How Does Your Garden Grow?

Right now mine grows tall and full of weeds, lots and lots of them. Generally speaking though my garden grows only those plants which can be pressed and used in my art, and a few edibles. I am not ashamed to admit I plan my entire garden based on a list of my favorite flowers to press and create with. Yes, that means I spend days cleaning, preparing and planting, and many more hours maintaining my garden, just so I can pick most of what grows there and press it. The upside to that, is after the flowers are pressed I can enjoy them much longer than just a few days in the garden.





This year I am off to a late start, as the spring weather hasn't been the best. This past weekend I was able to really get in the garden and start clearing the weeds and prepping it for the pretty pressable that will soon grow there!





In the meantime , my perennials and bulbs are keeping me inspired. My Irises are blooming as well as some Forget-Me -Not, Columbine, Lily Of The Valley and just today my Poppies started opening.

This is my first year with these irises, I dug them up from a friend's house last year. They are beautiful. Thanks Phyllis!

These are my favorite columbines. They press great!

This pretty pink flower bloomed on a gray rainy day!

I am planning all kinds of things for these blooming flowers. I 'm sure you will recognize them in later art projects!

Philadelphia Flower Show Entries

After a few years as serving as chair or vice -chair at the show and not competing in this art form, I am happy to say that I completed all four of my entries for the Philadelphia Flower Show. It was a tough task, as I was a bit rusty in the competition area. In addition, for the first time this year, I branched out from the Pressed Plants Class, and entered the Jewelry Class. Though not one was perfect, I was pleased with my entries, and the fact that I was able to get them all done.

Here are my entries for the 2011 Philadelphia Flower Show" Springtime in Paris":

Class 142 "Bon Appetit"

Made from bark, leaves and flowers, this class called for a picture depicting a cafe.

Class 143 "VIN"






Requirement: A Scene incorporating wine or a vineyard.

Made with bark, leaves, roses, hydrangea, tendrils and more all natural plant materials.







Class 145 "La Boheme"

This was a three dimensional class, calling for an opera purse.

My Jewelry Entry:
Class 181 " Heure D' Aller! " (Time to Go)






The objective was to create a wearable timepiece inspired by a french jeweler.

Truthfully I was inspired by my materials, more than anything else! Materials used: cloves, sago palm, birch bark, lotus stem and dogwood petals.

This class, unlike Pressed Plants, allows for painting of plant materials. Because this is new to me, I was a bit crazy trying to make it all come together.