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.

Her Fiery Coat

Autumn flings her fiery coat over sumac, beach, and oak.

Susan Lendroth

I wonder when to harvest the berries.

I wonder how to save and prepare them.

source

I wonder how to dye fabric with this wondrous plant.

Due to unforeseen circumstances our trip was delayed one day. Stay tuned for news from the road. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Afternoon Thermals

 Goldenrod blooming, seems early

 Sumac drupes almost ripe

 Sourwood fruit in downy masses

 Possom on the porch at night

(he really is there next time I'll use the flash)

Clouds drifting by slowly

Buzzard enjoying afternoon thermals

A good day to paint

September Colors

Here's the first lidded canister I made. I fired the lid separately and it didn't warp. I have one more of these. I'd like to make a few of these in different sizes.

 Here's the first September leaf I saw the other day, the Autumn colors are slowly starting to turn.

 Here's the yellow tail fish platter. Once again the creamy translucent glaze didn't melt like I wanted. I need to go back to my old standby of satin clear glaze which does much butter. The good news is the platter didn't crack.

 Here's the nandina or heavenly bamboo in September, later the berries will turn bright red, but now they are a dusky melon orange. This landscape plant is called heavenly bamboo but it isn't a bamboo but a drought tolerant plant.

Same thing on this large floral platter the creamy translucent isn't melted enough, but I like how the slip and underglaze colors look when I rub them with my finger to make them look blended, like water colors. I don't know about those flowers, maybe a leaf or several going across one side of the platter on an angle. Hum.

Here are more September leaves of the sumac. Looking at all the changing leaves has me thinking of making an Autumn leaf platter, with some blended colors. Yes, I think that would be nice. Maybe some berries in there too. I'll have to do a few sketches.

I had a bunch of my vine textured rectangular plates in various colors in this firing. I have more to fire too; these sell really well. They're a versatile size and make great luncheon or appetizer or even small serving dishes.

Here are the berries of the sumac. I think that's it for this firing, oh there are a few smaller items. Hope you're enjoying the slightly cooler weather. Here's an Etsy treasury I did inspired by September colors.  It's only slightly cooler here, perhaps where you are it's much cooler. Thanks for reading and for all your comments..