Lily of the Valley Flower arrangement

Lilies of the Valley

 About 20 years ago I saw a stunningly beautiful arrangement of one of my favorite flowers at a restaurant.  Composed entirely of Lilies of the Valley, it was small and incredibly simple.  (And therefore, of course, impossible for me to duplicate.)  The waitress said one of her co-workers had created it from flowers in from her yard.

Lilies of the Valley Desktop Background (free)

Lilies of the Valley remind me of my dad - he grew Lilies of the Valley at the house I grew up in.  I eventually planted some of his plants at my house, waited a couple of decades for it to spread, and now, years later, I am trying to recreate that memorable arrangement.  (You might call this the "long game" of flower arranging.)

Lily of the Valley flower arrangement

The arrangement, as I remember it, consisted of a mass of flower stems without any leaves, set in a small glass (not even a vase, really.)  

Lily of the Valley arrangement

My resulting bouquet lacks the artistry of the original in my memory, (I need a shorter glass!) but I enjoyed playing with (and smelling) the flowers.  Lilies of the valley have a beautiful and unique scent - I wish you could smell them over the internet!  They last less than two weeks, and are rarely in bouquets.

Lily of the Valley Closeup

Do you have certain flowers that remind you of specific people or places?  Feel free mention what and who in the comments below.  And don't forget to enjoy spring - some flowers last barely a week!

 

Lilies of the Valley

(Note: I made the mosaic table used in one of the photos, See it in this mosaic table post.)  
 

 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


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BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 19 of 26.)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 147 4p (s Entry 18 of 27.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 267 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 25 of 99.)
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me 679 Mon 3p (l Entry 1 of 143.)
Common Ground: All About Home Mon 6p (l Entry 5 of 129.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 472 Mon 1p (l Entry 36 of 85.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 17 of 22.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 26 of 60.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 386 (Entry 11 of 12.)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 259 Tue 8a (Entry 6 of 38.)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 43 Tue 9a (m Entry 2 of 44.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 6 of 56.)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 1 of 16.)
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Karins Kottage: Karins Kottage 315 (Entry 18 of 18.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 524 Wed (l Entry 8x of 110x.)
My Thrift Addiction: Vintage Charm 385 Wed (m Entry 29 of 57.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 344 Wed 4p (m Entry 53 of 128.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 385 Wed 6p (Entry 16 of 43.)      I was featured here!
Imparting grace: Grace at home 507 (Entry 125 of **)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 39 of gone..)
Nest in the Rocks: Hearts+Home Th 4p (Entry 51 of **)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 561 Fr 8a (L Entry 44 of 54.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed Tue  (Entry 190 of 194.)              I was featured here!
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The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 142 (Entry 59 of 143.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 198 Sun 3p (l Entry 22 of 138.)

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Fantasy Spring Nest with Eggs

Fantasy Spring Nest

Locations south of me are seeing signs of spring, but here in Wisconsin we had snow this weekend. To get in the Easter and Spring mindset, I decided to share a fantasy spring bird nest with eggs. The nest is real, the eggs and flowers are real, but the photo is entirely "styled". The photos where taken on April 2 in a previous year.

Fantasy Spring Eggs in Nest

When I find abandoned bird nests around my house, I place them outside on my window ledges. For this 'vignette', I used one of those nests, store bought quail eggs (that my kids wouldn't eat), and placed the nest in a blooming patch of early spring flowers.

Fantasy Spring Nest

 

Enjoy!

Happy St Pat's Day, 

and Happy Easter!

Notes: I planted the flowers, Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) long ago. Glory of the Snow blooms very early in spring with upward facing blue flowers, making it a lovely and welcome sign of spring here. The flowers spread easily (with encouragement). What does 'spreads easily (with encouragement)' mean? You place the tiny bulbs in the lawn, and over years the flowers will spread slowly, within a couple of square feet. If you want to have it spread over multiple areas you have to place the bulbs there. It seems to grow better in the shade, and the bulbs don't seem harmed by lawn weed chemicals. 

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Spring Tulips

Chicago Garden

Kaleidoscope 1

 

 

 

