Country Home & Blooms

My peony show’s dramatic arrangement in red and yellow (see yesterday’s post) was in need of refreshment after coming home. I restyled it in a total other vibe with a rustic inspiration in a mid-century pitcher found while thrifting in North Carolina. And added 2 more yellow Bartzella! I already miss my peonies but the garden is still in full How with lilies and daylilies. Would you want to see more?
I have not been often on Instagram recently. Too busy gardening while not motivated by posts that are just not seen. As this pic was sitting in my drafts for weeks, I thought Miss Whiskey’s perfect cuteness with the Quebec carved rooster deserved a post for

My second arrangement for display at the mid-June peony show featured yellow and red peonies.
More dramatic than the pink one (check back in my feed to see it). A friend called this one sophisticated. Which one do you prefer?
Floral arrangements weren’t in competition this year- only cut flowers. I won 8 ribbons and one honorable mention including 2 first prizes, and received the amateur trophee! 🏆😀

Foggy Monday morning and 🤍 peonies.
We had torrential rain episodes every few hours since Thursday afternoon following many days with tropical temps. As a result, the peony garden is almost over. My heart is so sad. I need to repeat this mantra: Gardening is creating ephemeral beauty.
The crystalline vase is another souvenir from my April excursion in Seagrove, North Carolina.

Oreo says he hasn’t been meowdelling for some time now. It took some treats to convince him, including some fresh peonies!
This fragrant peony arrangement is on its way to a longtime friend who is housebound. The single darker pink flowered are aptly named ‘Friendship.’ The joy of giving is as rewarding as the joy of gardening
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The new colors of lilacs 💜🤍💜
I’ve added eight new hybrids to my lilac border in the last two years! Including ‘Sensation’ with bicolor flowers and a yellowish ‘Primrose’. Pruning long stems on short young shrubs can affect next year’s blooms, so instead, I used this marvelous, hand painted, vintage Macao bowl with a smaller glass insert and a kenzan useful for the shorter stems. I also added three pretty lupines for a balancing act.
Discover all my tips for crafting stunning and fragrant lilac arrangements in my latest blog post at CountryHomeAndBlooms.com, where I also revisit many of my favorite lilac Instagram posts.
Enjoy your weekend!

Lilac melody 💜
Late blooming tulips ‘Bleu Aimable’ and garden lilac in profusion displayed in a wonderful vase crafted by David Fernandez from North Carolina.
I visited Seagrove in April and was amazed by the talent and genuine interest of the many pottery artists who open their studios and boutiques in this quaint village. If you know me, you might guess I couldn’t resist acquiring a few pieces for my collection of vases..

Spring lovelies in a yellow Japanese vase💛
Ikebana – the Japanese art of flower arranging – is a journey of contrasts. Its emphasis on lines, asymmetry, and symbolism diverges from my typical floral style. However, when my dear friend Masako shared her cherished collection of Ikebana vases with me years ago, it opened a new chapter. Each vase narrates a tale, motivating me to infuse my creations with their timeless beauty and craftsmanship, even as I diverge from the traditional principles of Ikebana.

Hello spring, says Miss Whiskey!
Let’s put a little seasonal touch in the sunroom with a flowering quince bonsai and a carved ostrich egg. 🌺🥚
And yes, we had 4 inches of fresh snow yesterday but the sun is shining and hope is in the air!
A very frequent question here over the years has been the pickled pine tongue-and-groove ceiling and walls in this room. I’m finally tackling this question on the blog today at CountryHomeAndBlooms (link in bio or stories).
Japanese quince bonsai by

While writing my last blog post « 12 steps in selecting and buying new plants from online catalog », I enjoyed creating images with Microsoft Bing AI Copilot GPT. This is one. To see more, follow the link in the first comment.

A forgotten draft in coral shades in my favorite Chinoiserie ginger jar.
With this yo-yo temp and almost no snow, we may hope for an early spring. Bring me all the peonies!

🌸 Celebrating the blossoming talent of my friend Stacy Ling, – a true master gardener whose passion for flowers knows no bounds! 🌼
Thrilled to share her latest milestone: the release of her first book on flower gardening – The Bricks’n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden. 📚
I’ve been following Stacy for many years and find inspiration in her beautiful feed and well-read blog. She is . 🌿
Buying info and preview in stories or on her feed.
Dive into her world of blooms and be inspired! 💐

Last summer’s project: nestled behind the dappled willows in the peony garden, I fashioned a cozy seating nook. 🌿 Perfect for a shady retreat during gardening or for unwinding with a good book on hot summer days. 💐 Though I love my green bistro set and flower-filled pots, it’s time to give this spot a sturdy foundation! 💡
Where did I find the inspiration to improve this corner and what’s my plan for it? 🌟 Head to the blog where I revisit small private gardens from my area and share 6 garden inspirations I’m drawing from for my oasis. Link in bio and stories.

