As most of you know, every month we like to enjoy one inexpensive- and sometimes free- bouquet to keep things feeling fresh around here (the idea actually stemmed from a super sweet Christmas present from the hubs a while back). But this month we got lucky. Nope, not with a free backyard bouquet, but with the photo shoot that we mentioned this morning… which involved a cooler full of flowers provided by the prop stylist, many of which weren’t even touched when the cameras were being packed away.
And what did that ever-amazing prop stylist do? She offered all the floral outcasts to us as she left. Did I mention said prop stylist happens to be my best friend who actually worked with us on our last photo shoot with Do It Yourself magazine as well? Anyway, we tried to send the bouquets home with her and she said she would just throw them away if we didn’t keep them because she had a long hot drive home and they’d be a bit worse for wear. Convincing argument. So we kept them. And our house has never felt more fresh and spring-like. Here’s what we ended up with.
We inherited a few errant cream colored carnations…
… that we stuck in three cheap-o Ikea vases on the windowsill with a bit of greenery to beef them up.
And you may have noticed that bottle with three roses in the first shot of the kitchen. Well, we were also left with these beauties, so a glass milk bottle that we had laying around became quite a charming (and kitchen appropriate) vase.
Aren’t the scarlet tips so pretty with the creamy yellow coloring on the rest of each bud? We’re not usually rose people, but we’ve both stopped to admire these guys for the last week on a daily basis.
The half bathroom also inherited a nice little cluster of cream carnations. And this time the vase was actually one of our new drinking glasses from World Market.
We love how the green glass and the green stems work so well to offset the pure white and cream blooms. And we’re confident that these guys will last clear through May and well into June. Of all the flowers that we’ve brought home over the past year+ of this whole monthly floral arrangement adventure, carnations never fail to last the longest and charm us to no end the whole time.
But now for the piece de resistance. Check out these luscious tulips with gorgeous varied coloring in my new green vase from Crate & Barrel (it was actually a sweet birthday gift from my sister-in-law, does she know me and my love of green glass or what?). These guys are definitely our favorite bouquet of the month- the entire house feels more vibrant and alive with them happily sitting on the dining room table.
So yeah, we’re feeling pretty spoiled by all the bouquets. Heck we almost feel guilty for having such an abundance. Have you guys ever found yourself with a plethora of petals throughout your home? Maybe from an overly enthusiastic backyard rose bush, a secret admirer, or a flower sale at Trader Joe’s? Do tell. And while we’re on the subject of a bounty of bouquets, what do you prefer when it comes to bringing the outdoors in? Do you like all-the-same-flower arrangements? Clear glass vases only? Low packed-tight bouquets? Wild meadow-like bunches? Brightly colored blossoms? Spill the bloom beans.
Wanna see our first grocery store bouquet from last January? Itching to check out February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September too? How about this year’s January, February, March, and April bouquets? Just follow the links for some pretty sweet cheap-o (and even free) bouquets.
Erin says
This post is too funny– mostly because I wrote a post (http://writetasty.blogspot.com/2010/05/shop-tasty-great-crate-finds.html) just the other day about my new Evelyn vase and the flowers I clipped from the yard for it. And by the way, those flowers are gorgeous. I love love love the tulips. Lucky you guys!
Hannah @ The Nanner Republic says
It’s time for me to rethink carnations. I think I got so annoyed with the poorly dyed ones that I gave up on them. But the ones you have with the natural colors in the same color group look so nice–and they keep forever which is the only way I can justify the cost of fresh flowers.
Thanks YHL!
Rebecca says
Lilacs. Lilacs. Lilacs. They are my favorite! The smell, the color, the beauty. I just LOVE them. Little bunches all over the house…ahhh!!
Hopeless Chest says
Leonitis roses like those ones are my mom’s fave!
Looks pretty!
Dana @ House*Tweaking says
You lucky dogs you! Spring is definitely in the air at Casa Petersik. Thank you for opening my eyes (and home) to carnations. Previously, I always had visions of high school Prom when I thought of carnations. But I bought a bouquet for our guest room when we had visitors several weeks ago and those babies lasted nearly a month. They probably would have lasted longer but I never changed the water. Oops.
I just did a post last week about DIY bloomin’ branches that cost me less than $2 and last forever. See it here if you want… http://www.housetweaking.com/2010/05/06/diy-bloomin-branches/
BTW, are the pics in this post taken from your new camera? I can tell a difference and they look great! Maybe you could do a little review of your camera in the months to come after you’ve used it a while? Pretty please. In between taking care of a new baby and making blogging a family affair, that is!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! The flower photos are all from our new camera. Of course we still have a lot to learn, but so far we’re loving it. We’ve taken some great pictures of Burger and can’t wait to try it out on the bean!
xo,
s
Ashley @ The Design Thief says
I love the flowers in the new green glass cup! So vintage and cute and fresh!
Stephenie from Decorating Addiction says
We did all of our own flowers for our wedding and after the ceremony, we had a couple of days before our honeymoon, so we arranged for my mom to take all of the flowers back to our house and display them around (we also gave a TON away to our guests).
When we got home a couple of days later, it looked breathtakingly beautiful, but I have to admit . . . it smelled like a florists’ shop!
By the time we got back from our honeymoon, forget it! The stench almost knocked me over. We failed to throw them out before we left! oops.
loida says
i am really falling in love with your house.. i love the way you design it..
Julie B. says
Oh flowers are a wonderful luxury. I live in a warm northern Australian climate while my Mum lives in southern cooler Australia. She once posted me three bunches of beautiful cool climate flowers in the overnight post. I was spoiled for choice and spread them all around the house.
