in season - peonies

Each year, once June arrives, a local grower brings cut Peonies to the farmer's market. It's my favourite time to visit. She's only there for a few weeks, and because they're in season, they're much more affordable, so I don't feel guilty bringing home and armful.

It always take me a bit of time selecting the perfect ones. You want to make sure they're open just enough that you will actually have open blooms and not just buds, but also tight enough that they will last as long as possible.

They are one of my most favourite flowers.

Because they're a favourite, I try to plant different varieties in my garden for cuttings. And by different, I mean of the pale pink and cream varieties.

 

So far, my Krinkled White Peonies have bloomed.

The rest are quite far behind due to the very cool spring we had. We are by the lake, so the temperature is slightly cooler here than even in other parts of town. Just a couple more warm afternoons and these will be fully opened.

I always find it fascinating watching the ants do their part.

in season - peonies, local strawberries and local rhubarb

This is one of my favourite times a year to visit our farmer's market as some of my favourite things are now in season.

A few weeks a year, locally grown Peonies are available and it's such a sight - pails and pails of blooms! And so reasonably priced, you can pick up an armful to enjoy a bunch in every room of the house.

Rhubarb is also still in season, and something I pick up each time I can. We never tire of Rhubarb Crumble Coffee Cake, or Rhubarb Almond Muffins, or a favourite of ours - Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble topped with Vanilla Ice Cream. I also freeze it to enjoy through out the summer.

And local Strawberries have become readily available, and while I will eventually get out to pick my own for jam, we still can't leave without two pints - one to eat and one to enjoy over waffles or with our yogurt.

Within a day or two the Peonies unfurl into the most beautiful flowers and they smell so pretty.

This weekend I also stopped by the Oliver and Rust parking lot sale and grabbed another one of my favourite locally made pillows. I also used my market tote which I brought back from Nantucket!

In Season - Peonies and The First Strawberries

With our local farmer's markets back in full swing, the displays of local fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, and fresh-baked goods seem to become more abundant each week as more becomes available.

This week was a favourite of mine and it meant a special trip into a neighboring city's Saturday morning market.

For only two or three weeks in the year, a local Peony grower fills a stand with pails and pails of Peonies, in as many as half a dozen different varieties. I snapped a picture with my cellphone quickly to send to Ryan so he could understand my excitement.

She sells them for $4 a bunch (five stems) or 3 bunches for $10.

Needless to say, we each left with an armful of peonies.

Another favourite sight were rows and rows of little baskets mounded full of bright red strawberries.

Our strawberry season has officially begun and we are looking forward to when we are able to "pick-your-own", which will start in the coming weeks. There are few things as wonderful as freshly-picked strawberries, still warm from the sun.

These berries didn't last long. I couldn't wash them fast enough.

And no trip to the market is complete without taking home a treat - this week we picked a sticky bun and pain au chocolat and split them between us.

The Peonies found their homes all over the house. In the bathrooms on the vanities, on my night table, on the coffee tables and on the mantel.

Gorgeous.

Pink Peonies

Friday is the market day, and it's also one of the days the flower truck stops at the store. Local Peonies are finally ready, so I indulged this morning in an armful for the house.

As I sit at the dining room table and type this, their scent is slowly filling the room.

While most of them are quite tight, it won't take long at all for them to unfurl.

I placed them in this large ironstone pot that I found while away last weekend. (It's actually part of my birthday gift from my mother in law, but she let me take it home early) The pot is set in a large round wicker tray and is sitting on my dining room table. It's quite the statement.

A Successful Shopping Trip

I don't usually share photos of items I've picked up while shopping - unless said items are old and beautiful and found while antiquing, but yesterday, after way too long - probably Christmas - my sister and I got out for a morning of shopping the outlet malls. We had three handsome little men in tow, and this required an abundance of packed snacks and a few breaks on the outdoor playground. All things considered, they did well!

I had so much fun, and found some really great things that I couldn't help sharing.

First, we all know how much of a sucker I am for packaging... pretty packaged cleaning supplies is like a whole new level. I picked up these common good items from Marshalls. I kind of love that store. I couldn't resist them for $6.99.

I find Homesense, Winners and Marshalls are the best places to stock my "gift drawer". You know, that drawer or shelf that is stocked with random items for gifts needed at a later time? Whenever I'm out, if I come across something great, that's a great deal, I tuck it away for a time when I need something. A favourite item I keep on hand? When I come across the most precious little baby outfits I grab them. There is always a friend or someone at church who's having a baby. (These ones won't even make the drawer as they're already wrapped for a friend.)

I also can't resist the gourmet food section. There are always a few things I have an eye out for - great coffee, favourite teas, and shortbread biscuits. This time I grabbed some old fashioned sodas for the boys, some good tea, my favourite chocolate chunk shortbread from Scotland, and even these amazing sea salt caramels - dangerous, dangerous aisle.

I also picked up the glass canister for q-tips, the small white cake stand and the set of marble coasters - each under $10.

Another favourite shop is the J Crew outlet. I love this store!

All of their accessories were 50% off, plus an additional 15% off. I grabbed these lovely tortoise shell sunglasses, a simple gold clip, and pretty little earrings, as well as something for Ryan for Father's Day.

And while unrelated, I had to snap a photo of the last of these gorgeous peonies Ryan brought home from work. A customer had dropped them off as a thank you. He got quite excited when he saw they were peonies and roses, and couldn't wait to bring them home. It was a lovely, thoughtful surprise.

Tomorrow I head out for another weekend of shopping - this time at the Country Living Fair!

Hopefully I'll be just as successful there too.

Spring Wedding Flowers

I love arranging flowers. 

I especially love it when those flowers are fragrant Peonies and Garden Roses.

I spent Friday morning in the old cottage behind the store, surrounded by buckets full of blooms, cleaning roses for arrangements, enjoying a chocolate pecan scone and tying the bride's bouquet.

Here is her finished bouquet. 

The stems were left long and it was tied with long, trailing blush ribbon.

It also had bits of Wax Flower tucked in it, a couple white Hydrangeas, as well as some antique blush Spray Roses and Eucalyptus greens.

The Peonies were a favourite variety of mine that I used to grow - Duchesse de Nemours. They are very fragrant, white double blooms.

The bouquet smelled heavenly.

My mom tied her bridesmaid's bouquets which were mostly Hydrangeas with a few roses tucked in them to match the bride's.

She also did these gorgeous centerpieces. They are Hydrangeas, Mums, Ranunculus, Roses and Lisianthus in footed mercury glass bowls.

I find it to be a relaxing escape for a few hours.