{GHP} Happy Mother’s Day

10 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Decorating, Family, Flowers, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 14 Comments

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Mother's Day

Parenting is not a duty. It is a privilege and an opportunity; A journey of self-discovery. -Becca Glouzstein

Charles Faudree ~ French Country Living

Oh for the clothing of earlier mom’s!

I lost my mom nearly two years ago to the day. I really never thought about what life would be without her, I miss her.

Since we’re going to celebrate MOTHERS this coming Sunday I thought I would share images that seem to reflect a feminine side to life as it pertains to home life and decor. As a mom, I feel blessed to have two wonderful sons and a wonderful daughter-in-law, with another lovely lady to join our family this December!

Donna Talley

Mary McDonald

The Paper Mulberry

Ralph Lauren Home

So, if you’re lucky enough to have a mom, especially one that lives nearby, be sure to treat her to a relaxing day filled with thoughtful deeds and loving gestures.

Happy Mother’s Day!

You can find me at Sherry’s Open House, No Minimalist Here

{Garden} Spring planting and the knot garden

08 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Gardens, Maintenance, Outdoor living

≈ 27 Comments

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Knot garden

I’ve been busy in the garden this past month. The season makes it easy to want to be working the soil and planting new annual flowers you’ve missed seeing during the fall and winter months.

We have a relatively smallish backyard in our home of 30 years. About 10 years ago I happened to be on a home tour of several homes in Newport Beach, California. One of the homes we visited on the tour backed to Newport Bay and the tiny, postage sized yard had a knot garden. I wasted no time, I cleared an area of my yard and planted almost 200 Japanese boxwood’s (believe it or not, I planted each and every one myself; I was younger and more energetic 10 years ago!). 🙂

Inspiration for knot/formal garden dreamers…

I had purchased a sundial from Smith & Hawkins a few years before (boy, do I miss that retail store) and that became the center for my garden. I selected roses (Romantica Roses: Guy de Maupassant and Eden; Hybrid Teas: St. Patrick’s and Pearl) for the center of each boxwood corner and have been happy with it each time I visit the yard. Each year I work on the outer edges of my formal space. Our neighbor has a wonderful, old Alder tree and the roots invade my yard so it’s a bit of a challenge to keep plants happy in this root ridden area. I did plant a Sally Holmes rose that puts on a great show each spring, but even Iceberg planted along the edges seem to struggle a bit.

You can see my neighbor’s alder tree. She always asks if we want her to take it out since she knows of the roots that it sends out…I always say “NO”. I’m a huge supporter of trees and plenty of them. The red flowering tree is a bottle brush. When the kids were little we called it the ‘bee tree’…when its in bloom like this all you have to do is walk nearby and you hear it buzz. No, none of us have allergies to bees and no, we’ve never been stung by our bottle brush bees.

I call my garden a knot garden, but it really isn’t a knot garden, formal garden maybe, the boxwood’s would need to interlink to be a knot garden.

(Above) is a photo of part of our patio, the window is my kitchen bay window.

(Below) is a close up of the Sally Holmes climbing rose.

Sally has a ‘waverly sage’ salvia in front of her…it’s not in bloom yet but will be shortly.

I’ve trained the star jasmine on a wired geometric grid. Sorry for the overexposed photograph. Below is my hydrangea…I wanted to grow them all around the edges but alas, all but this one threw in the towel.

This sitting area was finished last year…the shade of the ficus trees make it the coolest spot in the yard during hot days.

Gotta run, my sundial says it time to get back to work. Have a wonderful week. Let me know what you are planting this year.

I’m visiting Centsational Girl’s Garden Party, let’s have a look!

and

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

and

the Garden Party at Fishtail Cottage

and

Favorite on the First with Alison at The Polo House

{Garden} Here come Peter Cottontail…bunnies in the backyard.

22 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Outdoor living

≈ 17 Comments

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bunnies

Spring his here, at least the calendar says it is. In anticipation of Spring and Easter I puttered in the back yard a bit and thought I’d share some of the bunnies that are visiting my yard.