We’re flower-less at the moment, your pics make me wish we weren’t!
Tonia says
It’s nothing like fresh flowers, they do seem to freshen things up. Such a happy feeling
Tonia says
Flowers always seem to freahen things up….such a happy feeling
http://www.chicmodernvintage.blogspot.com
Erin @ Cultivating Home says
Having fresh flowers in the house is so nice! I personally love bunches of wildflowers or cuttings in bouquets that are just thrown together (as opposed to actually arranged). We recently moved to a new house, so I was very pleasantly suprised to see all the flowering trees and shrubs on our property. We were able to have fresh flowers in every room for almost two months!
Alicia says
I’m so jealous of all of your beautiful flowers! I need to drop hints to my boyfriend that I want flowers every month. On a side note, where did you get the glass cups that are pictured on the table with your tulips and green vase? I just love them! They look like they would be wonderful to use outdoors. In case of a fall they seem as if they’d have a little cushion to them.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Alicia,
We actually got those on super clearance at Sur La Table (in the back on the sale table) but we’ve since seen them at other discount stores like TJ Maxx and HomeGoods. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
sonya says
I have a cabinet full of clear and white vases but I think I’m going to have to get on the green glass bandwagon now. I’m lovin those green vases!
Erika says
I love the tulips! When I lived and worked in DC, there was also a man selling flowers after work at the entrance to the Metro downtown. On Fridays, he would cut the price of his roses and tulips by at least half (~$4 for 6) so that he would sell out his stock before the weekend. When I needed a pick-me-up I would buy a bunch or two and set up small bouquets throughout my apartment. It made everything look much more luxe and warm. I love discounted flowers!!!
Stephanie @ Geezees says
Beautiful flowers!!
Chrissi says
Your budget blooms always look so cute! I love to grab some when I am at Trader Joe’s and should take a hint from you guys & do it on the regular. I, too, have an assortment of vintage mile jugs that I love to use as vases!
Meredith K A says
I have that milk jug! I bought egg nog when I was in SC for New Year’s Eve 2008-2009, and it was so cool that I saved it. It now lives on my mantel holding a “boquet” of colorful old knitting needles. We couldn’t ever get the last residue of milk out of it, how did you get it so clean? We’ve soaked it a million times. But anyway, it made me smile to see that jug in your photo! Props!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meredith,
We must have gotten lucky because we didn’t have any issue getting the milk out of our sweet little milk bottle. As soon as we finished drinking the milk (we actually got the bottle fresh from the supermarket- they’re a local milk company here) we rinsed it out and even ran it through the dishwasher once and it came out crystal clear. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Patti says
I love to bring in the big dahlia blooms from my garden, they make beautiful arrangements. The only problem is earwigs love to hide in the petals so I’ve stopped bringing them indoors.
Teresa says
I love fresh flowers and yours look great. I’m crazy about tulips but I am starting to purchase them less frequently because I can’t seem to make them last very long. My local grocery store has been carrying ranunculus lately and they look beautiful when they fall over the vase. I prefer only one color or type in each vase; I think it makes the arrangement look so simple and elegant. I have to say I love carnations and almost used them exclusively in my wedding (they actually turned out to be very expensive). I love white ones like in your bathroom. So elegant!
Anna says
We found ourselves with a plethora of petals throughout our home after our son was born so, you may be in for the same treat again with petals, petals everywhere very soon. Our fave gift arrangements were actually potted plants that are still thriving and beautiful a year and a half later.
Lauren says
I had a plethora of petals just a couple of weeks ago. I was supposed to go to Amsterdam to see all the tulips in bloom, but volcanic ash canceled our flights. Big bummer. That night, my youngest sister drove 2 hours to deliver 6 bunches of tulips to my house! She’s so thoughtful, and I loved the surprise. My house looked awesome with all those flowers. Funny thing – I had that same “almost guilty” feeling about all those flowers at once, but I got over it quickly.
Caitlin @ That House on the Corner says
I have purposely overwhelmed my garden with blooms so our house has a constant turnover with indoor flowers. I seriously need help– rehab for flower addicts anyone?!
But seriously, I LOVE adorning our home with fresh flowers. I typically keep at least three bouquets of different sizes throughout our home.
However, when big holidays roll around, the restaurant where I work typically stocks up on flowers for the tables only to have to toss them at the end of the weekend (since we are only open three days)! So, for example, this week I came home with two dozen roses to add to the collection already blooming in my back yard.
Fun fact about your tulips, I don’t know if someone mentioned this, but tulips are unique that their stems continue to grow once they are cut. It gives them a unique “life of their own” in the vase because they will seem to droop and arrange themselves.
Glad to see you made out with so many flowers!
Caitlin @ That House on the Corner
Natalie says
I spy a Homestead Creamery bottle!!!
Mmm they have the best milk ever, but their chocolate milk is the BEST!
{The husband and I went to school at Liberty and lived in Lynchburg, VA all throughout college and for over a year after getting married in New York}.
Melissa says
Your budget blooms inspired me to bring flowers into my house too, but so far I’ve gotten all free ones. First forsythia from my yard, then irises, then azaleas (the previous owner planted a mix of colors with some that bloom all along the stems and some that form balls of flowers, they made a beautiful arrangement).
Earlier this month I had roses from the overgrown lot next to Legend brewery…my boyfriend had arrived first and we were both parked near the rose bushes, so I asked if he had scissors with him (he always does!). When he went to get his fleece from his car, he returned to the table with roses for me and our two friends that were with us. They were so pretty in a half-pint mason jar.
Looks like the free flora will be mostly greenery till it cools down again, so I’m thinking of bringing in more forsythia branches even though they’re not in bloom anymore.