Happy Monday! It’s always a happy Monday for me when I join my blogging friends for some flower therapy! You can find my friends’ links for their beautiful floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
Our theme for this week’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was ‘monochromatic’. After visiting the floral department of several grocery stores, I came home empty handed –>my kingdom for a Trader Joe’s. I decided to forage around the Potting Shed for some blooms.
The creamy-chartreuse colored blooms of Limelight Hydrangeas begin their transition to fall around the end of August, gradually changing over to a burnished pink-bronze color.
I started with a favorite urn that I’ve had for 20+ years. The finish was a little lackluster and in need of refreshing, so I decided I give it a quick makeover with paint.
I picked up some FolkArt Acrylic Paint from Hobby Lobby. I started with some ‘Burnt Sienna’, dry brushing lightly over the urn. If you’re not familiar with ‘dry brushing’, it’s a paint technique using an almost dry brush (hence the term ;) to apply paint.
Dip the ends of your brush in the paint, then blot your brush on a some paper towels or newspaper (I used the cardboard I was painting on), wiping most of the paint off, before lightly dragging your brush over the surface. Hit the raised surfaces or ‘pounce’ with your almost-dry brush like you would if you are stenciling. Start in an inconspicuous place first, or practice on a scrap piece of wood.
After the ‘Burnt Sienna’ was dry, I dry brushed the urn with some ‘Camel’ to give it some golden highlights. The paint helped warm up the urn so it’s looking a little more ‘fallish’ now.
I used a favorite ‘flower frog’, upcycled from a garden center plant tray to make my arrangement.
The plastic pot ring is more substantial than chicken wire for supporting flower stems and a great alternative to floral foam for arranging flowers as it can be reused. This particular plant tray/pot holder is 5 1/2 inches in diameter and fits snugly about a third of the way down in my urn.
Add floral preservative to your vase water to prolong the life of your flowers. Floral preservative packets usually come with grocery store flowers. If you don’t have any floral preservative, you can make your own with this easy formula.
I used a vegetable peeler, dedicated to flower arranging, to strip the outer layer of wood to help the oak leaf branches ‘drink’ and stay fresh.
Green seed pods from the Crepe Myrtles, maiden grass plumes, oak leaves, and foliage from the abelia shrubs join the Limelight Hydrangeas for an ‘Early Shades of Fall’ flower arrangement.
Have a seat and join me at the table on the dock. . .
The day started out foggy, but the fog quickly burned off to reveal another hot and hazy September day. . .
A Ralph Lauren Grace Floral tablecloth provides a foundation of gold and additional blooms for the table. . .
Along with the pretty flower basket details of Royal Staffordshire Clarice Cliff ‘Charlotte,’ served up on woven willow chargers.
Brown transferware and ironstone sing the softer notes of fall . . .
And while I love brown transferware any time of year, fall is the season when it really shines.
Amber stemware provides a golden autumn glow. . .
And bone-handled flatware adds some warm texture.
Table Details:
Plates / Royal Staffordshire Charlotte Brown Clarice Cliff
White Chargers / HomeGoods, several years ago
Tablecloth & Napkins / Ralph Lauren Grace Floral, several years ago
Napkins Rings / Pottery Barn, several years ago
Flatware / Towle Seville
Amber Goblets / Mikasa French Countryside
Pillows, throw / HomeGoods
Urn, retail days / used here
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their blooming inspiration this week:
Pam at Everyday Living
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Our sweet friend Shirley at Housepitality Designs is taking a break. Please send her some love and prayers. ♥
We have had above average temperatures this September. A day of record-breaking heat last week of 98 degrees with the humidity pushing the heat index to 105 almost did me in. Fall can’t get here quickly enough for me!
🍂🍁🌾
Thank you for your visit! Sharing with:
Between Naps on the Porch
Certainly agree with your comment about the heat last week. Told my sister in Conn. I was on the next plane when she told me that the temps were in the 60’s. Still having a problem with fall decorating due to this weather but have brought in a large bunch of Limelight Hydrangea for my kitchen table table and will cut some grasses today.Putting away the sunflowers and bringing out my copper lined tray and a few cute wicker pumpkins to start creating a fall vignette . The weatherman promises cooler temps by Wed.
Good morning Mary. I love your early shades of fall arrangement in that beautiful urn. Foraging around your potting shed provided a lovely mix of flowers. Dockside dining with gorgeous views of the lake at least makes me feel cooler. This September has been a scorcher for sure. The brown transferware, Rl linens, and Mikasa gold stemware gives me hopes that autumn will soon arrive. It is always a pleasure to share Monday Morning Blooms with you my friend. Have a wonderful Monday and stay cool❤️
I really like the mixture of hydrangeas, leaves, grasses and other natural elements, simple yet elegant. As always, thank you for sharing.
Quel plaisir de commencer la semaine avec de si jolis bouquets de fleurs ; j’aime beaucoup cette harmonie de verts. Ici aussi il a fait anormalement chaud ce week-end et toujours la sécheresse !
Très bonne journée
What a great post–thank you! I love the transformation of the urn. It’s so helpful to know which paint colors work best as well. You always inspire me!
Just perfect…summer is waning…franki
Very classy look, Mary. Love that overhead shot (were hanging from the dock rafter?!). The Towle flatware is quite handsome. Have a great day!
Soo pretty – brown is my favorite color!
