late summer roses

by Sharon Santoni

roses, cosmos and fennel displayed on a linen cloth

We have not had a hot dry summer in Normandy, and the roses have found it difficult to keep smiling.

roses, cosmos and fennel displayed on a linen cloth

Here for you, in pictures rather than words, a sample of the blooms that made it through the showers…….

roses, cosmos and fennel displayed on a linen cloth

 I love their cheerful colours ….

roses, cosmos and fennel displayed on a linen cloth

I really must remember to try decorating a dinner table like this  … no vases, no foam, just scattered blooms, that will last for as long as the dinner .and then fade  …

roses, cosmos and fennel displayed on a linen cloth

 ephemera has always held a special charm for me ….

here today, gone tomorrow, it adds to the beauty  …

roses, cosmos and fennel displayed on a linen cloth

I hope you enjoy……

35 comments

Marian from UK August 19, 2014 - 8:10 am

Perfect! The colours lift the spirits and bring joy just as we are beginning the gradual move towards autumn.

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Sharon Santoni August 19, 2014 - 1:47 pm

thank you Marian, have you noticed how the brightest colours are at the beginning and end of summer, do you think it is to keep the bees awake?!

xx

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Maggie McMillan August 19, 2014 - 8:16 am

Thank you so much. The sun has reappeared here in SW France- just as I acquired a tummy bug. I was admiring some surviving blossoms through my window but yours have really lifted my spirits!

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Sharon Santoni August 19, 2014 - 1:48 pm

thank you Maggie, I’m so glad that MFCH can be read as therapy!

xx

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Hildegard Homewood August 19, 2014 - 8:30 am

As we anticipate Spring with enthusiasm here in the Southern Hemisphere your beautiful flowers give me a glimpse of what we can expect. Still some time to go though as the rain has reappeared. Always welcome to provide the summer flowers.

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 10:01 am

That’s one of things I love about blogging Hildegard, is the southern/northern hemisphere divide, which allows us to share seasons!

xx

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Vicky from Athens August 19, 2014 - 9:52 am

Beautiful! If only you could frame that!

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 10:03 am

thank you Vicki

xx

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Josje August 19, 2014 - 11:25 am

Very pretty! Could be a nice fabric design…

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 10:06 am

I was thinking that as I arranged the flowers Josje, but then you lose the charm of the ephemera 🙂

xx

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Roxane August 19, 2014 - 11:47 am

Such beautiful flowers to see early this morning as I sit at my desk. I love your idea of scattering these on a dinner table and think this would be beautiful for a bridal shower or a wedding too.. The nights have turned crisp here and we can tell that Autumn is approaching. The mist rolls down the river nearly every morning. From my window I can see my David Austin climbing rose that has one tiny pink bud getting ready to bloom. Just up the road from us, our neighbor’s majestic maple has already put on it’s beautiful flaming orange & red colors for fall. How I would love to see your garden!

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 1:22 pm

Sounds like your autumn is arriving earlier than ours Roxanne, but then I remember that your spring started early too 🙂

xx

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Terry August 19, 2014 - 12:41 pm

So pretty! I think I spotted a Cosmos flower amongst the roses. They are delightful and self seed! It will be spring here soon and I look forward to outdoor dining, floral tablecloths and roses…I may just spread them across the table!

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 1:25 pm

Oh yes Terry, there are plenty of self seeding cosmos in the garden, and they grow so high, I love them! My only problem is findind the time to stake the tall plants – any tips?!

xx

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Lory Bernstein August 19, 2014 - 12:56 pm

These are so pretty. I’m sitting here in my bed and can’t hep but notice how much the coloring and scattered florals look like my duvet cover ~ D. Porthault’s Pois de Senteur in the pink combo. The colors are nearly exact!

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 1:26 pm

Just checked out the Porthault fabric Lory and I can see what you mean – maybe their design started out as flowers scattered across a designer’s table!
x

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Debbie August 19, 2014 - 1:24 pm

What a beautiful idea! I have always used arrangements for my dinner parties. I love the look of the scattered blooms. Alas, they might only stay “fresh” for the dinner, but I look forward to using them in a rejuvinating bath later!

