tis the season for a summer bouquet

by Sharon Santoni

This is the moment of the year when I tend to go a little doolally about my summer flowers.   I can’t help myself.   The garden is the first thing I check on when I wake up in the morning, and if I’m working from my office here during the day, then I often get up from my desk and pop outside to see what the light is doing, and if anything new has bloomed.

And then of course, I can’t be happy with the flowers just being in the garden, I have to bring them inside too.

summer flowers in a big bouquet

I actually blame my grandmother for this obsession.   She always had multiple bouquets of garden flowers around the house, including on my bedside table if ever I stayed with her.

And so it is with me, if I lay a table it is not complete without some flowers.   I have flowers in my hallway, on my desk, in my kitchen and even a little bouquet in my bedroom too.

summer flowers in a big bouquet

The bouquet today is what you could call a statement piece.  Waaay bigger than anything I normally put together, but sometimes there are just so many flowers available that I get carried away.

For this arrangement I used an old soup tureen, which you know I often favor.    Roses, peonies, astrantia, black elderflower, cow parsley, foxgloves and catmint.   I placed some wire into the tureen, which I have always found the most effective way to balance a big arrangement.  Also wire allows the flowers to last for longer than if I used florist foam.

summer flowers in a big bouquet with garden chairs

So these flowers are for you, to wish you a lovely weekend, and say that I hope your summer is getting off to a good, floral start too.   Thank you for reading me.

summer flowers in a big bouquet

42 comments

Jo Johnston June 8, 2019 - 11:32 pm

Lovely! Perfect compliment to a summer day.

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Carol Mchugh June 8, 2019 - 11:34 pm

I love your blog. It’s like a mini vacation of the mind…

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Donna (DD) June 8, 2019 - 11:37 pm

Sharon ,
Absolutely beautiful! I wish I had a similar talent but alas I just have to be happy with purchasing blooms!
I so enjoy seeing photos of your garden! Thank you for sharing.

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Jeannine June 8, 2019 - 11:41 pm

Sharon,
Your flowers are gorgeous! A feast for ones eyes. You are so talented. Love all your posts!

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Ida Duplechin June 8, 2019 - 11:42 pm

My moment of relaxation- like a precious letter from home- my terrace garden is returning to life after HurricaneHarvey flood damage(2017). Thanks for the beautiful reminder of how refreshing flowers can be.

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Ros Short June 10, 2019 - 1:10 am

I so lovely to see your flowers at their magnificent best .Really appreciated telling us the names of those beautiful species ,so we can add them to our nursery list

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PAMELA BEDELL June 8, 2019 - 11:42 pm

Absolutely STUNNING!!!

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Penny at Enjoying The Simple Things June 8, 2019 - 11:44 pm

Beautiful!

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Alice Genzlinger June 9, 2019 - 12:00 am

Wow, wow, and wow! Belongs on one of my oil painting!

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Sheri Levitt June 9, 2019 - 12:04 am

Just Glorious!!……….. a virtual painting.

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Anneli June 9, 2019 - 12:06 am

Thank you for the lovely flowers
Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for thinking of all your readers, and sending us such a beautiful bouquet.

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Diane Ellis June 9, 2019 - 12:07 am

Stunning!

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Jen Cashmore June 9, 2019 - 12:23 am

Superbe, how beautifully “Summer”, especially when some of us are in winter !
What is the name of the deep orange/salmon rose please ?

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RITA PARKER June 9, 2019 - 1:00 am

WHAT S STUNNING BOUQUET. A FEAST FOR THE EYES. I SO LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF YOUR POST. THANKS SO MUCH FOR SHARING.
RITA PARKER

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Eileen June 9, 2019 - 1:37 am

Wonderfully blowsy aren’t they?

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Pat June 9, 2019 - 1:53 am

Most beautiful arrangement I’ve seen !

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Esther George June 9, 2019 - 2:00 am

Hello Sharon, your gift is absolutely breathtaking, thank you for sharing beauty….. I hope you have a lovely weekend. Till next time, regards Esther from Sydney.

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Susan June 9, 2019 - 2:06 am

Gorgeous arrangement Sharon, you are very talented! Thank you for sharing.

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david terry June 9, 2019 - 2:10 am

Dear Sharon,

I’m glad to hear that, like me, you prefer to simply ball up some chicken-wire (that mesh of hexagonal, criss-crossed wires) and use that instead of that florists’ “foam”. That stuff is one of those products (we have all too many such-things here in the USA) which invariably leaves me wondering “What happens to this stuff when it’s thrown away?”. One can’t put it in the recycling bins here……so, I suppose it all just goes into landfills…….and will be here, still, when the moon turns to dust and the planet is long-gone.

In any case, your arrangements are lovely, and thanks for this posting.

david terry
quail roost farm
rougemont, nc
usa

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Margo June 9, 2019 - 12:18 pm

Why do you feel it necessary to disparage the USA? Can’t you just leave a compliment for Sharon without the snarky anti-US remark?
Your flowers are lovely, Sharon.

