Blue Containers By The Blue Sea & Winner

Well, thoughts have definitely turned to spring and someone has requested some plant
containers for a deck by the Pacific.  As we get closer to summer the ocean areas take
on a very distinct crisp blue aura...the sky and sea seem to become vibrant in shades of
blue.  This particular house has three outdoor decks and a patio area (Gosh, I wish I
could say it was my house!!!  No such luck). The decks are white against a white house
and white sand. For the most part the furniture is white with both white and blue cushions.
Because the sky and sea are also quite blue, I thought I would add blue and white
containers with palms and succulents and some white flowers. Keeping with a crisp look.


I have found wonderful large white vessels so now I am on the lookout for some blue
pots. Not as easy as one might think!  Finally I found a variety of blue containers and
have been told I can order any of these shades in large sizes and shapes also.  I think I'll
probably order the deep blue color in the lower right corner because the hot California
sun will eventually fade even the deepest blue.

The colors are so pretty...

The shape I've decided on is a tall square hour glass shape... narrower at the bottom
and wide and square at the top...

Most containers will be white but I think the addition of some blue to the decks will be
perfect...especially by the deep blue sea.

What do you think?


For the Giveaway I did a very casual draw.  I put all the names in a straw sun hat and let
the little girl up the street pick a name.  She has just completed her third heart surgury
and hasn't been able to do many things so this was very exciting for her.

The recipient of the giveaway is Good Life Of Design.  Congratulations, Kathysue!

You have a wonderful blog and you continue to educate and inspire all of us.

Please send me an email with your mailing information.

It looks like I may be doing another giveaway soon so be on the lookout for it.

As most of you know, I have been having major blogger problems.  I have a very

special post that I have been trying to post but it either disappears or publishes too

early and incomplete.  I would like to introduce you to an artist I know you would

really enjoy meeting, so hopefully I will be able to publish it in it's complete form in

a day or two.

Wish me luck!

See you then.

Lovely Orchids And Giveaway

I recently visited the Los Angeles Arboretum to see a display of  Cymbidium Orchids
and attend a demonstration on the care of these beautiful flowers.

It was a very overcast and chilly day and I thought seeing beautiful flowers would be
perfect for a day like this.

You might remember that I was at the Arboretum last August and showed you the
house where the television show Fantasy Island was filmed and later the first
Meet The Fockers film was also shot. When they finished production on the “Fockers”
film they painted the house back to the original Fantasy Island colors. You can visit
that post and read about it HERE.

When I arrived I was greeted by an old friend...

After greeting the peacock(who wouldn’t leave me alone)I went inside to the Orchid
display. It wasn’t a huge fancy show but the orchids were gorgeous!

After the care and planting demonstration, I went back outside where my feathered

friend was waiting and ready to show its beautiful peacock feathers...

Because it is too early in the season for much garden color and it was chilly outside,
I didn’t wander around as much as usual.  However, there were other feathered friends
who insisted on saying hello....

Geese....

And a family of Ducks...



Visiting the Arboretum is always a delight and I look forward to later in the spring and
summer visiting the waterfalls again and other flower displays.



Now about the giveaway,
I love having both of these books in my collection and I thought you might like having
them in your collection, as well.   They are,  Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages...
At Home By The Sea.  A beautiful book.

And, Seaside Style by Seaks and Taschen, another lovely book. If you would also like
to have these books in your collection please leave a comment and let me know you are
a follower. I will announce the winner on Sunday, April 10th.

Have a great week and I hope you are starting to see some beautiful spring flowers in
your area.