Fall Behind??...Spring Ahead!!

Can you believe that in a little over a month, the majority of civilization will be "falling behind"...or at least our time-keeping devices will be?!  Myself?  No, no...not me.  I will be springing ahead!  The weeds will be removed, the hosta and perennials divided, the bulbs planted and I will be well on my way to sewing (sowing?) my way into winter projects and spring planning.  I may be a bit overly optimistic, but I am going to remain confident that the majority of my "springing ahead" will be complete before those first little snowflakes accumulate on the gardens.

While I do *adore* fall, I love, love, *love* spring!!  For me, fall is what brings spring.  I get to savor the beautiful fruits of my fall labor in perennial placement and flowering bulbs.  It's exciting!!...an ever-changing palette that is my own.  I cannot draw, I cannot sing, but I can put flowers together pretty well...in the landscape and in arrangements.  Flowers allow me to be creative and as silly as it may sound, express myself.  This is why I give "names" to the flower arrangements that I design...I am able to look at nearly every one of them and feel something.  Plants & flowers really have an amazing little way of bringing out emotion in all of us... 

Fall is upon us, but no worries...no "falling behind".  We still have over a month of fun left at the Freight House Farmer's Market, Apple Fest in LeClaire on Oct. 10th and then we will be "springing ahead" into 2011 for a fresh, new season of fun, beautiful "emotions". 

 

~ Sari Berry Flowerseed
Sari = nickname from my mom, Berry = nickname from my grandma, Flowerseed = last name from my aunt -- I love them all & I love my new complete nickname!!  :)

Escaping the Concrete Jungle

Almost my entire 29.75 years of life have been spent in the country on a beautiful, dead end, gravel road. I have had various excursions that have taken me away for short periods of time...college at Iowa State University, a fun job in Marion, Iowa where I met some of my very best friends, and some time spent with an ex-boyfriend here or there. The latter made me find my way back home {full-time), again, this past year...well, up until about two weeks ago.

About two weeks ago, my fiance {that's right!!...I found him!!}, Travis, & I moved into an apartment together in order to save some money to either buy or build a house in about a year or so after we are married next May. This apartment that I speak of is in town. What does one do in a place where they are surrounded by street lights, sirens, and concrete? Well, I am finding myself being very thankful for my busy lifestyle that is occupied with my full-time job, marathon training, wedding planning, Travis, family, friends and this small business, Seeded Earth.

This past week, Travis found me sitting on the edge of the couch twiddling my thumbs and tapping my toes. With an understanding smile, he said, "You just don't know what to do with yourself do you? I am so sorry that I have taken you out of your element and brought you to this concrete jungle." The thing that I have realized I still have and am lucky to be only 16 minutes away from {yes, I did GPS the distance before we moved! }, is my childhood paradise that sits on that lovely, dusty, gravel, dead end road. The dead end road that isn't. It is taking me places. It is home to Seeded Earth. It is my passion...my release...and thankfully, Travis understands this silly little passion of mine and the need to escape to "work" a couple times a week {and to see my mom}.

In keeping with the escape from the concrete jungle {or whatever your jungle may be composed of}, I would like to extend the invitation for you to escape your jungle and to take a little trip down our lovely, gravel, dead end road....to a Spring Garden Stroll next April of 2011. I do not have an exact date set yet...it will be scheduled around a trip to Boston to run the marathon on April 18th {I hope!} and a wedding on May 14th! On this stroll you will find bouquets of many blooming spring bulbs and flowers, hosta, perennials, appliqued shirts & tea towels, aprons, and quilts for sale. The gardens are also BEAUTIFUL in the spring!! I will keep you posted on the exact date that you can come out for a stroll in the country to escape the "jungle" in your life...

Friendly Flowers

While I am sad to be missing market, again, this Saturday, I am thrilled to be putting together an alter arrangment and the corsages for my very good friend's Saturday wedding. Weddings certainly seem to in abundance these days! I put together 110+ bouquets for a wedding at Deere Run Golf Course last weekend and right after delivery, we were on the road to celebrate another friend's big day!

Flowers really do bring a brightness to a wedding, don't they? With my May 2011 wedding on the horizon, I find myself daydreaming about how they will brighten my big day. The dress, the location, *and*...the flowers! They will be in the photos, the memories, for years to come. Along with the blushing bride in the gorgeous gown, there will be her beautiful flowers against her white gown.

The hard work paid off last weekend for the 110+ bouquets -- they looked amazing on the white linens with the green & blue backdrop from the sky and golf greens. I cannot wait to put the corsages and alter arrangement together for my friend's weekend wedding. I am excited for my own wedding day on May 14, 2011 to see what flowers are in bloom...what flowers I will carry down the aisle, what colors will brighten the cheer in the day, and set the stage for the fun, outdoor evening reception!

Seeded Earth and I would *love* to help brighten your day, too!...with local, fresh flowers, your day is sure to be bright, cheery, unique....and green! Buying flowers that are locally grown really helps to decrease your carbon footprint! Beautiful & Eco-Conscious! Contact me for more information on how I can help to make your day a beautiful one that you will cherish for a lifetime!