I think Peter Rabbit is stealing eggs and maybe has his eye on the cabbage!

I also stumbled upon a great deal from a consignment store for the blue and white garden seat. I’ll put the cushions out as soon as the threat of rain leaves our 7-day forecast.

I hope these birds don’t eat much!

Happy Spring! I hope the rabbits are not eating too much of your garden this spring.

I’m visiting Sherry’s Open House today and

French Country Cottage, join me!

{Garden} Daydreaming gardens

08 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Outdoor living

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Flowers, gardens

The hint of spring hit us these past few weekends when temperatures hit the eighties. Every year around this time I begin daydreaming about all I want to accomplish in the garden.

Last week I was in the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas for business and took pictures of their ever-changing botanical gardens. The hotel was celebrating Chinese New Year. (as intricate as the garden exhibit is, I would imagine they keep them on display for at least 30 days or longer). Seeing the beauty of their display only increased my eagerness for some sprucing up in my own garden.

I felt like I was viewing a Rose Parade float—each part of the costume and surrounding background was made of flowers.

Further inspiration was provided by my good friend and gardening guru, Carla. Who needs the Bellagio when you can visit Carla?

My entry has been an area I wanted to replant. The urn to the left of the door needed a change, the Japanese boxwood that had been planted there for a couple of years had started looking woody and sparse. With Carla as my adviser we went nursery hopping…I picked up a lovely mother fern, grape hyacinth and some white violas. They will certainly announce SPRING with green, white and blue beauty!

The juniper that sits in the large planter to the far right of the front door needed to be replaced and I used a new variety of juniper (I apologize, I don’t have the name with me, if you’re interested I can look it up) and surrounded it with cineraria.

The crested planter has a couple of ferns and some cyclamen that are still doing well. Once our warm weather becomes a daily occurrence they will need to be replaced.

I believe it’s time to begin planning for the back yard.

Spring is on its way! I hope it arrives in your area soon.

Visit No Minimalist Here to read about the talented Stone Gable author, Yvonne. Lovely home, delicious recipes and beautiful garden, all in one.

I’m also linking with Fishtail Cottage for her Garden Party #5

{Garden, Home} Forcing bulbs

01 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Christmas, Flowers, Gardening, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 14 Comments

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forcing bulbs, paper whites

It’s time to decorate for Christmas and even if you prefer to keep things simple, forced paper whites or amaryllis can add natural beauty to any room. I find paper whites to be a little too fragrant for the dining room but will use them in the family room.

via Petersham Nursery, England

via and George

I’ve had some success with forcing paper whites but recently I’ve purchased paper whites that are already in bloom. Besides, it may be a little late to force them…we only have less than 4 weeks until Christmas; the experts say you should allow 6 weeks from planting to bloom.

I know I’ll miss the joy of watching them grow but I find most paper whites grow too tall for the container I’ve placed them in so by buying them as a potted plant I can get the size that suits my location.

via

via The White List, Tricia Foley

via French Essence, image Vicki Archer

via bulb hunter

Mary McDonald via adventures of tartanscot

source unknown

via and George

via The White List, Tricia Foley

via My French Country Home, Sharon Santoni

If you want to grow them from “scratch” visit this link for a detailed description of ‘how to’ not only grow paper whites and amaryllis but several other bulbs, such as ‘snowdrops’, scilla, ‘hyacinths’ and ‘muscari’. I may try some of these for spring.

via paper{whites}, photo by Alison

visit these sites for detailed instructions on how to force your bulbs…

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-19.pdf

~or~

http://www.savvygardener.com/Features/forcing_bulbs.html

…or you could just by these and put them in some lovely containers and call it good. P.S. If you do go with ‘cyclamen’ be sure to put them in a cool place every other day or so…they don’t like to be too warm (we share this in common).

Happy 1st day of one of the best months of the entire calendar year! Take time to stop and smell the fir, drink cocoa, host a few social events and thoroughly enjoy the season!

I’m linking to Sherry’s Open House Party at No Minimalist Here, have a look.

