Or, as IZ has been affectionately calling it: Happy Lilac-palooza! He’s not without rights, as every working surface in the kitchen and dining room is covered with flower detritus. But, what’s May Day without flowers?
Last year, I wanted white roses but couldn’t find them. And as usual, I was crafting May Day deliveries right up to the last minute, so I had to take what I could find. But those pale pink roses from last year grew on me and this year it’s been all about COLOR at our house. I actually stood and stared at my options for some time today before I settled on white. There was a multi-colored pastel bunch that was calling my name, but I ignored them because the filler in the white group was so amazingly fragrant I couldn’t turn it down. When it comes to flowers, I follow my nose!
Tin containers are rarely watertight. Boy did I learn that the hard way! Finding plastic liners to fit specific sizes can be difficult, especially if you live in a small coastal town and don’t plan ahead. Should you be as “P” as I am, consider using this trick: line your tins with a zip-lock bag. Add the wet floral foam and then trim the bag to the edge of the tin. The zip-lock is thicker than sandwich bags and will hold the water and foam without risk of leakage.
Lilacs are woody and need a little prepping before you put them in water. Our patron saint, Martha, uses a hammer to smash the stems so they can take up water more efficiently. However, if you’re anything like me, pounding flower stems with hammers is a recipe for a disaster. Instead, consider using your rolling pin to do the job! It’s a Good Thing! Just don’t tell Martha, m’kay? It will be our little secret.
We are blessed with a prolific lilac tree and I’m counting that blessing this year. I’ve been warned by the tree people that it needs some urgent TLC and probably will not flower next year. Consequently, I’m cutting lots of these to deliver around town and to smell up my old house. On Friday, the rotten tree that came down in our major storm last winter will finally be removed. Along with it, the eyesore that is our shed. In their place, I may plant some more lilacs just to keep us in flowers next year!
I will say, that in terms of planning, I actually got these lovelies to their intended recipients earlier this year. It’s only a matter of time before they’re discovered!
Happy May Day! I hope you have your flower fix for today. This dashing and delivering has me thinking about all of you who are not in the neighborhood. Wishing you lived nearby so I could drop off a dose of lilac-palooza. Perhaps, with a little forethought, I can manage something long distance for next year. Hey, it could happen!
You are so sweet – these flowers are so lovely! I really like that photo of the tins on the frosted table top – they look like they are floating. Happy May Day to you!
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Thank you! I love photographing things on that table for just that reason. ~W
Those flowers are gorgeous! I am giving you the paper rose for your prize…I will be mailing it but if you would please email your address that would help. Have you been to Michael’s to see martha’s new craft supply line? Its wonderful! I also use melted wax to seal tin to make it water tight. it works as long as you don’t squeeze them or you can use florists putty- but your bags are great too! I love the lilacs and roses…so thoughtful of you…Happy Spring!
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I’m so excited! And, I’ve heard these rumors of Martha Madness at Michaels… and it might just mean a trip into Portland. ~W
Feeling like I should be on a podium, crowned and sashed, and anthem playing in the background… Yes, me, one of the three to be so blessed and so lucky to receive such a beautiful May Day treat! Thank you, thank you, thank you Wende!
PS… I saw last week at Michael’s the Martha line Kim speaks of. They were still putting out the stock, but I saw (and bought) enough to keep me in a Martha euphoria until my next trip there. And now I need a cigarette.
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I’m glad you enjoyed them! And that cigarette comment is hysterical! 😀 (bring your loot on Friday so we can all see what we’re missing. M’kay?? 😀 ) ~W
What a great idea. May Day used to be a lot bigger thing when I was younger. We should bring back those traditions! (or am I too lazy to do so?)
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You’re hardly lazy! 😀 ~W
I’m speechless ~ thank you (said while mopping tears from the eyes). I had a little heads-up from the “May Day Fairie” that something was left on my door and I absolutely couldn’t wait to get home. Ah, to be so blessed, good friends and good flowers. I’m taking these to work with me tomorrow to show how spoiled I am…You’re the best!
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Oh, I’m so glad you liked them! Happy May Day–see you Friday! ~W
MAN! I wish you were my neighbor. I wish I had DONE THAT for my neighbors. Oh, who am I kidding. I never would get something like that together.
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Me too! And, you teach little people… you can do this! 😀 ~W
Lilacs are my all time favorite flower! (or Bush, I guess they are really a big bush.. or maybe a tree?! hmm..)
Anyway, I LOVE THEM!
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How about all three?? I adore them too… there is something about those seasonal flowers that make them so much more appealing… maybe because we have to wait? And the fragrance of lilacs is amazing. ~W
I SO want to be your neighbor.