Still winter morning. Still hibernating.
Winter is the season when I dedicate more time to my blog. Have you ever looked there? Today, I’m describing a strange flower that appeared in my garden. Follow the link in my bio to discover which one.

Happy birthday to my boy Oreo! 🐈‍⬛
Give him some love for being 10! 🎉
He’ll even give you the paw to thank you! 🐾
Swipe to see see him as the cutest b&w kitty! 🖤🤍

Bonsai are back, starting with a memory of this miniature forest of hackberry. Its scientific name is Celtis sinensis var. japonica.
Within the challenges of gardening and plant collecting, understanding the distinctions between botanical varieties and cultivars is crucial for selecting plants and knowing their origins. On the blog today, in the third part of my Botanical Chronicles series for gardeners, I discuss the definitions, differences, and importance of botanical varieties and cultivars, as well as other related terms. Stop by CountryHomeAndBlooms.com
Bonsai by

A very cold morning calls for a nap, says Oreo.
Neutral decor is good after the Holiday hoopla.
Happy Friday friends!

As love knows no boundaries, extended family transcends frontiers. 🌺🌹💞
Oreo and I extend our heartfelt thanks to Al, Tammy, and Alie for these stunning flowers. Hosting my daughter’s in-laws from Texas over the holidays has been an absolute joy! 🌸✨
Speaking of families, did you know that plants have their own too? For a deeper dive into this plant classification, swing by the blog for Part 2 of my Botanical Chronicles series (CountryHomeAndBlooms.com)

Starting the year with the beautiful peony ‘Hillary’ in my 2023 spring garden. 🌸
I have been less present here this past week, hosting my daughter’s in-laws from Texas and celebrating the holidays with family and friends (including another birthday for me) - all of which motivated me to take a little break from posting. It’s also been an epiphany to revisit the purpose of my journey on IG.
I’ll be dedicating more time to my garden and my blog, which will translate into more flower posts and maybe a bit less decor. I hope you’ll still be there for these moments. 🍃✨
Best wishes, my dear friends! May 2024 bring you health, love and peace. 💖
If you’re interested in learning more about Itoh peonies and seeing more beautiful blooms, stop by the blog at CountryHomeAndBlooms.com (link in profile).

Tomorrow night will be Christmas Eve 🎄🎅🏻⭐️

Christmas card. ❤️🎄🐈🎅🏻

Real greenery and faux blooms in a pre-Christmas gifted vase. (Thank you best daughter in the world! 🥰)
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A little festive touch. ❤️
A little morning nap.🐾
A little winter background.❄️

Miss Whiskey is anxious to decorate the house for the Holidays.🐈❤️🌲

The star is the celadon vase, not the peonies from the garden in this other draft never shared.
On the blog, I’m revisiting the Chiang Mai’s celadon factories where I bought this Thai vase in 2019.
Happy Wednesday!

Peonies and lilacs, the best of last June. 🌸💜🌺
I’ve never shared this view, only the making of in a reel. Check my stories to see it again.
If you were ever curious about how plants get their scientific names, read my last blog post where I use Paeonia lactiflora, the garden peony, as an example (link in bio).

Autumnal still life with crabapples and apples. 🍎
This wonderful crabapple bonsai is 35 years old, a creation by my husband
David gave a talk to our local garden club yesterday evening and brought this bonsai among others for a show and tell. I insisted it had to stop here for a little love. ❤️

Perfect peonies.🌸
This pink composition was the second arrangement presented at our local peony show last June. The judges preferred the coral-colored one (shown last week). What would have been your favorite?

Are you planting tulips?🌷
These cheerful yellow blooms from a past spring have retained all their sunny vibes, serving as my motivation to brave the frost today. I still have 50 of them to plant in the front garden.
Visit the blog to delve into the history of these captivating spring flowers and
discover my tips for better success, especially if you're dealing with critters. (Link in profile)

Dreaming of peonies for spring beauty.
I showed this coral-themed arrangement at my local peony society’s annual show last June.
I’ve been a little MIA here, as I’m busy planting dozens of new peony varieties and preparing the others for their winter rest. Check my stories for the blog post link about tips and recommendations on fall care of peonies.

Blooming last May with foxy charm! 🦊
If you’re tempted to plant unusual plants for a spring burst of beauty, try foxtail lilies, or Eremurus.
Check the blog at CountryHomeAndBlooms.com for a recount on my last year’s experience and tips on growing them.