{GHP} Fall installment #3 and introducing my pheasant

08 Tuesday Nov 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Dessert, Drink, Entertaining, Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Family, Flowers, Food, Holiday/Seasonal cooking

≈ 6 Comments

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fall, Thanksgiving

So how are we doing? Is everyone happy with the season so far? We’ve survived Halloween and now it’s onward and upward to the best holiday of the year, turkey day, otherwise known as Thanksgiving. I am grateful every day for so much, but I’m especially thankful that there’s a specific day during the year when we can reflect on the people and things in our lives we feel fortunate to enjoy.

via the little book of secrets

via vignette designs

unknown

My friend Carla told me she put pumpkins in her bird bath this year. I’m going to try the same thing (copy cat? why yes, there are only so many original good ideas out there). 🙂

What I love about Thanksgiving is there are no presents to shop for, just ‘splurge on calories’ food. Even if you don’t love turkey (I know folks that feel that way), you have to admit, it’s a holiday that easily adapts to whatever “traditions” in menu selections you and yours decides to embrace. Branch out, try at least one new dish, maybe create a dish that is similar to the annual _________[fill in the blank] …it will make cooking so much more fun.

We’re fortunate enough to be hosting our future daughter-in-law, Sarah (Kevin’s fiancé {he’s the baby of the family}) and her very fun family. Kathy, her mom, Tristan, her brother and Charles, her grandfather are delightful, and we’re thrilled to be able to share Thanksgiving in our home, with soon to be family, for the first time in a few years.

via Ralph Lauren

The past few years have found us at a dear friend’s home and one year was spent in Arizona, which turned out to be my mother’s last Thanksgiving, so I’m so happy we made the trek.

So, let’s get going on the planning, shall we? Oddly, as important as the menu is, and believe me, it is, I think of the table first. This year I’ll have my early Christmas gift from future DIL…“Redfern”, the pheasant, to decorate the room with. I have mentioned to anyone who’ll listen that I’ve always wanted a taxidermy pheasant. (I understand if you’re asking, why?!). Fortunately, my sweet DIL-t0-be surprised me with this in October, assuming (as only a thoughtful person would) that I would want to use him for the fall decorations. Note: he’ll be out year round, he just may move from one piece of furniture to another.

It took me a few days of walking past the dining room table and my new friend to not jump (we have all kinds of critters in our neighborhood and it made me think a giant bird had landed, uninvited, on our dining table!

Redfern, the pheasant

via Party Resource

I happened upon a Pottery Barn sale on their fall linens (the only silver lining to the stores rushing all of the holidays by starting to sell fall items in August, by September they want to usher in Christmas and you can often find some pretty hefty cuts in pricing for the items you want/need for Thanksgiving). I found the table runner in our local store and then a very nice sales person helped me by ordering the 8 napkins to match and having them delivered to my house. They came from Minnesota (I live in California).

I’ve always thought this (above) was a very nice way of using a place card that adds to the seasonal feel of the table. I really like pears, can you tell?

*Turkey plates were purchased years ago through a Ross-Simons catalog for a song.

I’ll use my white chargers and the PB table runner with Churchill’s Thanksgiving plates.

As far as the menu, it’s still in the works. I know I’ll prepare Creamy Mashed Potatoes, I salt the turkey (as opposed to brining) and I’ll prepare stuffing. Kevin has volunteered to prepare a side dish and I’ve given some thought to a gingerbread trifle that my friend, Linda, introduced me to. Beyond that I’m still in the planning stages. I’ll keep you posted.

There’s a truly clever and delicious sounding recipe for a Deconstructed Pear Salad HERE:

Happy fall, I’d love to hear from you regarding some of your favorite sides for the Thanksgiving feast!

I’ve joined Sherry for her Open House at No Minimalist Here…stop by for a visit.

