5 tips for the (im)perfect flower planter.

I love that it's finally gorgeous outside, but with a mostly desk job, weekends are precious! It's easier to enjoy the sunshine when you're being productive too... Last weekend's project was to help my mom with yard and garden work so I decided to tackle the planter near the entry.

In the past, my floral-expert mother has chosen the flowers and I've just strategically placed them, but this year I wanted full control. After over an hour and more laps around the greenhouse than I can count, I finally settled on my perfect assortment of flowers and plants. 

Here's some tips to help you put together a game plan for your next gardening project. These apply to gardens too, not just planters! 

1. Evaluate the light.

It's important to know how much sun your planter will get before heading to the garden supply store to pick out your plants.

2. Pick a color scheme. 

Although many planters are usually filled with mostly green foliage with one or two pops of color, I'm a color lover so I like to do the reverse: a lot of color with some foliage accents. Choosing coordinating colors will really tie the whole planter together. When you place them, plant contrasting shapes and colors side by side.

I started with a dahlia, above, and chose all of my colors around that super pretty blossom. I pulled pinks and oranges to compliment, and then added deep purple as an accent. For the foliages, I chose accents of bright light green and another with a reddish purple center. I also added a couple potted perennials to the steps in front of the planter to extend the color.

3. Vary the height.

For rectangular planters, I like to build stairs with the plants, the tallest in the back and the shortest in the front. Be sure to check on the plant's tag to see what its growth potential is. If you're working with a round planter, I like to do something tall at around 2:00, something of medium height in the center, and then fill all around the perimeter with smaller plants.

4. Prep.

It helps to set them up, still in their containers, in the same configuration that you'll be putting them in the planter. At least, it helps me - I like a visual plan! Water the plants before you transfer them to the planter, preferably the night before but at least a few hours before. This will help them lift out easily when they're transferred. 

5. Leave a little room.

All of the plants are going to grow quite a bit, so they should be close but not on top of each other in the planter. Again, check the growth potential of each plant and the type of foliage to determine how much space you should leave between. For smaller plants, one inch of space between the next is plenty. For larger plants with larger leaves, two to three inches should be perfect.

And knowing a couple plant terms will also help...

Perennial - a plant that blooms for one season and then dies (must be replanted every year)

Annual - a plant that comes back each year (includes bulbs like tulips)

Typically, perennials are used in planters and pots, annuals are used in gardens.

And here's a bonus tip that I had to learn the hard way...

6. It's okay for it to be imperfect. 
What happened, you ask? A few days layer, one of the dahlias revealed a secret...

I mean, red?! Come on, that doesn't match at all! It's okay though, they're still really pretty. Maybe I'll clip and stick them in a vase...

And there you have it! It's going to be so fun to watch everything grow. And I mean, when that's the first thing you see walking out of the house every morning, it's really hard to have a bad day, right?



Next project: the gardens. Flowers and possibly... veggies?!


xo Emily

5 tips to grow your own orchids.

I posted the last color scoop and had to immediately grab a couple pretty orchids for my new place. They're infamous for being difficult to care for and taking forever to bloom, but they're really pretty easy. Here's some tips to get the most out of indoor orchid plants and to enjoy those bright colors for as long as possible.

The orchid you buy should come with a little care tag. Read it, it's helpful! But more specifically...

ONE.

identify.

The most important thing is to know what you're working with. There are so many different varieties and each has different preferences when it comes to watering, light, fertilizing and humidity. In order to have success, evaluate your environment and pick the one that's the best match for your space. The easiest way to identify an orchid is by their blossom shape, but foliage is also an indicator.

I chose the Moth Orchid because of it's fairly easy maintenance. It's also pretty common, which makes it easy to find in Vermont... in March... when there's still a ton of snow on the ground.

TWO.

 water.

 For the Moth Orchid, typically watering once every ten days is the norm. If it's in a clay pot, it may need to be watered a bit more often (every seven days) because clay is more absorbent medium (compared to a plastic container for example). When watering, don't let water collect at the base of the pot. If it does, just remove the inner plastic liner and dump the excess. Overwatering is one of the main reasons why orchids die - it will stop flowering and eventually lead to root rot. Also take care to not get water on the leaves, and if you do, wipe dry immediately.

