Texture

For me,the use of texture is one of the most important design elements. It is something I am attempting to incorporate into my garden at every opportunity.

I strive to use as many forms of it as I can, in stone, iron, wood, and of course various plant material.

This rusted and chippy old filigree garden bench has sat on the lower terrace for several years.

It is the perfect stand for a fern and looks at home on the moss flagstones.

I love the look of rust and stone in my garden, and it suits its woodland setting.

Whimsy has a place in the garden!

Loads of texture going on here on the front porch.  The moss covered pillars are put into use for some weddings as well.

A rather formal garden element, but it works because it is an unexpected touch to the woodland garden.

My favorite summer planting!

Soft filigree maiden hair ferns, running a close second to the club moss!

A vintage torchiere set off   against the greenery of  a hinoki cypress. 

White Madonna lilies waning, but still holding their own against a, starting to rust, English flower stand.

Script in the garden. 

A vintage aviary draped with Huldine , a pure white, summer blooming montana clematis.

It is very obvious to me that nothing I add to my garden can out shine Mother Nature's superb use of texture!

Shades of Fall

Even though it is blistering hot outside fall is fast approaching.
The hydrangeas are in full bloom and their popularity with brides as a favorite flower choice is clearly evident every fall season.

This beautiful bride decided to carry an all white and cream, very traditional hand tied bouquet of roses,

and old fashioned stock, for fragrance.

For her attendants she chose, lovely green and burnished red hydrangeas, red roses, magnolia leaves,

seasonal berries and monstera.

Here at Acorn Lane, great care and attention to detail, is taken to provide all the exquisite, finishing touches which make every bouquet special.This includes French ribbons, pearl head pins and lavish little extras that never take away from the flowers own natural beauty.

Dried pomegrantes and leucodendron pods were added to counter balance the delicate beauty of the roses, and add natural texture to the table arrangements.

Intermittent groupings of bell jars covering chocolate dipped biscotti and ferrero roche chocolates were added to the long banquet styled tables, covered in custom ordered chocolate brown damask.

This beautiful bronze bird cage was put into use to receive monetary gifts.

The same rich, baroque colours were carried over into the ceremony flowers. They looked lovely with the cream church linens and beautiful gold sanctuary candle holders.

The perfect colours to end the summer and begin fall.

Simply...Love in the Vineyard

A very simple but elegant colour scheme of white and green with brown.  Lovely earth tones for a wedding in the vineyard.

White hydrangeas, lisianthus and roses, with a lush collar of various greens to capture Nature's bounty, all arranged in a terra cotta urn.

....and a little darling holding a floral hoop as big as her smile!

Simple abundance for a wedding in Niagara wine country.

Have a wonderful weekend, perhaps exploring the vineyards and wineries nestled in the Golden Horseshoe.

Savouring Roses

There's just something about roses, in any way, shape or form that is so alluring. They have always been the queens of the flower kingdom. (I know, I sneaked a peony in there!!!)

This sweet thing, called the Fairy, isn't anything short of amazing when it puts on its show!

Small bunches, like little nosegays already formed, show up in late June. Like a princess, it takes its place at the front of my back path and in full bloom looks like a puffy little crinoline, two to be exact. One on each side

of the flagstone pathway.

Porcelain roses will do in a lampshade finial, Ralph Lauren wallpaper, and the gorgeous border of vintage platter.

and I'll take them in a happy, softly coloured vintage quilt.

Cinderella Fairy is a new acquisition this spring.  Coming along in just a few short months since it was planted

and looking so at home with moss covered stones!

Gathering roses, looks so sublime by the look on the face of this little florist (I presume!)

and Italian mojalica roses keeping it company.

I found this little lamp at a small antique shop in Niagara on the Lake, called Queen's Antiques.

It would be at home anywhere, cottage or castle.

I've even painted the names of roses I have grown on my terrace umbrella.

This is a gorgeous old English rose, white turning creamy....

My very favourite rose, named after Marie Antoinette's gardeners wife, Fantin Latour, soft shell pink ,

cabbage rose. 

Louise Odier, another lovely old English rose, magenta pink.

Roses, I imprinted on a door in my shop, Acorn Lane.

The last thing you saw, as you exited.

......so many ways to savour the beauty of roses.

Potting Benches

This potting bench is an old workhorse here at Acorn Lane.

I made it about 10 years ago with reclaimed and recycled pieces of weathered windows, doors and anything else that looked "shabby".

The two little window boxes perched on top are also vintage, usually filled with maidenhair ferns.
An old zinc tub,was imprinted with roses and serves as the sink for conditioning our flowers.

A lovely light green colour is starting to appear naturally over the wood which means that the moss is going to give it a an even better patina.

Peonies, Sarah Bernhardt from the garden, being conditioned in a plastic, looks-like zinc sap bucket!!

They are so beautiful, they could be sitting in a tin can and no one would notice.

These large tubs are great for holding dozens of roses and other flowers whose stems  need to be recut under water, and then conditioned, so they will be in perfect condition for bouquets and arrangements.

I found these chipped and slightly imperfect, garden ornaments at a lovely shop in Saratoga Springs called Hidden Gardens.
Still haven't placed them in the garden. I have a plan which will take some muscle, so I am waiting for my muscle men to free up some time for me!!!

Old garden tools are an obsession of mine.I wonder about the person who owned them before me, and how
they were used to create their own little piece of paradise.

My favourite clematis Duchess of Edenborough.  The lovely, ruffled and multi petaled blooms look spectacular with the lime green foliage.

This lovely beauty has the same characteristics, soft colour, and all ruffles.

Sorry, don't know her name, I forgot to save the tag!!

Several potting benches, made much the same way, are inside the carriage house, and serve as work tables for arranging flowers, wrapping gifts and potting plants. I will share them with you at another time.

If you find some interesting weathered items that have been discarded, look at the possibilities for creating something beautiful and useful.