{Garden, Home and Party} Exciting news…an engagement

20 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, Entertaining, Family, Flowers, Party Planning, Personal Information, Traditions, Trends

≈ 5 Comments

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weddings

Friends and readers (one in the same) will know that hubby and I have 2 sons…one is happily married and living with his lovely wife, and my very first granddaughter, in Austin. Son #2 just proposed and she said “yes”! We’re thrilled for many reasons, not the least of which is we love this girl and believe she and Son #2 are a good match. Reason number 2, at least for me, is we get to be a part of planning a wedding! Weddings encompass all manner of great things where HOME is concerned and can cross over into GARDEN and certainly PARTY.

via 100 Layer Cake

As I was typing those very words one of my favorite quotes from one of my all-time favorite movies came to mind. Father of the Bride, 1991, staring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, when George Banks (Steve Martin’s character) says,

“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition.

I know. I’ve just been through one. Not my own, my daughter’s. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That’s her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.”

There are so many options for planning and inspiration, from the ring to the reception, the world wide web now hosts blog sites that feature amazing ideas for every tiny detail of the big event. As I perused sites that came recommended, my head began swimming. I was overwhelmed with beautiful images of every imaginable event and all the trimmings that are tied to a wedding, no matter how small and simple.

Snippet & Ink is such a fun blog site where any upcoming bride, or groom for that matter, can find real wedding photos as well as Inspiration Boards created by Snippet & Ink’s author, Kathryn.

In fact, when Son #1 got married bride-to-be choose a seaside location and desired a “family only” wedding. At first I was slightly disappointed because I had hoped to share the day with close friends but in the end, this tiny 11 person wedding was so beautiful and intimate I was happy our DIL had wished for it. We later hosted a reception for dear friends and enjoyed celebrating the marriage a couple of months later.

My point, although you may be wondering at this point if I have one, is that the wedding of Son #1 and now DIL, took nearly as much planning as a larger version would have. You still plan for invitations, flowers, food, table settings, music, photographer and all the icing that goes on wedding cakes and receptions.

Above images: (left) Style me Pretty; (right) 100 Layer Cake

So, we’re off to begin what I believe will be a bonding experience for me with my future DIL #2. I’ll keep you posted. We are hosting an engagement party at our home and shopping invitations has begun.

via tiny prints (sample)

via Style me Pretty

{Garden}Cottage gardens…home improvement

25 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Maintenance, Outdoor living

≈ 6 Comments

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Cottage Garden

As any avid (or even an amateur) garden enthusiast knows, gardens are an ever changing landscape (no pun intended).

Plants grow, mature, and have seasonal fireworks of blossoms and, sadly, some die, joining the great compost pile in the sky (or backyard, as the case may be). In any event, the one thing I have come to understand is that the only consistency in a garden is its unpredictability (and inconsistency). Yes, I know that certain plants can and do bloom at certain times, but haven’t you had a plant that will suddenly stop performing for no apparent reason? I sure have!

Chive in bloom living with viola Nemesia beside a dwarf delphinium

As some of you may remember from my ramblings, I was a partner in a landscape business for 13 years. My partner (and friend, Wendy) and I planted cottage gardens for word-of-mouth customers. We attempted to monitor growth patterns of a variety of plants including a particularly scientific study of how frequently roses re-bloom once old blooms are cut off. *This study was brought about as a result of Wendy’s youngest daughter’s wedding, which was held in Wendy’s backyard. We discovered that most shrub and hybrid tea roses bloomed every 6 weeks (in Southern California) during the summer months.

A sad sample of the blossom of ceratostigma plumbaginoides astromontana ‘pink pop’

So knowing my garden is in constant transition I set out this spring to create a blue, lavender and white planting area. One of the sunniest locations in my yard (off our kitchen on the south side of our house) I am able to grow a ‘French Lace’ hybrid tea rose on one side and a burgundy iceberg shrub anchoring the other side. I know the color burgundy doesn’t fit the color palate I set out to achieve, but it’s a great bush and I decided it would be okay.

I have always loved columbine but had failed at growing it because I always planted it in planters, now that its directly in the soil it seems very happy.