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 4:37 pm

aha! in the bath, now this would open all sorts of new photo opps!!

xx

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Katherine August 19, 2014 - 2:34 pm

What a pretty presentation. This could be a great pattern for fabric or wallpaper. Simple, alive and beautiful.

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Simone August 19, 2014 - 2:35 pm

Thank you Sharron ! This arangement would be very nice for a summer tablecloth.
The colour of your roses is beautiful .All the other made the picture so cheerful and perfect.
Simone from Canada

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La Contessa August 19, 2014 - 2:59 pm

Looks like a painting!Someone should design a wallpaper from this!!

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Gina August 19, 2014 - 3:12 pm

how pretty…this makes me miss summer!

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Rié Moratto August 19, 2014 - 4:17 pm

Sharon,

The composition is lovely! Make prints of this, frame them and sell them! I would buy one! All the best, Rié – Portobello Design Blog

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Colleen Taylor August 19, 2014 - 7:47 pm

A dinner table with your flowers scattered around, ahhh, can’t think of a better arrangement!

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Madeleine August 19, 2014 - 9:53 pm

Beautiful, thank you 🙂

Madeleine.x

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Leslie in Portland, Oregon August 19, 2014 - 11:11 pm

Lovely…such an artist you are! What is the flower that is made up of small lavender blossoms that cluster together…almost like a lilac?

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Sharon Santoni August 20, 2014 - 9:57 pm

Hi Leslie, the purple flower is just the heads of a very tall argentinian verbena – love that plant!

xx

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Stephanie, Aust. August 19, 2014 - 11:20 pm

How truly your beautiful flower scattering lifted my spirits. We are coming to the end of a cold wet winter here in Melbourne and I so look forward to the beautiful spring blooms to come – your flowers have provided a taste of things to come – thank you 🙂

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House cleaning Paddington August 21, 2014 - 6:32 am

Very beautiful photos, love how colorful are these flowers.

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Esther George August 21, 2014 - 7:35 am

Hi Sharon as always absolutely BEAUTIFUL….love the mix of gentle colours. I’m looking forward to Spring on this side of the world it’s been a very cold August (not normal). We used a new product on the roses in March called Richgrow black marvel it worked it’s magic and then some, let’s see how we go in Spring. Thank you for sharing beauty. Regards Esther from Sydney.

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Patricia Flournoy August 22, 2014 - 3:35 pm

Your flower scattering is amazing! If it makes you feel any better, Burgundy’s summer has been rainy and cold. Not sure where the summer went? Or if it was ever here?

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DANANA August 24, 2014 - 4:20 am

DEAR SHARON !

I DISCOVERED YOU TWO DAYS AGO AND KEEP RETURNING…IS A WORLD APART THAT THAT YOU LIVE IN…AND I ENJOY DAY DREAMING ALONG YOUR LINES AND CAPTIVATING IMAGES.THNAK YOU FOR SHARING.I AM A POPPY LOVER AND DID NOT KNOW OF THE PURPLE- FAVORITE COLOR- VARIETY !!!IAM MESMERIZED BY THEIR BEAUTY.

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Vicki August 24, 2014 - 5:28 pm

Hi Sharon

I’ve been following your website for a long time (and it alway smakes me smile) but have only recently subscribed to your website and I love it all! We visit France every year (and are off to Nice in a few weeks) but I’m hoping that I can make it to your guest cottage sometime next year. Your latest giveaway is a great idea (especially as it’s personalised) and I would love to win and have a little bit of France in my own garden.

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Lindsay Alpert August 29, 2014 - 2:12 am

Sharon,
I love your blog. the flower watercolors are lovely, as well as the blooms on the linen background. I do love the puppy’s..
You have inspired me to start a blog of my own. I am in the beginning of creating it.
Thank You

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