I am linking up to these parties:
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BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 3x of 32x.)  Dentist
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me 142 Mon 4p (s Entry 23 of gone.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 263 2-4p (m Entry 7 of 100.)
Common Ground: All About Home Mon 6p (l Entry 69 of 153.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 467 Mon 1p (l Entry 30 of 98.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 11 of 20.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 7 of 60.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 382 (Entry 2 of 13.)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 254 Tue 8a (Entry 4 of 22 gone)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 38 Tue 9a (m Entry 7 of gone.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 17r of 52r.)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 3 of 14.)
Thistlekeylane: Tuesday Turn About 5p (s Entry 13r of 134r.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 13r of 134r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 516 (l Entry 5 of 33.)
Karins Kottage: Centerpiece Wed (Entry 27 of 133.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 529 Wed (l Entry 10x of 104x.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 380Wed (m Entry 16 of 56.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 339 Wed 4p (m Entry 18 of 54.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 380 Wed 6p (Entry 12 of 57.)
Imparting grace: Grace at home 500! (Entry 66 of 166.)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10p (Entry 82 of gone.)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 4p (Entry 47 of 68.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things 600 Th 10a (Entry 87 of 201.)
Also KatherinesCorner: 600 Th 10a (Entry 87 of 201.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: 600 Th 10a (Entry 87 of 201.)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 371 Th 4p (Entry 51 of 91.)
Pennys Passion: Fri Favorites (Entry 34 of 42.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 10 of 13.)
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Two Chicks and a Mom: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry 12 of 131.)
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Modern on Monticello: Home matters 421 Fri (s Entry 5r of 133r.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 136 (Entry 56 of 157.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 192 (l Entry 8 of 146.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 137 of 200.)

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Grand Views in the Grand Canyon

View 1: Grand Canyon from the South Rim, late afternoon, February

A quick share of some photos from a recent visit to Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park - in winter! 

View 2: Moon Rise over the Grand Canyon near sunset, February

My daughter and I spent about one day visiting the Grand Canyon in February, getting out on the South Rim overlooks for both the sunset and sunrise. The overlooks had several people around at sunset. At sunrise, the cold (very cold) overlooks were effectively deserted. Warm clothing (and foot traction microspikes/cleats) made the experience wonderful.

View 3: Pre-sunrise View of the Grand Canyon from Pima Point,
the Colorado river is visible on the right

Watching the lighting change over time, the nearly full moon rising near sunset, (and setting around sunrise) and the shadows lengthen, deepen, and crawl across the landscape was both meditative and special.  The moon glows in the morning until the sun begin to rise, and quickly turns pale as the advancing sun chases it under the horizon. 

View 4: Morning View of the Grand Canyon in February

The views were great, and I took too many pictures, making it hard to pick out the "best shots".  But I am sharing these images today, so enjoy!

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

Fourteen years ago I visited the Grand Canyon from a different perspective - a Colorado river rafting trip.  It was a very different view of the canyon.  You can see links below to some posts from that memorable trip.

Click on the photos below to see more Grand Canyon posts:

Grand Canyon intro

GC Getting There

GC Lees Ferry

GC Navajo Bridge

Grand Canyon Ruins

 

 

GC Running Rapids

GC River View

Elves Chasm

 

 

Some background notes:

Grand Canyon National Park has two main car accessible sections, the North Rim and the South Rim, which are over 180 miles (300km+) apart by car. In winter the North Rim is closed until May - my photos are from overlooks and locations on the South Rim.


The Park Service maintains (and plows) 'Hermit Road' to many South Rim overlooks. During nine months of the year, you need to take the shuttle bus to these overlooks, but passenger cars are allowed on the road from December 1 to February 28.

Here is a link to the official Grand Canyon National Park site: https://www.nps.gov/grca

Link to a webcam at Yavapai Point: https://www.nps.gov/AirWebCams/grca

Link to a map of some South Rim overlooks: https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hermit-red-route.htm   

 

View 1: Grand Canyon South Rim, Late afternoon February 5, 2023
View 2: Grand Canyon South Rim, Moon Rising near sunset, February 5, 2023
View 3: Grand Canyon South Rim, Pima Point, Pre-sunrise  February 6, 2023
View 4: Grand Canyon South Rim, Morning View  February 6, 2023

I am linking up to these parties
  
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Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 18 of 23.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 43 of 56.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 379 (Entry 9 of 13)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry 27 of 36.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 23r of 45r.)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 14 of 20.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 91r of 163r.)
My Random: Anything Goes 367 (s Entry 52 of 63.)
LeCultivateur: Wonderful Wed 86 (m Entry 70r of 202r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a Twist 514 (l Entry 25 of 27.)
Karins Kottage: Centerpiece Wed (Entry 16??)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 527 Wed (l Entry 123x)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 337 Wed 4p (m Entry 83 of 173.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 380 Wed 6p (Entry 45)
Imparting grace: Grace at home 498 (Entry 28 of 167.)
Artsy mama: Artsy party Th 7a (Entry 120 of 140.)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 4p (Entry 2 of 34.)
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Also KatherinesCorner: Th 10a (Entry 103 of 219.)
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 369 Th 4p (Entry 17 of 53.)
Two Chicks and a Mom: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry ??)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 419 Fri 319 (s Entry 2r)
My hubbard home: Fri with Friends 10 (Entry mem)
Pennys Passion: Wed (Entry 70)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry )
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 3)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry 10)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic 426 Thur 8p (i Entry 6)
Shelbeeontheedge: On the edge 641 (Entry 41)
CountryRoad: Farmhouse Friday 289 (L Entry 33)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 129 (L Entry 30)
Shabby art boutique: Create-grow-gather 561 (L Entry x)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 419 Fri (s Entry 2)
Our mini family: Our mini party (s Entry )
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Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry )
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Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry )
Creative Mom: Craft Schooling Sunday (s Entry x?)
Finding Silver pennies: Silver Pennies Sun 6a (m Entry )
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 3p (l Entry )
3 little buttons: Dream Team Linky Sun 6am (Entry )
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry )

Great site with Yosemite photos: Joe's Guide to Yosemite

Yosemite trail guide : Joe's Guide to Yosemite Trails

510467

 

Valentine Love Vignette

 

Love Window vignette at the Top of the Stairs

I set a vintage glass window at the top of my stairs one year, and now it stays there from Christmas to Valentine's Day.  I have a love of lettering, and I used four silver wooden letters to spell out 'LOVE'.  After Christmas and before Valentines Day it looks the the vignette above.  The lighting on the window changes throughout the day, casting fun shadows and a glow off the silver paint. 

NOEL Window vignette at the Top of the Stairs

Originally, the letters were sold as a set to spell out NOEL, and above is the Christmas vignette I styled with minimal embellishments (the glitter spray and an ornament or two), placing the 4 letters in front of the glass. After Christmas, one of my children changed the work to LONE, and then I realized I could use the same letters to make the word LOVE.  (can you see how that is accomplished?)  

So now the window gets more display time as a Valentine's Day vignette, and hangs at the top of the stairs a little longer.  It makes me happy as I go up the stairs and the window is reveled.  Just an extra little sparkle, and it distracts me and allows me to ignore the fact that really I should replace my carpet.  

Happy Valentine's Day.  

 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

 

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Valentine Hutch 2

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Valentine Vignette

I am linking up to these parties:
  
Create with Joy: Inspire me 566 Sun-Mon (m Entry 220 of 264.)
My Random: Anything Goes (Entry 8 of 62.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 33 of 39.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 2x of 36.)
Anitaojeda: Inspire Me Mon 4p (s Entry 40 of 44.)
Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 257 Mon 2-4p (m Entry 11 of 106.)
Common Ground: All About Home 180 Mon 6p (l Entry 75 of 156.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 460 Mon 1p (l Entry 26 of 92.)
Across the Blvd: Beautifully Made 247 Tue 8a (Entry 13 of 62.)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home 31 Tue 9a (m Entry 14 of 39.)
Keeping it Real: Really Crafty 349 Mon (Entry 41 of  50.)
Thistlekeylane: Tuesday Turn About 5p (s Entry 32r of 160.)
Also My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About 186 5p (s Entry 32r of 160.)
God's Growing Garden: Tue with a twist 509 (l Entry 24 of 24.)
Karins Kottage: Centerpiece Wed 306 (Entry 129 of 132.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster Wed 522 (l Entry 108x)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 169 of 184.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 373 Wed (m Entry 24 of 60.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 332 Wed 4p (m Entry 77 of 177.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style 375 Wed 6p (Entry 23 of 36.)
Imparting grace: Grace at home 493 (Entry 41 of 154.)
Artsy mama: Artsy party Th 7a (Entry 97 ?)
My Slices of Life: Hearts+Home Handmade Th 6a (Entry 36 of 66.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Thurs Favorite Things Th 7a (Entry 34 of 208.)
Also KatherinesCorner: Th 7a (Entry 34 of 208.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: Th 7a (Entry 34 of 208. )
Life beyond Kitchen: Creatively Crafty 364 Th 4p (Entry 65 of 72.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 414 Fri 319 (s Entry 51 of 133.)
My hubbard home: Fri with Friends xx (Entry memorial)
Pennys Passion: Fri Favorites (Entry 22 gone)
Pams Party: Dare to share Fri 11p (m Entry 25 of 73.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 421 8p (i Entry 121 of 153.)
Shelbeeontheedge: On the edge 637 (Entry 33 of 51.)
Country Road 407: Farmhouse Friday 284 (L Entry 51 of 127.)
Shabby art boutique: Create-bake-grow-gather 556 (L Entry 137x)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri 663 (Entry 7 gone.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 129 (Entry 65 gone.)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade** Sun a (Entry 104 of 175.)
Finding Silver pennies: Silver Pennies 550 Sun 6a (m Entry 76 of 88.) 
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it 185 Sun 3p (Entry 10 of 156.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Jan 2023 Sun 10p (Entry 201 of 239.)

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 How to Paint Watercolor Seascapes (with a video) - Finding Silver Pennies