It's Finally Fall in Houston

sometimes we just need something beautiful

to look at to inspire us

I no longer have children at home and my little grandson,

Sheriff, is only 19 months old,

so Trick or Treating doesn't happen at my house any longer

& hasn't, yet, started over again

for this adorable brilliant beautiful super way-above-average

perfect child,

but the spirit of the change of seasons,

the hand-crafted wreaths I make,

setting my table with the season's colors, is all something

very enjoyable to me

my home is always filled with fresh flowers, the most exquisite luxury

which I totally enjoy.  on the island in the kitchen I always have

various orchids in this amazing old china turquoise-with-little-flowers punch bowl,

all the plants are potted, I never buy cut orchids for this spot...

this will give you a good idea of how I do it

I leave the beautiful bowl exposed, but use the moss to cover all the pots

and little tiny vases I may insert over the lifetime of the arrangement

The most wonderful thing:  Orchids live a very very long time,

so what initially seems expensive is not at all. 

Now, they do take a lot of upkeep, as they require 1X a day misting. 

 Orchids are air plants and don't need water on the roots, but their environment

must be high humidity...kitchens are perfect.

an amazing array of colors is always available

so one can create any seasonal color you enjoy

I go to the flower market, select the potted orchids I need,

keeping in mind that they bloom from the cane shaft to the tip,

so if you see some unopened buds this means (with the proper care)

the flower can last all the way through complete bloomout. 

 Sometimes, for me it's 3 months !!

Amazingly, too, my local market has excellent prices

for these beauties. My girlfriends are all so jealous, but they

LOVE enjoying these lovely flowers as much as I &

none of them want to take the time to DIY

When I feel the arrangement needs propping up a bit,

 or I'm entertaining& want a more opulent look,

I'll add cut flowers at the base of the orchid canes,

like roses in little tight bunches

or alstroemeria (which are very inexpensive & long-lasting)

always keeping the flowers in tight bunches as the orchids are airy enough

to need this contrast of color concentration

in creating the flower arrangements, which is a true focal point

in my home,  as my kitchen is open to the living area where we watch TV, 

we enjoy them everyday.

I fuss over them, mist them, move them around, very much like the

detail-oriented design work I need for my jewelry creations.

It gives me such enjoyment I don't think of it as work at all.

We've had our temp drop down close enough to 60 to actually think

we may have finally found FALL at last

so picture all these autumnal colors, the yellows, oranges,

 arranged this way in a big old basket, or any container you have

which is large enough to allow your arrangement an

important spot in your home.