A Beautiful Ride with Flowers

As you might have guessed from my new banner, I have completed the garden bicycle and it is exactly what I anticipated it to be…simply lovely!  As I blogged on my design in earlier posts of “Promise Garden Color Guide” and “A Lovely Ride” the flower bicycle is a favorite focal point for the 2012 Rose & Flower Show with lots of exclamations of “wow” with praise and “I want one”!

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A few notes:  My final decision was Turquoise as the color for the bike (see Color Guide link above) and Purple for the Herb Tricycle (photos forthcoming).  The flowers will grow out and cascade over the bicycle in several weeks which will enhance it even more.  I used many different annuals and perennials that trail, cascade and give an ever-blooming display.  Watch the blog for more on the bikes, trikes and potting tables.  The slideshow gallery for the 2012 Rose & Flower Show will be posted soon.   Be inspired to create and happy gardening!!

Peonies in Full Bloom

A very busy two weeks of show in the Promise Gardens!  This is another image of the peonies brought indoors to enjoy before the heavy rainfall of this week.  The colors are magnificent.  I love the look of the aqua and turquoise glass with peonies and English roses.  The aroma fills the room with incredible delight!  I am excited about the yellow peonies which are making quite a show this year.

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The Perfume of Lilacs Inspire Me

My lilacs this year are breathtaking…five beautiful large trees brimming with all the shades of lavender, purples, pinks and white that only God good embellish.  How lovely they are in the gardens and how beautiful and aromatic in the home.  They inspire me in color, perfume and design.  This year’s Promise Gardens theme colors were inspired by these shades.

WITH LILACS

I BEG the pardon of these flowers
For bringing them to one whose hair
Alone doth shame, beyond compare,
The sweetest blooms of richest bowers.

I beg the pardon of this maid
For offering them with hand less pure,
A heart less perfect, needing cure
By Love’s own music, softly played
__Charles Henry Crandall

English Roses & Promises

In the Promise Gardens, rose promises come true.  Our English roses are successful here because 1) they are loved and cared for 2) the have a healthy garden environment and 3) they are David Austin Roses.

We have over 250 roses and 70 are English roses and we absolutely love their prolific blooming and rambling look of pleasant softness and sweet aroma.  They are an integral part of our rose gardens.

Pictured here is Skylark…a beautiful luminous pink that is perfect in the garden and next to lavender, white peonies and lime green/silver foliage a knock-out color combination that will wow both outdoors and indoors.  The description of this lovely rose is here.

Visit David Austin Roses and you will see why I love them so!