THREE.

 light.

Low to medium light for the Moth Orchid means that it will work in a room with indirect sunlight, but it can also take brighter light as long as it's only for a few hours at most. The huge window in my living room never gets direct light, but it's bright all day, so it's the perfect spot for these orchids. The best indicator as to if your orchid is getting enough light is its leaf color. For most species, including the moth orchid, leaves should be bright green (dark green indicates too little light, reddish green indicates too much light).

FOUR.

feed.

Although fertilizing your orchid is not critical, it will help it grow and bloom. Look for a fertilizer that contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) along with trace elements like orin (Fe). Typically, orchid food is granulated and must first be dissolved in water before feeding. Water your orchid thoroughly with plain water first, then pour dissolved orchid food directly into the pre-watered plant (avoiding the leaves and foliage).

FIVE.

re-pot.

A newly-purchased orchid should be able to stay in its original pot for one to two years. When the root and plant overgrowth becomes excessive, the dead roots can be removed and the orchid can be repotted. Be sure to choose a large enough pot to accommodate for two years' growth.
Moth Orchids prefer growth in a mixed medium of coconut husk, fir bark and sphagnum moss, but other mediums can be used as well. If dividing the orchid, make sure that each division has plenty of smaller, healthy, younger shoots.

A selection of orchid potting media. Clockwise from one-o-clock: tree fern, lava rock, Aliflor, 
sphagnum moss, osmunda, rockwool and fir bark in the center. (Source: American Orchid Society)

And just because I've now absorbed a ton of orchid knowledge while writing this post, here's a few more more quick tips:

- When the last flower falls, cut the flower spike halfway down the stem to encourage regrowth. -

- A drop in temperature (no lower than 50 degrees) helps encourage the Moth Orchid to bloom. -

- Use ribbon instead of plastic clips to keep your orchid upright. So pretty! -

It's easy, I promise! If you're itching to know about more varieties of orchids that you can grow in your home, take a peek at this list.
Good luck, and let me know how it goes!


xo Emily

5 tips for snowboarding success: beginner edition.

After moving back to Vermont just over a year ago, and a scarring experience in high school with skiing, I decided I was going to conquer (ahem survive) a winter sport. My conquest of choice was snowboarding.

I'm now into my second season and even though I still consider myself a beginner - getting off the lift gives me mild panic attacks and I still fall, but less frequently - I'm making progress.

ONE.

>> Take a lesson. Or a bunch of lessons. << 

You'll learn all the really important things. Like how to stop. And turn. And to look where you want to go. And to bend your knees. See, I was paying attention.

The Snow Sport University at Smugglers' Notch is the best and the staff is great! programs are for
youth and adults, skiers and boarders, novice to expert.  The best way to learn is to do!

TWO.

 >> Pack a snack. <<

The last thing you want is to be on the lift or on your way down the mountain and be overwhelmed with a hungry tummy. Pack some nuts or a protein bar - that's why you have all those handy pockets! You can pick up something at the store, or make your own!

My favorite snack to pack is Luna Protein bars - they're pretty delicious and filling.
Plus their tiny size makes them perfect to stash in a coat pocket. 

THREE.

 >> It does matter what you wear. <<

I'm not just saying this because it's fun to look cute. Ok, I'm mostly saying it because of that. But wearing the right gear is going to make your experience so much better and will keep you out on the mountain longer, mastering those tricks... or turns. Turning is good. Even if you're not going to invest in all the gear right away (which I wouldn't recommend anyway, as your needs will change as you advance) a couple key pieces are worth the investment: mittens/gloves, goggles and a helmet.

These are my mittens and goggles, which I love. Mittens: 686 Dolce Insulated Mitten. 

Goggles: Smith Optics Prophecy Goggle.

FOUR.

>> Apres. <<

An excuse to wear some of your awesome gear a bit longer! Ok but really, socializing over warming food and drink is a blast. You can stop into a grille on the mountain, or hit a cafe on your way home. It's the perfect way to warm up and enjoy the company of your fellow riders and skiers.    