Love,
Jodi
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Me too!! How fun would that be? Move here, Jodi!! ~W
My office smells so wonderfully sweet right now. 🙂
I’m in total Lilac bliss… you’re such a sweet friend!
Hehe… & Monica’s comment just made me giggle!
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I’m so glad you like them… and Monica just cracks me up! ~W
Oh my gosh – these are so clever and beautiful! Thanks for the lilac tip – no wonder mine die so quickly when I bring in the cuttings. Pound the stems. Who knew? Well, except you… and Martha! I was just the other day telling my husband that we needed at least one more lilac bush – in a purple-y color. You should totally plant more. That would rock.
Happy May Day!
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Yeah, I’m working hard to research exactly what I want to put in. I definitely want more. And Thank You!! Happy May Day, to you. ~W
Could you just send some to my home? They are lovely and what a lovely surprise. Happy May Day to you too :o)
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I wished they shipped! Because I would, I would!! ~W
I’m wondering if lilacs would do ok here. I’m not sure if they’d survive the winter. I should try since I love them and the smell!! mmmmmm 😉 Those little tins o’flowers are so sweet coming from a very sweet chick. I can’t wait til I’m in Cannon Beach…will you deliver there?? 🙂 I feel like I got one just from the pics.
Oh, and by the way. Aren’t Ziplocs totally awesome for just about everything??!!! 🙂 They are truly wonderful for moving and now that they come in just about every size from snack size to mattress size, you can get one for any project. 🙂
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Yeah, they are handy! I try to recycle them as much as possible, as they are plastics and that worries me for the environment. But, they do make moving easier, eh? ~W
Happy May Day to you (yes, I’m late…) I received some flowers myself, and it was so wonderful! Yours are also amazing…I can not get my lilac to grow…I think they have to be grandfathered in here in N. AZ!
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Yeah, I can’t imagine them growing well there. But you know, there are so many different varieties, there is bound to be one suited for your climate, right? We can be hopeful! 😀 ~W
The flowers are beautiful and so are you! I was so excited for the people receiving the “Wende Love”! It’s a truly wonderful experience 😀
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Thank you, sweetie. I’m glad you liked your box. I suppose I need to get Mark’s out in the mail ASAP!! ~W
These are so beautiful! The colors are so lovely and perfect together. And…I finally figured out how to leave a comment 🙂
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Yeah, that comment link has baffled quite a few people! I’m glad you found it. 😀 ~W
Good grief…those are GORGEOUS!!! I can smell them from here in NC!
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I love that smell, don’t you? They are so fragrant, I adore waking up to that smell. It’s too cold this year to fling open windows, so I’ve cut a whole bunch and have them around the house. They won’t last as long, but I hate to miss it! ~W
Lilacs are one of my favorites! Your May Day bouquets are gorgeous! Do you deliver to Central Oregon? 😉
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I wish I could!! That would be one fragrant drive. 😀 ~W
Oh…what lovely goodness you share!
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I try! 😀 ~W
Gorgeous! Lilac-palooza–I love that! Lilacs are my favorite! Mmmm!
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Evidently, they’re lots of peoples’ favorite. I had no idea! 😀 ~W
Lilacs are my very favorite flowers! (Peonies are right up there too) Since our house is old, we have an amazing amount of Lilacs bushes on our property. I mean… LOTS. (which was one of the reasons I loved this property) For us, they don’t bloom till the last week of May. I can’t wait. Your flowers look so beautiful + lovely. I swear, I can smell them here 🙂
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I’m not surprised you can smell them! They are potent things… and isn’t having a wealth at your disposal just lovely?? 😀 ~W
What fabulous May Day surprises! IT so reminds me of when I was a little girl and would leave baskets and paper cones and tins of flowers for the neighbor ladies! I’m so glad to see that it is still practiced! I so enjoyed the preview of the lilacs, for they will yet bloom in WNY in a few weeks!
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Oh, do take pictures when they bloom and post them up!! Welcome and thanks for the comment!:D ~W
I, unfortunately, know all about the non-watertight nature of tin containers. I discovered this last summer when I thought it would be charming to use a big copper cachepot for a drinks cooler for an outdoor thing we had. So I put it on the (wood) dining room table, filled it with three bags of ice and tons of drinks and left it there until I could take it outside. Guess what I found in the dining room when I came back an hour later? I won’t be doing *that* again. I hope!
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Oh dear, what a mess. They do make liners for some of those… but I’ve always found a big kitchen trash back works well to line those, and if you’re clever no-one will be the wiser for it! ~W
what beautiful snapshots… might I use one for my wallpaper? 🙂 It definitely gets me in a springy mood!!!
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Of course, you may! Thank you for asking first… you’d be so surprised at how rare that is! 😀 Blessings!! ~W