weekend flower therapy

by Sharon Santoni

bouquet of roses from the garden - my french country home

After a fun but fairly busy week, the weekend has arrived and is looking surprisingly calm.  Nothing urgent on my to-do list, at least nothing that cannot wait until Monday….

bouquet of roses from the garden - my french country home

Time for a little flower therapy, which this week takes the form of a bouquet from the garden, where the roses have bravely resisted the week’s ridiculous heatwave, and are flowering abundantly.

bouquet of roses from the garden - my french country home

I used one of my very favorite vases, I love the slightly tarnished silver and the size and shape of this antique urn, and the grid makes if so easy to arrange the stems.   I mixed in with the roses some Lady’s Mantle, fresh mint leaves, Nigella seed heads and a couple of small off-white peonies.

bouquet of roses from the garden - my french country home

I’m cursing myself for never having been more disciplined about leaving name tags on my roses, because this pale pink variety is a favourite that I would happily repeat, if only I knew what it was called!   Do you think it is an Abraham Darby?…

This little bouquet will only last a couple of days, but that is fine.  I love ephemera, and the sight of these gentle pinks and off whites is the first thing I see as I step inside from the garden.

bouquet of roses from the garden - my french country home

I hope you’re having a good weekend, and that you find a moment for your own favorite therapy time …. and if want to tell me what form that takes, then I’d love to hear.

bouquet of roses from the garden - my french country home

23 comments

Julie S June 24, 2017 - 12:41 pm

I love the simplicity of your arrangement, looks so stylish but so easy for us to copy with different flowers. I also have a rose that I wished I knew the name of. It is almost identical to yours except quite a lot smaller flowered. We took cuttings from the original many years ago and they have moved house with us three times. Now sadly they are looking their age, so it is time for new cuttings, hopefully successful again. Have a lovely relaxing weekend.

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Vicky from Athens June 24, 2017 - 1:27 pm

Sharon, your flowers are a feast for the eyes on this gloomy Saturday morning!

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Kim St. Clair June 24, 2017 - 1:34 pm

Hi Sharon, many thanks for the wonderful pictures of your beautiful blooms, they are glorious. Oh how I wish we had your summer weather right now. It’s winter here in Melbourne and miserably cold. My girlfriend and I have spent the afternoon in the garden repotting rather large trees in tubs so the garden will present well for my house sale next week. Loved your vase, I am fortunate enough to have inherited something similar from my mum, but in crystal and they are wonderful to use and nice and sturdy for heavier flowers like dahlias. I will be packing it very carefully for our next move from Melbourne to Brittany France and a wonderful restoration project of house and grounds. We look forward to perhaps taking one of your tours once we are settled and your new book. Kind regards Kim.

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Laura June 24, 2017 - 1:42 pm

Good morning Sharon,
I am up early and reading the morning news on the web and checking out some favorite blogs. My hubby is still sound asleep. He starts ten days of much needed and well earned vacation today!!
I love your bouquet. It is simply exquisite! My peonies are blooming and I am going to venture out into my garden shortly to pick a couple of handfuls for bouquets on our porch and in the front entrance. I have 15 different kinds of peonies. They bloom over a four week period, so I am fortunate to be able to enjoy them for a long period of time.
I grew an Abraham Darby rose when we lived at our little brick house in the country. It was more peachy pink than the one you are showing. You could check out the David Austin website to try to identify the one you have.
Hubby just came down the stairs and is preparing to press the coffee. He and I will enjoy a lovely sunny warm day puttering in the garden and surrounding yard. My brother and his wife will be joining us tomorrow for a barbeque on the patio. Life is good in Ontario, Canada

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Donna R June 24, 2017 - 2:05 pm

Sharon, love all your flowers and I simply enjoy a freshly brewed cup of coffee this quiet Saturday morning. We have dear friends visiting us from out of town, so we’re expecting cooler temps than normal for Tennessee today. Breakfast and lunch on the patio this fine day. Blessings to you and all your readers!

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Madonna June 24, 2017 - 2:35 pm

I googled Abraham Darby. Your rose looks sort of like it, but if I had your green thumb I would order up several Abraham Darby. I think I told you before, but I will say it again, you have a really talent for arranging a bouquet. Gorgeous.

