Summer Flowers and Ironstone

It's summer, and while the weather hasn't been unbearably hot here, you know this isn't my very favorite month weather-wise. But as far as FrenchGardenHouse, it's one of my very favorite months, because it's when everything I've sourced for the shop for F A L L starts arriving.

Today, somewhere between photographing the antiques and beautiful things I bought for this year's fall collection, I had to figure out a way to share a floral arrangement for our beloved Monday Morning Blooms. So here it is - today I'm sharing Summer Flowers and Ironstone!

WELCOME TO MONDAY MORNING BLOOMS!

Shirley, Pam, Mary and I are excited you are joining us today! Please visit them, I've shared their links at the bottom of this post for you. For this week's arrangement, I chose sunflowers, because they exemplify summer.

Sunflowers are synonymous with Provence, they conjure up the very essence of summer in France. Fields of sunflowers are stunningly beautiful, with these dazzling flowers standing at attention in fields that cover the landscape. {warning! photo heavy post coming up!}

With their brilliant yellow petals or rays they resemble the summer sun. On the roads between Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Noves, it is an amazing sight. {add to your list for the future visit to France!} Sunflower heads point east toward the sunrise. Before they bloom, the sunflower stems tilt the flower bud to try to receive a maximum amount of sunlight throughout the day.

By evening, they are pointing west, toward the sunset. The flowers actually track the sun's position throughout the day, from sunrise to sunset. It's pretty amazing! Overnight, the sunflowers reset to their original eastward position and wait for the morning, ready to follow the sun’s path once again. Once the flowers bloom, though, they no longer follow the sun, and stay in an eastward position.

If you are planning to go visit fields of sunflowers like this in the Provence, the beginning of July is a good time to go. The sunflowers are also usually harvested from mid to the end of July, Be sure to visit the fields early in the morning before the heat of the day is in full force, or later in the afternoon when it starts to cool down. It stays light in the summer until about 9pm or a little later, so there will still be lots of time to enjoy and drink in all this beauty.

The sunflower symbolizes adoration, loyalty and longevity. Sunflowers mirror the attributes of the sun they so closely resemble. Sunflowers provide their own energy in the form of nourishment and vibrancy, just like the sun’s energy provides heat and light.

The sunflowers are a natural choice for a summer floral arrangement, aren't they? I am doing a huge photo shoot today and tomorrow of all the antique ironstone that will be on the website in the next few weeks. It made sense to combine the two!

For this arrangement, I combined berried eucalyptus, sunflowers, little white marguerites and a few lavender flowers from the front garden. The antique French aqua canning jars always make flowers look casual but elegant.

TIP: To prevent wilting, make sure you cut the stems at an angle. Remove any leaves that will be under water. Re-cut the stems every few days and refresh the water. I use a tall container for sunflowers, with a lot of water, they are thirsty flowers. The added support of a tall vase will help the stem maintain its rigid shape. This table setting could be used for serving summer desserts. I rely heavily on fresh fruit for my summer desserts, and these fresh plums and peaches from our local farmer's market stand are beauties. Ironstone as such a "do it all" antique, it looks amazing in everyone's home. The Provence sunflower candles are part of the fall collection coming mid-August. They add a gracious glow....we use candles even in summer! Thank you so much for visiting! This week we will be going on a small buying trip again, to visit all my very favorite dealers who have been saving special things for me. I am really looking forward to seeing them, and the special antique treasures they have saved up for me and FrenchGardenHouse. It is not too long before fall begins, at least fall at our shop. I am excited to fill FrenchGardenHouse with the most beautiful treasures again.

WISHING YOU BLESSED SUMMER DAYS!

Don't forget to visit my friends and see their floral inspiration!

PAM at Everyday Living

MARY at HomeIsWhereTheBoatIs

Shirley at Housepitality Designs

and me, Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SUMMER FLOWERS?

A BIENTOT

Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and above all uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com Sharing with betweennapsontheporch