Happy Monday! I’m joining my blogging friends for some flower therapy and Monday Morning Blooms.
You can find my friends’ links to their floral inspiration at the bottom of this post.
Our theme for this week’s edition of Monday Morning Blooms was ‘January Blues’.
For my centerpiece, I used a blue and white glass vase. I wanted to conceal the flower stems, so I used a favorite vase-within-a vase method, placing a smaller vase inside the larger blue and white vase. I used several sheets of white printer paper, trimming them to fit and placing between walls of the vases.
Blue and white hydrangeas from the grocery store join white tulips for a ‘January Blues’ arrangement. . .
And a favorite vintage blue and white transferware platter serves up tulips with a spray of blue flowers around the border.
Join me on the porch for some blues and blooms!
We’ve had a very mild and wet 2020 so far and the 2nd warmest January on record, with temps in the 60s and low 70s, making for comfortable porch weather.
The mercury takes a nosedive this week and I’m actually looking forward to more seasonal winter temperatures.
I was all aflutter over a new pair of garden booties. They’re handy for our rainy (-> read soggy) January and spring. They’re temporarily serving as vases filled with hydrangea blooms.
I’m priming myself for gardening season with garden magazines, gloves and garden tools.
January is a good month to catch up on reading and reacquaint myself with favorite books for inspiration while waiting for spring and Potting Shed season.
Potting Shed Featured in She Sheds: A Room of Your Own
You can find my little Potting Shed in the “Sheds for Gardeners” chapter.
I find keeping busy with a little indoor craft project helps to chase away the winter blues. I just discovered finger knitting and have since found Blanket-EZ yarn. The loops make knitting without needles even easier and I’m looking forward to trying it.
Dogs help chase away the winter blues!
Lola and Sophie always enjoy porch time. . .
They say never underestimate the power of an afternoon nap and a chance to dream about spring.🐾🐾
January Blues Details:
London Fog Piccadilly Rain Boot / Amazon
Blue and White Vase / Target, last year
Garden Tool Set, Smith & Hawken / Target
Transferware Platter / Prince Royal Johnson Brothers
Visit my talented blogging friends to see their blooms this week:
Shirley at Housepitality Designs
Lidy at FrenchGardenHouse
Our friend Pam at Everyday Living couldn’t join us this week. We look forward to her return for the next edition of MMB on February 3rd.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Metamorphosis Monday
Your theme January Blues is so clever. I was just sitting and having my cup of coffee thinking about buying some fresh flowers for my kitchen table. I am very fond of Altromeria because it is so long lasting but you have inspired me to look for some Hydrangea to mix in with them. So pretty.
Looks like our weather will be sunny and cold this week. Enjoy our return to a more normal Jan.
Loved your posts. We’ve been I’ll so all the Valentine postings cheered me up. My kids in Arlington Va got great news from their allergist: Lilah Grace (the youngest of three ) has finally tested negative for a dog. My daughter Amber will try to contact you about who you use to get your precious dogs.
I don’t know where to begin to say how much I love your January Blues porch filled with the most wonderful items of blue…the beautiful, beautiful vase of flowers of which I love how you inserted the white lining….those garden booties!..off to Amazon to order those cuties!….the wonderful no knitting needles blankets to snuggle in along with Lola and Sophie! A most wonderful porch to spend a January Blues day! Happy to be sharing blooms with you today and always! Have a wonderful day Mary!
Just beautiful Mary! Thank you for chasing away the winter blues with such a pretty arrangement on your porch. You pulled together all things blue to create such an inviting spot on your porch. How could I sign off without commenting on your precious little girls, they are just adorable.
Good morning!
What a great way to begin our Monday! Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers.
All the blue and white colors are gorgeous.
Sorry Pam couldn’t join you this morning, but Lola and Sophie are great fill-ins. They are both so cute! Know they bring such joy to your life.
Enjoy your 60 degree weather.
We’re expecting snow flurries and wind chills are in the single digits in St Louis. Currently 16 degrees.
Have a great Monday……..
Such a cute theme for January Mary, and hydrangeas in any color are always a breath of warm weather and summer gardens! I love you ne blue boots and that yarn looks wonderful, haven’t seen that before, can’t wait to see what you create with it!! I love how Lola and Sophie like to snuggle! It’s 25 this morning with a wind chill making it feel like 18!! UGH! I will definitely be having January blues this week! {Love the stack of blue books too}
Jenna
Lola and Sophie look super cute! It is amazing how well they pose for you.
I love the blues on your porch. The blankets, pillows,transferware platter, and gorgeous blue splatter vase coordinate beautifully with the lovely blue hydrangeas and white tulips to chase away the winter blues.
I could dive into your stack of books joyfully. I adore coffee table books.
Very pretty Mary, I love your vase! Have a great week:@)
Your beautiful porch decked out in January blues is taking my blues away, Mary! Lola and Sophie look perfectly content to enjoy the scene and are picture perfect. I love your new garden booties. They’ll certainly cheer you while wearing them in the wet days in your garden. Your bouquet is stunning and the platter stole my heart. I look forward to seeing what knitting creation you make with your pretty yarn. Fun!