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Daphne Bryson June 24, 2017 - 2:43 pm

Good Afternoon Sharon, I adore your flower arrangement. Whilst the rose bowl is formal, the arrangement you have created is so casual.
I have to say I often fall foul of forgetting the names of roses. This year I have decided to write the names in a little notebook, so when I forget the name, I just refer to my notebook.
The hot weather even reached us here in the north east of England, but we did not experience the temperatures you had to cope with in France.
Enjoy your weekend.
Best Wishes
Daphne

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Cathie June 24, 2017 - 3:12 pm

The rose is too small for Abraham Darby. Mine in the wheatbelt of Western Australia is much larger. Love your beautiful blog! Normandy is one of my favorite places in the whole, wide world.

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Carrie June 24, 2017 - 5:00 pm

Good Morning Sharon, Summer has finally arrived in Connecticut. The kids are finally out of school and we’re looking forward to all the music festivals and spending some time at the beach. I love taking a break in my day to see what you’ve been up to.

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amy June 24, 2017 - 6:32 pm

So humorous to me that no one thinks your rose Abraham Darby… I do! Your roses look “exactly” like my Abraham Darby! I live in Nebraska! Do you think in different growing conditions the rose performs a bit differently in color and size? Anyway, keep doing what you are doing…I love your blog!

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franki June 24, 2017 - 6:47 pm

I lived in Pilger, NE and “that rose” certainly “looks similar” to some I’ve seen…franki

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Susan June 24, 2017 - 11:14 pm

I’m so envious of your beautiful flowers!
Your arrangements are to die for!

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Colleen Taylor June 25, 2017 - 12:26 am

These flowers, the fluff, the scent, the colors! It all seeps through my monitor. Therapy for me is live music tonight at our local resort since the best crooner & guitar player in the city lives right here, lucky me! Relax & enjoy this weekend Sharon.X

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Esther George June 25, 2017 - 7:29 am

Hello Sharon, beautiful flowers, I can only imagine their perfume. Unfortunately…no clue as to naming this beauty, but the biggest rose supplier in Australia is in Melbourne their website is Treloarroses.com.au if you have time please have a look, they might have it. It’s very impressive and ohhhh so tempting I promise. Have a great weekend, till next time, regards Esther from Sydney.

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Sandra at Maison De Jardin June 25, 2017 - 8:49 pm

Beautiful flowers and your post is a wonderful treat. One that I always look forward to.

Have a lovely week !

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Helen C June 25, 2017 - 10:58 pm

My first thought when I saw your beautiful flower arrangement was ‘is that Abraham Darby?’ I grew it Perth, Western Australia and just loved it.

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Hazellavelle June 26, 2017 - 8:49 am

Hi Sharon
Just returned from Florence with my lovely friend dotty bee , we are too flower arrangers ,
While there we came across a wedding in fiesole
Pale pink roses greeted the church enterance in large urns , with the same repeated on each pew end baby’s breath was the filler ..
Me and dot were so taken back by the beautiful sean , we both shed a tear !! This is the power of flowers !! So thanks for your pictures of your roses so lovely on my return to Manchester uk
Love Hazel xx

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The Enchanted Home June 26, 2017 - 5:53 pm

SOOO pretty! This post was all I love. Great treat on this Monday and love your header!

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MARLA June 27, 2017 - 1:26 am

Oh Heavens!!!! Such beauty. I don’t have a garden in this our new house, yet…..can’t wait!

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Wendy June 29, 2017 - 12:10 am

Sharon, I love your arrangements, they look so natural, just like they do in the garden, wonderful touch you have.
I have many Abraham Darby roses, and I don’t think your roses are quite large enough. The AD start off quite apricot and then turn to pink, but not quite as pale as yours. However, that could be a different climate but here in Melbourne that’s what I have.

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Lyn June 30, 2017 - 11:40 pm

My favourite weekend therapy is embroidery. I also love gardening but have been housebound for a few weeks so I embroidered a garden.

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Ann Macnaughton July 5, 2017 - 7:16 pm

Hello Sharon, I live in the countryside in Ireland. My home is one hour from the capital city, Dublin, but in beautiful (green) countryside. I love my visits to friends in France and recently discovered your website. It is an inspiration and feeds my love of French decor. My home is one of six Georgian cottages (c. 1790-96) and has many items brought from French holidays – toile, old linens, wirework, planters, blue, more blue.
Continue with your inspiration!

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Mary Miller-McNutt February 26, 2018 - 3:19 pm

Not just weekend therapy, but a treat for the soul anytime.
Thank you for sharing.
Best regards,
Mary Miller-McNutt

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