Simply beautiful, I love your style. It’s so nice to be able to pull together an arrangement with flowers from your own yard. And the burnished look you gave your urn is just right.
Up in Massachusetts we’ve been fortunate to have temperatures more typical of early fall, I hope it cools down for you soon.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Mary, you did a great job foraging around the potting shed. I love the natural look and your setting and tablescape alongside your arrangement had every perfect detail. Thanks for the tips about dry brushing.
I agree fall can’t get here soon enough for me.
Very pretty, love your urn! Been churning over fall recipes, first stormy day rolls in this morning, praying no fires come with lightning but so ready to nest a bit!
Gorgeous! Your refurbishing of the urn is amazing. Brown transfer
ware always grabs my heart. I love that you used flowers from your yard. Your table looks like what makes fall so special.
Your transformed urn just shines with the beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas, oak leaves and accents, Mary. Yes, I’d love to join you on your deck and see your pretty view. I agree about brown transferware being especially beautiful in the Fall , if it would ever get here.!! We’ll be nearing 100 degrees again today. I forgot to mention how much I love your flatware….so pretty! Happy week ahead to you, Mary. xx
Just beautiful Mary! I love the soft brown and golds you chose for the monochromatic theme, perfect for fall and the lake background is so serene and pretty! The fading hydrangeas are the perfect choice and your photographs are stunning…I LOVE the Charlotte transferware :) What a lovely way to start the week!
Jenna
So very beautiful! Just PERFECT!!!
The transferware is so beautiful, really a showstopper. Love the tutorial, thank you once again.
Your floral arranging is so lovely! Whenever I see them, they make me smile!
Love, love, love the yellow blooms in pitcher photo. How sunny and happy!
A late summer pick me up!
Thank-you for sharing your talents with all of us!
Mary, Your refurbished urn is fabulous! Your MMB is so natural & neutral. It works wonderfully with your tablescape. Love your tablecloth! Enjoy your week & stay cool. Clara ❤️
Mary, your lovely posts always start my Monday off with a bang! The scene you set at the end of your dock is magical, the golden colors of autumn are beautiful. Your floral arrangement is perfect for this season, combined with the golds and browns of your table setting makes for a gorgeous place to have dinner (or breakfast) I’m assuming that lunch would be too hot! Always such a treat to share our special Mondays, sweet Mary, xoxo Lidy
Your tablescape is gorgeous! I always learn something new about floral arranging when I read your posts. I have several vegetable peelers; I now know what to do with one of the extra ones!
Mary
Beautiful shades of Fall.
Love the urn!
Great Monday inspiration!
Thank you……..
Mary, this post reads like poetry! I find a these earthy tones very appealing and soothing. Your urn make over is spot on. Your talent at transforming things continue to amaze. My eyes keyed in on that urn first thing before even reading a word. It would be a favorite for me as well with its woven detail and rim of fruit. Treasures!!! Charlotte is also a favorite design for me as well. I have just a few select pieces and will not part with them. Thanks for sharing the beauty of your dock. The image of the lone chair sitting at that table is calling my name. I want to drift in, relax, and spent the day. Such serenity!
Mary,
Perfect timing! I somehow managed to nearly kill my kitchen topiary and was planning on a tempoary seasonal replacement while nursing the topiary back to good health. I love the idea of pulling everything from the end of season garden. What a fitting arrangement for fall, using summer’s last gift of flowers to say good bye to the heat.
As soon as the rain stops today I’ll be foraging in the garden. Yes, we’re getting our first rain of the season and I’m certain it’s because I decorated for fall…wink wink!
Thank you for the lovely inspiration!
Betsy
Ooh that arrangement turned out beautiful! The shots of the table are lovely! I do adore that tablecloth and your transfer-ware dishes. It’s hard for me to imagine such high temps at this time of year. We’re in the mid 70’s pretty much everyday.
Love the urn and your make over turned out beautiful. Everything about this post is lovely. Love your wording, “sing the softer notes of fall”. Not only are you a great photographer, gardner, florist, chef, but also a beautiful writer! ❤🍂
Absolutely stunning, Mary! Your eye for beauty and design floors me every time! 💗 I’m going to subscribe right now so I never miss another of your beautiful posts. Thank you for so much gorgeous inspiration!
Oh how I LOVE your posts! I always learn so much and enjoy all the tips! Thanks for the information about the Limelight Hydrangeas. This is the first year I’ve had one so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Mary, you have such lovely accessories, I do have a question though. What have you found is the best way to store your decorative pillows? Do you have bags for each one? Thanks for always providing such beautiful inspiration!!
Before I read what the theme was Mary, my first thought when I saw your bouquet was “lovin’ all the green”. Very nice:@)
You’ve opened my eyes to the uses of oak branches. Thx
Hot as in the 100 degrees in mid-September here in Phoenix — a massive recent cool-down from months around 115! — or hot by East Coast climate? Your pics do look refreshing to us still baking in the desert!
SOOOOOOO BEAUTYFULL!!!
Good Morning! I’m late to Monday Morning Blooms but had to stop by to see your arrangement! Breathtaking my friend! Absolutely breathtaking!
Elegant as always! Absolutely love your “wheat” throw pillow. Will now scour the Homegoods stores to try to find one!
So pretty and inviting. I could sit there for hours and enjoy that view. Love the way you made over your urn. It’s cooler today in central NC. So ready for some cooler fall days….
Beautiful arrangement and a great idea on the flower frog, thank you!