After the Bloom

 

A couple of posts back, I showed you a tea pitcher full of summer flowers, purchased from the grocery store.  Among them were two sunflowers.  Usually, several days after purchase, sometimes up to a week, the flowers begin to fade, then are totally spent.  I keep an eye on these flowers and when some begin to fade, then die, I remove them from the bouquet and rearrange those left.

Those could last a few more days.  At that point, I take the ones I believe will dry and still keep me entertained...and save them in one way or another.  Often, I just place them in a container and admire them until such time as I tire of seeing them.  (This sometimes takes years, as I have dried roses at least a couple years old!)  So, these two sunflowers are from that tea pitcher bouquet and have been given a new purpose here in Bird Nest Cottage.

  

Along with them is a single dried bloom of Queen Anne's Lace.   These are sitting in a vintage cigar box in my guest bath.  I think they are still gorgeous!

  

 Some of the other flowers from that tea pitcher bouquet were also saved...and they are the kind that dry quite nicely anyway.  Those are in my smallest guest room...along side some vintage photos and such.  They are sitting in a small dish I bought from the flea...seemed to fit the situation, and the purple flowers are sitting in a child's glass I have which I think was from a set of 'doll glasses.'  Very thin glass...so dainty.  I use them most often to hold a single blossom when one is available.

  

I think these flowers may last into Fall, as they are dry and the colors would be appropriate for a tiny Fall arrangement.

 

 Thinking of sunflowers made me think of my son, who is trying to grow some of his own on his back deck in San Francisco.  I didn't think his efforts would produce much in the way of results, as it's cool there and he only has a few pots on the deck for growing things.  Here you see his house.  It is definitely a house from the 60's.  He has three housemates.  It's difficult to find a place in San Francisco and when you do...well, unless you are quite well off, you have to have roommates.  So, this is where he lives. There is a nice deck off the kitchen.  And, so far, his sunflowers seem to be doing just fine. 

  

 These two really began to "show their stuff' over this last weekend.  And, he has sent me photos everyday this week so I can see how they are doing.  It's amazing.  Here, the one on the left is trying it's best to open.

  

And, the next day......

  

Then, the next day...

  

And, now look at that center...gorgeous!

 

 He sent these photos this morning...A family of sunflowers!  Who knew a couple of pots on a deck could produce these?  They are about six feet tall at this point in time.  And, at some point, Scott can save some of these....after the bloom, and enjoy them inside.  Well, there would really be just a sizable seed head, but they are so beautiful, he could enjoy them dried, and placed in a window sill or something.  

So, there you are....a bit of nature this great day, whether from the grocery store or the back deck....to be enjoyed later....after the bloom.  

Until next time,

from Bird Nest Cottage,

♥♥♥