California Tree Poppy white with yellow center Romneya coulteri Matilija...

Clary Sage salvia scalrea

Large four foot tall sage will rebloom if you deadhead the flowers

Medicinal uses

Fragrant

Bees love it

Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now” with Brandi Carlile Live at Newport Folk ...

Wedding Floral Arrangements

My niece's wedding 

How to plan, purchase, arrange and deliver happiness to the bride

My niece Juliette wasn't specific about the flower types or the arrangements she desired for herself, bridesmaids and groomsmen. I love this niece and wanted her day to be amazing.
The bridesmaids wear navy blue, and she chose silver accents for design elements.
She wants navy ribbon on her bouquet and silver for the others.
First study began with flowers are naturally navy blue. Not many.
Most blue flowers are tinted or dyed blue which grants a fake neon flare. Not the look I'm planning. The following flowers might have worked: Perry's blue iris (not available in late summer but can tend to be purple and I would not order online as color  doesn't translate perfectly)
bluebird hydrangea (also not to be found) delphiniums (spring flower also necessary to pick in person) blue cornflowers (don't last long and tend to wilt rapidly)

I settled on: white hydrangeas 2 varieties, white peonies, 5 variations of white heirloom roses, white star gazer lilys (the one flower the bride asked for) blue ergiumium, navy virburnum berries, 3 types of silver eucalyptus,  big blue sea holly, stephanotis and a few forget me nots from my garden.

Up at 3:00 AM off to the Los Angeles Wholesale Flower Mart 754 Wall Street. Rent a cargo van and load nine five gallon buckets in the van with two inches of water. Coffee black and hot, on my way.
There are a couple hundred flower sellers on the surrounding streets, they are open daily but may be hit or miss as to what you can buy. Pay the two dollars to enter the real wholesale indoor market, bring a couple envelopes of cash, and find one dealer who has the majority of what you need. Rather than go upstairs and find a cart, haul it around as things fall off and wander to wait or haggle - go to one dealer with your list and ask them if they can fill it. Most will go trade with everyone, send a runner to the coolers where you will get the freshest flowers, and they will help you load it. Tip the gentleman who loads your vehicle, minimum wage is probably how he feeds his family. I say he because only a few dealers are women.
My bill was one thousand two hundred dollars but I purchased 1320 long stem flowers, and five groups of greenery.  I didn't fuss over each bundle, and assumed some will be rejects. My estimation for spoilage was a bit over kill, but this is and act of love not commerce.

I previously bought the ribbon (added white and cream satin rolls as I had in my mind's eye that her blue and silver might be strange - turns out they were perfect and I never changed the ribbons as I thought might be a last minute adaptation.) I brought wire cutters, rose sheers (fishars), two pairs sharp regular scissors, twine, floral wire, floral tape, tacky fabric glue and a happy heart.
First job: spread the flowers in organized bunches. Remove all the newsprint and twine wrapping. Cut off all the rubber bands. Strip down all the excess leaves off the stems and trim a quarter inch off each flower and put back in the buckets. Three hours work and your hands will be green. Remove all thorns as you go.


Stop and do a cleanup. Toss the newsprint and separate out all the green and put out in the trash.
Another coffee and a bowl of berries is in order. Shopping time- 4:00 AM - 6:00 - drive to Santa Barbara, start work 12:00 - now break time at 2:00.

Make three rolls of newspaper or a pool noodle or a big bowl for your working surface. This acts as a holder to help you wire and tie off the bundle without crushing the back side.

Start with the bridesmaids bouquets. This gets you in a rhythm.  Your hands will get tired as you must hold the center flowers and add in a circle as you go.

 Bride's bouquet above before  major editing and removing greens. My daughter is

laughing in the photograph calling it triplets.

There are five bridesmaids. I made six bridesmaids bouquets in case one gets wrecked.
Also three more for her Mom and the grandmothers which are a bit different.

 Pluck off all these red orange lily stamens. They are messy and create dark rusty
blotches on unsuspecting clothing.

Bridal party just the girls

Total time working: nine hours

Total cost: $1390

10 bouquets

10 boutineers

bride's bouquet

hair flowers

4 bedroom arrangements 

for before and after wedding

Or of course you can go simple and pick some feverfew from my garden, sticks and
wine bottles

Wedding Arrangements in White and Silver

Bridal flowers in white navy and silver. Above arrangement: Dusty Miller, Heirloom climbing roses (give long stems but the full wide blooms, eucalyptus sprays with white satin ribbon

star gazer lilies and silver dollar eucalyptus 

 Glamis Castle rose, Tranquility rose, dusty miller and

Adding lavender and purple hues. Geoff Hamilton roses

Loehman's Bankruptcy Makes Me Sad

Jean Paul Gaultier

Sorry to read about you filing BK

In the past two years merchandise quality fell to junky made in China.

Your brand once carried designer clothing and real leather shoes.

Before Christmas you spun off the shoe departments as a kiosk to

another discounter I knew my beloved Loehmans was in deep trouble.

It isn't just the economy that turned against you- you forgot that there

were still loyal shoppers of you brand who became disappointed with

messy stores, lack of quality and sales staff who no longer spoke English.

Sorry to see you go... see above a few things I bought over the years

 

 Caroline Gerardo
 

 

 http://cgbarbeau.blogspot.com/

 

From: Loehmann's
To: carolinegerardo
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 7:52 PM
Subject: Important Notice Regarding Loehmann's Bankruptcy

Important Notice Regarding Loehmann's Bankruptcy

If you cannot view this email, click here

Dear Valued Customer, On December 15, 2013, Loehmann's Holdings Inc. ("Loehmann's") filed voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Additional information regarding Loehmann's bankruptcy cases, including a notice of commencement of the bankruptcy cases and a meeting of creditors (the "Notice of Commencement"), is available on the website of Loehmann's claims and noticing agent, Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions, LLC, at http://dm.epiq11.com/LH under the "Key Documents" tab. Additionally, you may request a copy of the Notice of Commencement by contacting Epiq Bankruptcy Solutions, LLC, Attn: Loehmann's NOC Request, 757 Third Avenue, Third Floor, New York, NY 10017. Sincerely, Customer Service Loehmann's Holdings Inc.

This email was sent to carolinegerardo@yahoo.com by Loehmann's inc. As a Loehmann's E-mail Insider, you're entitled to receive e-mail advertisements from us. If you no longer wish to receive our e-mails, PLEASE CLICK HERE, call 1-888-236-4995 or write to Loehmann's Customer Service Dept., 2500 Halsey Street, Bronx, NY 10461.

Ellie Saab

Chanel

Party Dinner

Steamed Carrots and Kale- spiced with cinnamon, cardamom and pepper

Gobble gobble?

Salad with pecans and tangerine slices