I moved a rusty, old armillary that I had purchased in Rosarito Beach, Baja, Mexico to one of the beds and when the morning glories started popping up I transplanted some of the seedlings to the base of the metal structure and they have been happily climbing ever since. Some of the plantings didn’t make it (bachelor buttons, which may have been over watered or under watered, not sure which) but I have a variety of blue and lavender plants that have outperformed my expectations. My list of proven winners (at least for now) are {common names given where possible}: Columbine, delphinium (both the miniature and full-sized variety), French lavender, lobelia ‘fountain blue’, pincushion flower, morning glory, and nepeta tuberosa and lamb’s ear.

When I took this picture my French lace rose had just finished a spectacular bloom…it’s the white rose to the left of the armillary.

This morning glory vine returns every year without new seeds. I love it for that!

lobelia has always been a favorite of mine and it somes in so many lovely colors.

To take care of these I plant with “Super Soil” garden compost and then water and fertilize with Miracle Gro. I’ve read that Miracle Gro is junk food for plants but with my schedule it works for me and makes my life easier while making my garden happy. I use Gro-Power once ever 6-8 weeks. Be sure to water in in well. I sprinkle the fertilizer around the plants and then water. Gro-Power is also great for potted plants, it will green up an anemic plant in a relatively short amount of time, again be sure to water well and follow the directions. (BTW, the bag doesn’t look like this but this was the only image I could find).

pincushion flower produces all summer long and then repeats the following spring.

A little dusty miller in the garden makes a nice contrast for the flowers and green foilage. This daisy caught my attention because it had the lavender center.

Papaver hybridum ‘Lavender Breadseed’ poppy

I planted oriental poppies this year thanks to a recommendation from Trish of Trouvais. She has a lovely garden and if you’ve never visited her you will not be disappointed.

How is your garden growing this summer? Any favorite plants that are proven winners for you?

{Party}A Napa wedding #2

22 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Flowers, Food, Party Planning

≈ 5 Comments

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Napa valley, weddings

We attended a beautiful wedding in Napa last September HERE and were lucky enough to be invited to another. Who doesn’t love a wedding, especially in the wine country of California? Warning, there are no pictures of the wedding/reception in this post. I just couldn’t bring myself to take my camera to such a formal affair. Once there, I realized it would have been perfectly fine since lots of folks had their cameras.

The mother of the groom did send me this image…the bride had arranged for her and her groom to sit on this loveseat during the dinner/toasts. How romantic is this?!

Instead, I’ll share with you our road trip to Napa and some of the highlights of the incredible weekend. First off, those who live in California probably know that the wine country can be pretty hot in July. We lucked out…I’m convinced Mother Nature knew to comply with the lovely bride’s day! It was a pleasant 72 degrees and never warmed more than 75 degrees during the entire weekend.

First stop…Bakesale Betty’s

We live in Southern California and the road trip, while not for everyone, happens to be fun for Hubby and me. We love to stop in North Oakland (Temescal District, adjacent to Berkeley) to grab a favorite fried chicken sandwich from Bakesale Betty’s. This quirky bakery only sells this sandwich and an array of baked goods that could add 10 pounds to anyone in a very short time.

The only sign for Bakesale Betty is the had written sign taped to the glass door.

This is even more delicious than it looks. I think I could duplicate the slaw but the chicken is a challenge.

Alison Barakat, an Aussie, cooked at Chez Panisse Café for 3 years before meeting her husband and opening the bakery. There is always a line for lunch and Alison has set up tables (ironing boards) around the entrance to the walk-in bakery for dining.

Next stop…4th Street, Berkeley

This is a wonderful diner and I have never been there when there wasn’t a wait…so worth it. Oh, and just so you know, there is no ocean view!

We then hit 4^th Street in Berkeley for a quick stroll up one side of the fabulous shopping/dining area and back down the other.

Mulholland Brothers have been making quality leather bags for years…I liked all of them but especially the 2 bags below…

On to Napa…

The rehearsal dinner was held at Silverado Vineyard. I felt as though I was standing on the patio of a pensione in Italy.

The food, ambiance and wine (of course) were delicious and we enjoyed the evening.

