oh, I'll miss it!, and I'm sorry if you will, too~) Stay tuned for a possible Garden Harvest event in September. ~TERESA

Springtime in PARIS, Part THREE: the flowers

~If you've been following our Springtime in PARIS event (at the shop last Saturday, May 15), you've noticed that we love to celebrate with flowers! Good friend, Susan, was here all day - with her now famous pink shears~She started before the event began, using those shears to gather fresh greens (these are daylily) to supplement the blooms that would come in the door~Bringing viburnum - the shrub you're seeing in bloom around here right now, sometimes growing wild, other times cultivated. Its old-fashioned, hydrangea-like, greenish white blooms are a favorite of mine.And more fresh stems, branches-- bridal wreath ready to pop into bloom - oh, I love to get out and gather all of this myself - what a treat that Susan did this for us~ What can you gather - that's right outside - today?Just about everyone comes in the door with fresh blooms - imagine that~

Some brought their lilacs, fresh from their yard that morning~OK, viburnum or hydrangea?Susan took a huge task and made it appear effortless~she spent the day unwrapping, clipping, trimming, and designing absolutely glorious floral arrangements for us~ She designed with color and style - here mixing homegrown bleeding heart with gorgeous daisy mums~

Hosting not only the flowers, she was always quick with a smile and visited (when she could! She's holding a bouquet in progress)~

Every variety and color imaginable was here~

She made over two dozen unique arrangements for tables around the shop. Doesn't this look like a welcome place to sit for lunch? We convert our Atelier level to 'bistro', bringing in some tables and chairs - and make seating vignettes by covering chests and trunks already here.

We offered a morning and afternoon event that day, so she repeated the entire process with even more flowers arriving in the afternoon~

Arrangements large and small~

Wasn't her apron just perfect for the day?

Then, what she designed went home with our guests~

She grouped and wrapped endless packages - everyone went out the door with a personal bouquet~

Could anything be much better? A huge MERCI BEAUCOUP is due--- to Susan, our guests, and friends/family who were here to make a wonderful day happen ~TERESA

I'm so excited for FRANCE and FLOWERS~

Roses in the apartment today - making me think about France and the fleurs I'll be experiencing there, very soon~

au nom de la rose~

You'll see them in many locations, yes, they are a chain - only roses, and their displays are interesting and breathtaking.The interior of these shops are always very tiny~I think I've shown this photo previously - note the rose petals on the shop floor~Flower shops spill onto the sidewalks, just like the cafes~

You simply walk around them, and no one is issuing a citation~

They move the shelving in and out everyday - bringing the fleurs out to share with everyone. Look at the architecture!

Ranunculus abound in France - their full, frilly petals are a favorite of mine~

Primroses everywhere in the Spring, too. These were on an outdoor shop windowsill.

Awesome galvanized shelves, shrubs in shades of citron green (vert)~

There's a bucket of tall greenish-white blossoms inside, upper left. I'll take them all, please. It's common to see men and women on the street, taking a package of fresh fleurs home~

Outside a cafe on the Champs Elysees - in March! (Remember that I'm in Minnesota~)

Near our hotel, in the Eiffel neighborhood. We walk by this shop in the evening quite often. How could you not stop when seeing this welcome?A closeup of her shop window/entrance. I love her painted sign on the glass. Inspiration abounds there.

We love to shop the quaint Village Saint Paul neighborhood in Paris. Look at the white hyacinths in this petite shop vitrine~

On a flower cart in a busy shopping district.

Back to reality~ roses at 'home' are pretty nice, too~

Bring some fresh flowers to your space today~TERESA

Wishing I were there~

Did you know that every photo you take of the Eiffel Tower looks 'professional'? It is that beautiful and stunning. Starting at dusk, it 'sparkles' with extra lights every hour, on the hour.

~Flower shops spill onto the street - everywhere. Even when there in February, it's mild enough for outdoor enjoyment of the scents, colors and textures. A favorite: Au nom de la rose. It is a 'chain' floral shop, but all about roses, open everyday, and I enjoy seeing them when out and about in different areas. I love going inside - their workspace 'is' the shop. Non-non! to photos inside (but, you can see a peek in there--note the rosepetals on the floor: photo #2).

Much more about France to come~

I love fresh and green

~This vibrant mix of zinnias and other flowers hang in a tin bucket at the Atelier door. Note the fabulous Victoria blue salvia in the urn behind. I found the bright August zinnia bouquet early Saturday on my morning jaunt to the Buffalo Farmers Market (right across the street~). It was an extra enjoyable treat for the senses~you could smell the fresh vegetables, flowers and baked goods in the clear morning air.

Photo #2: autumn joy sedum waits on an old tin stand. The sedum will be coming indoors to welcome you at the PORCH entrance vignette at our Market sale ---next week! The shelves on the stand work well with the colors on the old door behind. Hint: that's how all these different pieces work well together~by color.

~ A quick freshen-up and reset at the back PORCH courtyard entrance had me wrapping up the gorgeous weekend appreciative of this gentle move to the next season. The greens are as clear as the air and sky the past few days. Note for next summer: the white winged lobelia is totally carefree (photo #3). No deadheading, no waiting for blooms, it's always full, lush and beautiful. Our 'volunteer' vine at the stone wall (photo #4) has brought enjoyment all summer, enhancing the stone wall and door stacks there. Can you see the silhouette of the white iron chairs in the window glass?

I had almost 'written off' the lemon cypress tree earlier this summer - then I totally got into 'combination' plantings - it has loved being nestled among vines, russian sage, lilies and coleus in one of the large door planters at the back courtyard PORCH entrance. Note for next summer: large combination plantings.