Smugglers' Notch Morse Mountain Grille Raspberry Lemonade. Yum!

FIVE.

>> Take care. <<

As a twenty-something beginner, I was not as fearless and daring as those four-year-olds whizzing by me. The first day out left me lying in bed the next morning, more sore than I've been in a long time. But it's a good sore, I promise! The best thing you can do to avoid major injury is to learn how to fall, i.e. relax and go with it. Then hop back up. You're fine, keep going! Once you get home, a little muscle relief never hurt anyone!

I came across this brand while visiting a friend in Colorado. It's amazing! Not the Same Boarder's Muscle Rub.

5 tips for a glittering tablescape.

One of my favorite parts about winter is the fact that I can buy so many sparkly things and everyone just assumes I'm being festive. Little do they know, I'd have Christmas lights and glitzy ornaments up year around if I could... although I do think it all looks better with a bit of snow. 

Anyway, now that I'm back home, I've been helping my mom come up with decor and displays for her flower shop.

(Side note: she's owned the shop for twenty six years and is both an amazing business owner and mom. She's incredible.)

I wanted to put something together that was clean but interesting and could last through January until we get ready for Valentine's Day. The flower shop is tiny and slanted, which makes setting anything up somewhat of a magic act. I decided to take advantage of an antique dining room table that's currently in the center of the showroom floor. It has tons of character and is the first thing you see when you walk through the door, so I wanted it to be WOW!

ONE.

>> It doesn't have to be perfect. << 

Don't worry about perfect measurements and perfect matches. Be sure that things coordinate, but have variety with colors, shapes, sizes and textures.

Even though I chose to go monotone, I still have a lot of diversity with the sparkle textures. 

I also chose a soft, intricately woven tablecloth to contrast the glitter and glam of many of the other pieces.

Also, everything doesn't have to be measured out and symmetrical. Other than the actual place settings, be casual and cluster pieces on the center of the table, then scatter smaller items away like a starburst. 

Although perfectly lined-up tablescapes can look very pretty too.

TWO.

 >> Alternate more and less expensive elements. <<

Can you tell which flowers on my table are artificial? Or which vase was my grandmother's from Italy and which was picked up at HomeGoods for $2.99?

Didn't think so!

When you mix price points but stick with your theme, everything compliments each other. Also, the best pieces are the ones found around your home, because they're free!

Flower tip: if you don't feel like you have fantastic flower-arranging skills, group the same flower together in one vase - this will help the arrangement look unified with little work!

THREE.

 >> White plates are not boring. <<

White plates are the perfect tablescape feature. They help draw attention to special place setting details like handmade name cards, unique party favors or accent plates and bowls.

You can also use them for practically any occasion, so this should be one of your "free" found at hope supplies (see #2).

FOUR.

>> Let there be light. <<

I placed a lot of traditional candles of varying heights and sizes on my tablescape, but flameless candles are a less risky alternative (it's ok if they're knocked over) and also saves on cleanup - no wax dripping everywhere!

This time of year it's also fun to include Christmas lights - I put a small strand in a crystal bowl and then tucked a pillar candle in the middle of the nest.

Sometimes overhead lights can be too bright; lights on the table create a warmer and more intimate space. 

FIVE.

>> This is fun! <<

Don't stress if you can't find that perfect accent plate or your DIY party favor was a bust. Sometimes having something go wrong is a blessing in disguise because you find something even better. 

When I was putting this tablescape together, I had no idea what to use for place card holders, and my first attempt with discarded wine corks was a bust. I ended up finding a few pinecones in one of our holiday decoration boxes that had yet to be unpacked. I discovered that place cards fit perfectly in the top prongs, so I touched them with a little silver spray paint and dusted them with glitter. They ended up being one of my favorite pieces on the table!

You can always head over to Google or Pinterest - the photo inspiration is endless. But if ever you're in doubt, just go with your gut. This should be a reflection of your home and style, you've got this!

And of course, the most important part of any party is the people you're surrounded by, so enjoy them!

xo Emily