Dreaming of Gardens

I knew it was going to be a lovely day. The morning sun was shining through the shutters and the forecast called for climbing temps. After feeding the pups and a quick breakfast for myself, I hurriedly finished the things I had planned for today and settled by the window with a pot of tea.

 

And that got me dreaming of gardens! And all the flowers I'd like to plant in mine.

 

I had decided to enjoy the tea in the living room — because that's where the sunbeams were and the pups were not! And that's where the daffodils were blooming just outside. Benefiting from our light snow, cold temps and lots of rain recently, they've sprouted all around the garden, unfurling glorious color!  

 

So I borrowed a rose from the dining room and retrieved one of my garden design books. Then I laid a pretty turquoise napkin on a table that's just the right size for tea.

 

   

   

I chose an enchanting tea set in a complementary shade of turquoise with delicate patterns of cherry branches and blossoms. You may recognize the set from a cozy Valentine's table a couple of years ago.

 

   

In keeping with the floral design, I brewed a tea called Wisteria White, described as a "delicate blend of black and green tea leaves, rose petals, and a hint of currants" which also contains lemongrass, juniper berry and cornflowers. My daughter and I first sampled the blend at the tea room we visited in Albuquerque and we each bought a packet to bring home. I wrote about our experience there in A Tea Room, a Botanical Garden and an Emergency. 

I included a selection of cookies to savor — lemon wafers and Trefoils.

 

    

For the rose I used an incredibly dainty glass vase that had belonged to my husband's great-grandmother. The rose nearly overpowers the antique vase, but I didn't have any others sized for a single bloom since most of my vases are for larger flower displays.

      

      

    

I slowly leafed through the garden design book, which takes its inspiration from the paintings of the Impressionist artists. On the left page is shown the painting and on the facing page is one or more photos of gardens that replicate the feel, design or types of flowers from the painting.

 

A profusion of irises along a path . . .

 

    

The architecture of peonies . . .

 

The vibrancy of poppies and wildflowers . . .

 

 

I'm excited to begin poring over catalogs and design books, looking for additions to my garden in beautiful forms and colors for spring, summer and fall. My winter garden boasts evergreen shrubs and trees with green and maroon leaves, and berries in shades of red. I love the several varieties of camellias I have, which began to bloom in succession starting in November. These are the last two and they're covered in buds.

 

One is a soft red . . . 

    

and the other is a vivid pink with bold yellow stamens.

 

I wanted to share the vase of flowers in the dining room from which I borrowed the single rose.

 

    

A peaceful tea spent by the window, dreaming of gardens inspired by wonderful paintings.

 

    

Thank you for joining me today!

 

    
  

  

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