Flowers from this week…I was asked to arrange special flowers for someone who likes simple things and practices Japanese Tea Ceremony-the Omotesenke School. Flowers for tea are called cha-bana and it is different from Ikebana, traditional floral art practiced for 700 years in Japan. Chabana is not as stylized or structured as Ikebana. It is a seasonal expression and has to be subtle with a few kinds of wild flowers as if they just happened to be there in the tea room for the guests. No big flowers or statements. The host’s effort isn’t shown here. So, I had to think a bit and drove around and found some beautiful flowering cabbages! I chose several cabbages to create the arrangement. I also went to the field to pick some grasses and wheat grasses in my boots with heels…I wasn’t thinking when I was leaving! I tried some mustard flowers. They are so beautiful now in Sonoma but they didn’t drink water well. Some challenges but I just loved the idea only using what were growing around here. I called my friend who has a massive meyer lemon tree and got a few branches with meyer lemons and also added daphne flowers for the sweet citrus scents. Right here this isn’t chabana with scented flowers. But the scent is just so divine and I had to add them! I can keep going and express my passion with this one arrangement. My only hope is that she is enjoying the arrangement this week.

www.greenstringfarm.com

3571 Old Adobe Road, Petaluma, California 94954 | 707.778.7500

Please visit the farm if you come to this area. Green pumpkin I bought yesterday for my son’s school project was so delicious.

These peonies are just wonderful! They are about 5-6 inches in diameter when they are open.
More about Peony ‘Garden Treasure,’ please could visit www.rainyside.com ]]> http://www.violaflowers.com/peony-garden-treasure/feed/ 0 http://www.violaflowers.com/peonies-in-season/ http://www.violaflowers.com/peonies-in-season/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:44:56 +0000 Maki Aizawa http://www.violaflowers.com/beta/?p=38 I just love the peonies. They are only available for another 4-5 weeks.

The bouquet from this weekend wedding with peonies, hydrangeas, calla lilies and anemones.

]]> http://www.violaflowers.com/peonies-in-season/feed/ 0 http://www.violaflowers.com/wedding-at-the-nicholson-ranch-winery/ http://www.violaflowers.com/wedding-at-the-nicholson-ranch-winery/#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:25:29 +0000 Maki Aizawa http://www.violaflowers.com/beta/?p=36 These images are from a wedding at the Nicholson Ranch Winery a few weeks ago!

Check it out. ]]> http://www.violaflowers.com/wedding-at-the-carneros-inn/feed/ 0 http://www.violaflowers.com/viola-floral-design-by-maki/ http://www.violaflowers.com/viola-floral-design-by-maki/#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:40:50 +0000 Maki Aizawa http://www.violaflowers.com/beta/?p=23
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