I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you don’t need an excuse for spreading a little pretty,  other than making the most of the passing moment.
There is a pleasure in ephemera, the sure knowledge that it will pass, and quickly, leaving the place for new creativity.   Relishing in change, in continual creativity, these are emotions that many of us can relate to.
So if you have a garden to hand and a pair of secateurs in your back pocket then don’t hesitate to cut  and enjoy on a regular basis.  The plants will pay it back to you by re-flowering, and you get to bring the outside inside, which in my book is never a waste of time.
Flowers are therapy, they brighten a room, lift a mood, and they even smell good.
For these pictures, taken at my Mum’s home this week, I used a mix of roses, hydrangeas, ladies mantle and buddleia.  Popped into a glass vase, and photographed in a corner of the entrance hall before they found their place in her kitchen.   At this time of year the roses don’t last as long as at the beginning of the season, but no matter, they still hit the spot.
34 comments
Truly beautiful and inspiring Sharon. Have wondrous weekend.
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Lost Too Soon
Sharon, So enjoying your new book with its fab ladies and lovely photos. Ordered 2 by mistake but love book so will give 2nd to friend as a present! Do you mind if I keep your FB photos & post them in my Pinterest category of beauty ( I love re-enjoying them & am certain others do too.)? Thanks for sharing so many good things!
I love your posts…so creative and appreciate of the beauty in the world. I may never get to your country…so thank you for bringing it to me in such a lovely way!
Mmmmmm . . . I can almost smell those gorgeous roses!! So bright and beautiful!
I can practically smell those roses – lovely. Speaking of lovely, I am enjoying your delightful new book, which just arrived! After going over all the photos and peeking in here and there, I find myself really enjoying the different styles and ages of these women, and I will now settle in for many delicious moments of reading and savoring, starting at the beginning.
I have so enjoyed your blog and of course, ordered your new book on Amazon as soon as it was listed…….you and your book do NOT disappoint. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting your friends and seeing how they live. Keep it up!!!!
Absolutely stunning arrangement. The colors are delightfully mixed and it’s both lush and free flowing. Thanks for sharing and brightening my day… 🙂
So incredibly gorgeous! I keep trying my hand at gardening, specifically roses! I hope mine will this pretty one day. You have such talent, you just have a way about you… Thank you for sharing!
Absolutely beautiful. Isn’t it wonderful to have access to such a variety of flowers at your fingertips. You are right in saying that we should get out there and prune our flowers while at the same time enjoying their beauty indoors. Something I did just before checking your post. Funny☺ Your book has arrived and I’m waiting to enjoy it with a glass of wine
in hand.
THE BOOK ARRIVED YESTERDAY!! It’s beautiful. An amazing array of women, each with such comfortable personal style. And delightfully french. I will be reading over & over. Great weekend to you.
Your book arrived this week. It is enchanting! I am getting to know your Girlfriends, one by one. How inspiring they all are! Thank you for such a lovely book.
Sharon – your book is wonderful! I’ve just put it down and I enjoyed every minute spent reading about your fabulous friends and getting a peek in to their day to day lives and their homes. I bought a second book as a Christmas gift for my sister – she’s going to love it as much as I do!!
Dear Sharon –
Your beautiful book arrived a couple of days ago, and I have been enjoying looking through it, and reading everyone’s individual story. What an inspiration you ALL are!
Thanks for your love of French charm and your vision for displaying it for all of us to enjoy.
Merci, Kate
stunning + great photos! xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Beautiful flowers and arrangements…I am about half way through your book, enjoying and savoring every page…so wonderful to have a big book with beautiful photographs and REAL , unretouched women, doing life their own creative way, in their own unique style, very nice, thanks!
Oh my… what would I do without roses ♥
Look at all of these lovely comments about your book…as sweet smelling and sincere as a bouquet of roses…justly deserved.
I just ordered your book for a gift to a dear friend whose children live in France. They are restoring a very old home with a dovecote. The book will be a perfect gift. Thank you.
Lovely flowers Sharon.
I hope that you have a delightful weekend in France…
Some women have received their books already and so now I am counting the days until mine arrives. Will brew up a big pot of tea and sit outside in my “French Country” inspired patio and give my full attention to your book!
Thank you again for showing us how beautifully one can live in the country.
Your roses are gorgeous. Unfortunately we have a bit of a drought going on here, but flowers can still be had. It is one of the indulgences I allow myself……at least one bouquet of fresh flowers in the house all year.
Sharon, I just received your beautiful book! I plan to take my time and enjoy each page.
So lovely to look at!! With our heat and devastating water shortage in Southern CA, we’ve had to resort to changing over our yards to pea gravel walkways, succulents and native, draught- resistant plantings. Oh to have roses, or flowers at all!! I will savor every photo of your garden’s abundance anytime you post!!! Thank you!
Another So Cal native here,
I am also thinking of our drought here but in a creative way. My idea is to remove my front lawn and replace it with DG and plant Iceberg roses, lavender, rosemary and Santa Barbara daises in the planter beds …..all drought tolerant plants!
Margarita~
I do not think YOU got my INSTAGRAM message!I GOT THE BOOK!!!!!!!!LOVING IT.GOT one for HEATHER TOO………..been in bed this afternoon reading and enjoying every detail.
YOU Must start a second BOOK…………maybe about YOUR FRENCH MEN FRIENDS??!!!
It will be a HIT!!!
BOOK TOUR…….make SAN FRANCISCO a destination!
XX
Really beautiful post Sharon – the concept is lovely and brightened my day.
So true! Your post cheered me up. Only a few weeks of winter left where I live, Victoria, Australia and its dull and drizzly and grey. Come on Spring! I have flowers in the entrance, dining room and living room always. The rooms look undressed without them.
I haven’t ordered your book yet, but am looking forward to reading it.
Lynne
Thank you for sharing these beautiful flowers with us!
I’ve been enjoying “A summer story” very much. Some time ago you wrote another story about a woman setting up an apartment and new life in Paris. Is it still available in your archives? If so, what date should I look for? Thank you.
your photos are great and your flowers are just beautiful.
Have a great day.
Your flowers are just beautiful! Love the photos.
Have a great day.
Fresh flowers certainly lift the spirit. These are lovely.
Not sure you got my message yesterday——–WOW!!! Got my book and it won my day. Love it! XH
How gorgeous Sharon! Your book is scheduled to arrive tomorrow & I just. can’t. wait. Color me excited! X
Loving the summer story. I so hope it has a happy ending. Inspired by your photos I brought some of my pink roses inside today to save them from our horrid English rain. The scent is heavenly but to where has summer gone?