On Saturday we decided to visit one of my favorite Napa Valley towns, St. Helena. We started by enjoying an all-American breakfast at Gillwood’s Cafe. We then walked the main street. One of my favorite stores is Vintage Home. I wish there was a location closer to Orange County.

Love the Hermes lamp, even if orange wouldn’t work in my home.

The wedding began at 3:00 PM at a historic Catholic church in St. Helena. The church was dressed in beautiful white peonies and trees at the entrance, planted in zinc planter boxes, added beauty to the venue. (Kate and William started something having trees at Westminster Abby, a really effective addition). Bride, groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids all performed perfectly.

We were shuttled to the estate of Beaulieu Vineyard, the private home of the Beaulieu family heirs, where all of us were wowed by the formal gardens, European arbors, fountains and mature trees and vines. I really wish I had taken my camera! Anyway, the wedding was beyond lovely and fun.

Along this walk were places to take pictures to be put in a book for the bride and groom, there were stations offering appetizers and drinks. By the way, the beverage offered as we disembarked the shuttle was a St. Germaine. Elderberry liquor, vodka, club soda and a splash of grapefruit juice, refreshing and delicious.

This area was set up with long, black, wooden tables which bordered the perimeter of this garden. On each of the tables, down the center, were glass/crystal footed pieces that floral arrangements were sitting on that consisted of white peonies, white hydrangea and white dahlias.

I’m afraid these Googled pictures don’t do the site justice but it was truly beautiful and I’ve since found several photographers that have photographed weddings at Beaulieu. If you are planning a wedding this is a magical venue.

The following morning we were invited to Yountville Inn for breakfast. Yountville Inn was recently remodeled and I think it is my new favorite place! See for yourself.

This is the courtyard off the main lobby…so inviting.

The grounds of the Yountville Inn are filled with white, flowering plants…lots of hydrangea.

Love this fountain/sculpture.

All in all it was a magical weekend. Truly memorable. Thank you Jim and Glenys for including us.

Have you attended a wedding that will forever remain in your memory?

Napa on Dwellable

How to keep fresh-cut flowers fresh

08 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Flowers

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Fresh-cut flowers, how-to

One of my favorite, relatively small, decorative touches is displaying fresh cut flowers in as many rooms as I possibly can.

Image via Brabourne Farms

This time of year (in most of North America) it is particularly easy to obtain beautiful flowers either from the garden or from the market or both.

via

Last Friday afternoon, Trader Joe’s had huge bundles of stocks, grouped by color, for only $3.99.

We were having dinner guests so I purchased the white bundle and by pairing it with my iceberg roses, ended up with flowers in 3 different rooms. One of our guests gave me a bouquet of simple white mums and hot pink daisies (which may have been dyed) so I ended up with 4 sizable bouquets. They make me smile when I enter the room.

To keep them looking fresh and to avoid the murky, mossy, smelly water that can quickly develop in a vase I had to do the following…

1) Cut the stems of all flowers on a slant with a very sharp knife or sharp pruning shears. Remove all leaves and foliage that will be below the water line in the vase, this foliage can increase the bacteria in the water once they (leaves) start to rot due to being submersed.

2) Every day, if at all possible (every other day if you’re really busy) take the bouquet to the kitchen sink and rinse the stems and replace the *water. On the 3^rd or 4^th day clip the ends of the stems to give them a fresh start for drinking the water.

via

*I have read that there are several things you can add to the water to prolong the life of the floral arrangement…I’ve tried most of these steps and find that fresh water daily works as well and/or better than any one of these: a drop of dish washing liquid; an aspirin; a copper penny; a drop of bleach; a packet of the preservative most bouquets come with; or 7-up…(we sometimes have an ant issue and I never want to tempt them by filling my flower vases with a sweet beverage).

via

Once you begin to lose a few blossoms, take the bouquet to the sink (if you have more than one vase of flowers this will be even easier) and remove the dead stems, rearrange and combine flowers from other bouquets until you have a pleasing arrangement. Voila! You’ll be so happy!

via