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david terry June 9, 2019 - 4:15 pm

Dear Marco, What a strange response. I didn’t “disparage the USA”; I merely remarked on a widely-used product which seems both wasteful and gratuitous (quite like the ubiquitous plastic grocery bags here in the USA). In any case, commenting critically on one single product scarcely amounts to a disparagement of an entire country, and it’s hardly a state-secret that too many Americans are addicted to “disposable” products……….a phenomenon currently being addressed by many individual cities that are banning unnecessary products such as styrofoam take-out containers. According to your logic, all of these American citizens and politics who do vocally oppose gratuitous and non-recyclable waste are “anti-US” (your term for the matter).

In any case, I WAS complimenting Sharon……pleased to see that she, also, prefers not to use those Styrofoam florist “blocks”. I’m as American as it gets, but have also lived many years in England, Ireland, and France. I’ve rarely returned to the states without having encountered something that made me think “Oh…..isn’t that smart….less wasteful, AND less expensive?”

In short, I don’t think it’s particularity “anti-US” to admire thriftiness and environmental sustainability.
Advisedly yours,
David Terry

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Susan June 9, 2019 - 2:38 am

Exquisite! I am in awe and very envious. I love fresh flowers in the house. So enjoy your blog.

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Evangeline June 9, 2019 - 3:15 am

Sharon….thank you for sharing your beautiful bouquet with all of us. Flowers bring such joy!

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Lisa D. June 9, 2019 - 4:08 am

Oh, so lovely. I think I’ve told you this before, but your blog is like a breath of fresh air.

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Carole June 9, 2019 - 4:26 am

This bouquet is the most beautiful array of flowers,I am a floral designer and I am loving this arrangement. Thank you for always sharing beautiful things, and sharing your life .Cheers!!

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Linda Galston June 9, 2019 - 4:52 am

Ive just returned from painting in Monet’s garden in Giverny. Your flowers remind me of spring /summer in France. The smell and the elegance of all the flowers is breathtaking and a beautiful palette of color.
Linda Galston
Colorado Springs, Colo.

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Tootsie June 9, 2019 - 4:53 am

The colors are so soft and wonderful!

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Linda Galston June 9, 2019 - 4:54 am

Ive just returned from painting in Monet’s garden in Giverny. Your flowers remind me of spring /summer in France. The smell and the elegance of all the flowers is breathtaking and a beautiful palette of color.
Linda Galston

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Dianne Adams June 9, 2019 - 4:54 am

Love that bouquet!! Arriving on the day the sun finally came out in Southern California after a very long, gray spring. Beautiful!! Thank you and see you soon.

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Janice Baker June 9, 2019 - 6:58 am

Dear Sharon, thank you for sharing your bouquet with us . Your flowers are stunning…. so beautiful to watching them grow.
Could you tell me what the pretty white and green little flowers are, they look like little fluffy balls of something.
Many thanks. Janice

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Judy Lambert June 9, 2019 - 7:15 am

My goodness Sharon, your arrangement is absolutely delightful! What a burst of beauty that you have shared with us. Thank you very much!

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Cabby June 9, 2019 - 1:25 pm

Absolutely gorgeous bouquet of flowers. I’m sure the aroma fills your room with a delightful fragrance bringing Summer inside your home.
Flowers always brings sunshine into my heart no matter what season. Thanks for sharing your wonderful talents and a little piece of your garden.

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Lucia Donahower June 9, 2019 - 2:17 pm

Hi Sharon,
What beautiful flowers! Thank you for sharing your gifts with your readers.
Lucy

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Gay Mccormick June 9, 2019 - 3:37 pm

Thank you for your beautiful bouquet of stunning flowers. I love the colours.

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Claudia Hadden June 9, 2019 - 4:57 pm

Georgia!U.S.A. LOVE ALL !!SO ENJOY!!

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Sherry June 9, 2019 - 5:09 pm

So beautiful! You are so talented.
Like a breath of fresh air!
Thank you for sharing.

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Lynette Strohbach June 9, 2019 - 5:15 pm

Beautiful Sharon! I wish my garden could create such an abundance. Maybe my next home…

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Dee June 10, 2019 - 4:57 am

Soo beautiful thank you Sharon What a wonderful visual feast for our eyes

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Terri June 10, 2019 - 8:19 pm

Your flowers are absolutely gorgeous!!

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Kathryn Weir June 10, 2019 - 9:24 pm

Dear Sharon, its winter here and I have been planting seeds and perennials in large pots, dividing perennials and ordering roses and dahlias all with the hope of a beautiful floral spring and summer. Your photos spur me on. Thank you.

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cynthia June 15, 2019 - 7:31 pm

So lovely Sharon, a feast for the eyes and beauty for the soul! I love all you do and wish I was joining you on the tour with Château Sonoma!

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Rita Parker June 16, 2019 - 3:37 pm

THAT BOUQUET IS OVER THE ROP BEAUTIFUL.
I TOTALLY LOVE IT.
THANKS FOR SHARING
RITA PARKER

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