Florals for the Farmers Market

Yesterday evening in less than an hour I made up these four floral arrangements to take to the farmer's market today. This one has buddleia (butterfly bush), sumac and maple leaves. I've placed some wet floral foam, Oasis, in all but the taller vase to arrange the flowers and fillers. I cut the foam the size of the container and let the foam absorb water slowly then place wet foam in the container.

I decided to try using the cassius basaltic pieces I made many moons ago. The black clay pots have no glaze inside or out. Who knew several years later (2010) I'd learn these pots with the ebony clay are vitrified at cone 4 and hold water quite well. This arrangement has brown eyed susan, chocolate basil and potato vine. Oh there's some stevia in the back. I've filled it so full you can hardly see the round pinch pot.

This vase is a more recent one and I've put the salvia (pineapple sage), pine and gaillardia in backwards; too late now. Oh maybe not; I can lift out the foam and turn it around. Ha. the idea is to camouflage the floral foam from the observer.

While I was making the arrangements, all of a sudden I noticed I'd carried a large bumble bee into the kitchen. I scooped him up on a large flower, carried him outside, and gently let him attach to another flower in the garden.

Here's another arrangement placed in a taller pinched vase with curly rush and golden cone flowers. You'd be surprised at the arrangements you can make from plants and flowers in your yard. Even just leaves can make a pleasing display. Please give it a try. I'm off to the market; I hope to sell these pots with the arrangements in them. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

All's Well with Tall Pots, Plants and Insects

Yesterday I was on pins and needles waiting to open up the bisque load of tall pots. Looks like all's well with tall pots. I decided to leave them in the kiln till I'm ready to glaze them because I don't have much room in the studio due to other work drying on the shelves. Now I'm wondering how to glaze several of these tall and narrow topped pieces. Gary keeps saying spray them but I've never sprayed glazes only dipped or brushed them. Not sure how I to spray inside a narrow pot; what do you think?

Meanwhile in the garden butterflies and bees seem to be in a feeding frenzy with the approach of colder weather. This poor golden butterfly, probably great spangled fritillary, has a tattered wing but he can't let that deter him. He is probably storing enough energy to lay his eggs before he succumbs.

 Bumble bees are gathering as much nectar as they can on late blooming plants.

This bumble bee fell asleep on the stevia he was so tired or perhaps the natural sweetness lulled him into a slumber. Sometimes I go out early in the morning and see a bee sleeping on a flower. They wait till the sun warms them up enough to fly away.

Last month silk worms defoliated my young crabapple. Later it put on blossoms perhaps thinking it was Spring again. Glad it survived the onslaught of the worms.

A hollyhock was fooled by the cooler weather, new blossoms bursting forth. Every day I can find much solace in nature. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

I go to nature to be soothed and healed and to have my senses put in order. - John Burroughs

Flower Garden & More Canisters

The brown eyed Susan's, Rudbeckia hirta, are finally coming into their own. They bloom later in the summer.

Here's what they look like as they are beginning to open. I just love the wrapped petals around the center on the one at the bottom.

 Here's a single plant, they are prolific bloomers and they make excellent cut flowers.

Here is a single phlox, Phlox paniculata, flower. These are a tall variety of phlox. They come in a variety of colors and I plan to add more colors as the years go by.

Here is the whole plant with blossoms. You might wonder why I use botanical names. Too many common names are shared among plants and if you want a specific plant hardy to your location it's best to be sure of the botanical name to be assured you're getting the correct plant for your location.

Here's my flower garden I planted this Spring from 3 inch pots. The plants are filling in nicely. Next year I'll add more in the blank spaces. We used ground cover cloth and bark which keeps almost every weed out of the garden. My idea is to have cut flowers to enhance my pottery booth at the farmer's market next year.

Yesterday I made three more canisters. These are a few inches shorter than the other two. More size reduction in height and width still needed for salt cellars. Tomorrow's project I guess.

Gary went to the shooting range with his Jeep club yesterday. A guy came up to him and said "You sell pottery at the farmer's market don't you?" Gary said yes. The guy said "I bought a plate from you and I just love it". You never know where you'll run into customers and collectors. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.