Blues is right…24 degrees…blew me away this morning! franki
Good morning, Mary. Not only do I have porch envy but I also have weather envy. Yesterday our temp was -17 with the wind chill! As always you ( and the fur babies) succeed in bring a smile to my face
Very sweet vignette, our temp is warm today, 47, little jealous of your 70s, but the cold weather is great for tackling big garden projects without breaking a sweat 😉 was perusing garden books last night myself, I have garden fever year round, happy to nestle in with your girls and wash my blues away anytime!
“Dogs chase the winter blues away”
Guess what??? I’m driving 3 hrs to go look at puppies this morning!!!! Sweet sweet 4wk old poodle puppies!!!! Reds, apricots, white!!!! I cannot wait! It’s been 6 months since I lost my sophiejane and have finally realized that’s been a major cause of depression this winter. Besides the illnesses of 2 of my kids 😢.
So I need a new BFF again to shadow my every move. If I decide one one, I won’t be able to bring her home till end of February so I’ll just start keeping fresh flowers in house until then to chase the winter blues away. Will keep you posted!!
Oh I’m so happy for you! I would have a hard time not bringing home two, keep me posted! 🐾🐾
Mary, your January Blues porch is calling me. The vase is stunning with your blue and white hydrangeas and tulips, what a striking combination of blooms. I need to rush over to Amazon for those cute boots, I need them now with all of the rain and my soggy garden. Lola and Sophie are the sweetest addition to your porch, and such well-behaved babies. I checked out your stack of garden books to make sure I hadn’t missed a garden book that I need, I think I am well covered. I am so sorry I couldn’t join you all today, but you provided the perfect dose of happy today! 💙
How awesome your post got rid of my Monday morning blues and when straight to blooms. Love looks like a great place for a cup of tea. Thanks for your continued post. Have a great week.
Mary, I love the January theme. Your blue & white vase is so festive & the flowers are beautiful. I’m going to use the white paper idea between the two vases as I have several vases like yours & that is a great idea! The blues are so refreshing after the various holiday colors. Your porch is so welcoming. Sophie & Lola are so cute and would brighten your day for sure! We’re already experiencing the polar blast as they’re calling it here. Going from the 60’s to the 20’s-30’s is a shock to the system! A warm throw is definitely in order today! Brrr! Clara ❤️
Besides giving us gorgeous pictures for inspiration, Mary, you always include some fabulous tips—love this post!
Happy winter when this is all brightening your table! Thanks, Sandi
LOVE! It’s always such a joy to share our Monday Morning Blooms together. The tulips and hydrangea in your blue glass vase are the perfect thing to chase away any blues. We have so many of the same decorative pieces at home, you and I. That tray is one of my favorites! I have one in the front and one in the back garden. Dreaming of spring also, and what to plant in the borders. The garden needs a make over! Your flowers are beautiful. Happy Monday friend. Xo Lidy
Mary – your beautiful blooms make me think of Spring and then again they could be icy snowballs! So gorgeous. Hugs, Dorinda
Love this so much! And I love your little powder puff pups!
Love how you chase away the winter blues. Love the arrangements. They make me smile! You have inspired me to get some fresh flowers to brighten up my space. Happy Winter!
Hi Mary – Your post has me ready to head to the market for some uplifting blue and white flowers! I am still replacing lost china now that we are settled here in NC. Would you please share the pattern name of that gorgeous blue and white platter? Thanks, as always, for a great start to my week!
Thank you Nancy, It’s Prince Royal by Johnson Brothers.
Love that your pups match ,or should I say, enhance, your color scheme….Sweet
I have always loved blue and white and your porch is so inviting.
thank you!
Love this- so pretty! The white paper really made the pattern show up of the outer vase. Beautiful hydrangeas and white tulips!
AHHHHH, to be able to be sitting on the porch in January! Your blues just made me happy! Love the hydrangeas and tulips! The way you did the vases was brilliant using the paper. The girls look quite comfy. Thanks for sharing this.
What a delightful duo to add to your already very pretty blue and white theme porch. Missing not being able to sit out on mine, but 9 weeks until spring so I’ll be patient. Love your stack of books, along with the perfect candle and awesome new rain boots. You are tempting me Mary, those boots are calling my name! Haha. The white tulips are so lovely with the blue hydrangeas, could sit there for hours. Enjoy that wonderful weather for those of us who are locked into Ol’ Man Winter. Found your Peter Rabbit Carrot Zucchini Morning Muffins recipe and plan on doing some baking this afternoon. Thanks for a breath of spring.
Will u send me ur email so I can send pics of my new Bebe?????!!!!!!!!!!
We back into colder weather this week, and I welcome it. I don’t like January to be 70s – 80s and damp. I prefer sweater weather and being able to have a cozy fire. Your blues are very appealing to me. Blue hydrangeas and white tulips make a great combination. The girls have the right idea too. I’m all for an afternoon nap!