The day after last year's Celebration, many lovelies lingered on my dining table. Here's the fun I had walking around the table aiming my camera. The first image ended up on the banner of the Celebration FB page. I don't think I'll ever change it! Doesn't it just say it all?

Tell me how cute--- I don't know who this moss rose is--- doesn't quite seem like Common Moss to me--- this one is more intense.

Then how about this bit of heaven? Sorry, I'm not the scholar today- I don't know who it is.

The stamens take charge--- aren't they lovely? The flower was a fine pale pink single. And one more---

This year the Celebration of Old Roses is on May 19th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

It is at the El Cerrito (California) Community Center, on Moeser at Ashbury--- takey Hwy 80 or 580 to El Cerrito, Central Ave Exit. Go east to Ashbury, then left to Moeser.

One more for charm !

I never quite know how a large bouquet will evolve.

I put this together outside on the lawn in the front garden. James Mason rests on the stool with valerian. Graham Thomas, Frances Dubreiul, Common Moss, Maggie, and William Baffin are some of the roses. The dark aquilegia was a nice surprise all fresh and lovely- bouquet ready!

Promise to live your live as a revolution and not just a process of evolution.

~ Anthony J. D'Angelo

These images were taken about two weeks ago, that's right, I can't keep up. I've already gone through a round of deadheading- there are so many pictures I haven't shown you. Hopefully I will make the time to zip in here more often.

After a long winter, it felt good to make posies on my funny little table again.

The vases rest in an orchid crate for easy transportation. Their cozy proximity makes for nice photo ops.

I'm trying to think of something clever to write about their swift arrival- I'm at a loss for words- they've come so fast- and now there's a heat wave (this always happens), so they'll open even faster.

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.

~ Emily Dickinson

These roses went to a baby shower today- Poulsen's Pearl, Christopher Marlowe, White Masterpiece, Snowbird, Pink Gruss an Achen, Belle Story.

Orlaya, senecio, geum, aquilegia, and valerian all stand on their own in the garden and do very well in bouquets. 

I've been particularly charmed by the orange geum, they just keep blooming and last very well as a cut flower.

I bought three of these senecio plants at Annie's Annuals a year ago. I waited and waited for them to bloom- it took a whole year! They are worth the wait. Who wouldn't want five-foot tall pink daisies in prolific bloom. This is an excellent cut flower.

Along with geum, philadelphus and oat grass they are ready to party.

ANOTHER SHOT OF THE BASKET I'VE BEEN FILLING

The rehmania is a surprisingly long lasting as a cut flower. The clump these native iris came from has been extremely generous, picking must promote more blooms, because I've been cutting these regularly for three weeks!

PHOTO SET-UP

That bucket of flowers might not look very big, but I had to lay down on the floor to shoot it. The paper backdrop is four-feet wide. That's my foot popping up, if you can't tell.

A few days later the first native iris bloomed, then came the first columbine (aquilegia). And for a week or so there was a purity of unblemished beauty like no other. Spring always has me on my knees awstruck once again. Today was hot, and there were aphids on some of the columbines. That purity, innocence if you will, has already reached another stage. The seemingly instant profusion of it all, the miracle of it, inspired this botanical exploration and a record of what grows amongst the roses on April 10.

We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understanding and our hearts.

~ William Hazlitt

As the garden springs into bloom I've taken to filling a basket every few days with the latest sweet treasures. The aquilegias are in their prime– there were only about three Philadelphus blooms this morning-I decided not to wait for more- into the basket they went along with Goldmound spirea and lilac. Solomon's Seal was s surprise final addition.

Ever photogenic, and always welcome here- Pink Gruss an Achen roses.

I feel like the mother who wants to keep all the pictures of her children, but can only choose one or two for printing.

This is the same bouquet, minus a few spent blooms, before a backdrop of morning condensation on our living room window.

A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period —
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay —

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.

~ Emily Dickinson