Tuesday, December 13, 2011

FLOWER POWER

A bouquet of exotic French tulips can give me a rush like a Maison Chocolate truffle; thankfully flowers last longer and don't wreak havoc on my hips. That's why I absolutely love to visit the NYC flower market on West 28th Street. It's exhilarating and a bit overwhelming, you need to come with a list and a game plan or your bound to come home with an impulse item that sounded so right at the time-anyone for a ten foot palm tree?  I hit the market on Saturday morning looking for material to make my holiday floral arrangements and came home with wooden crates filled with paperwhites, delicate flowering kumquat's and dozens of roses-sounds pretty sweet to me!
 Fresh wreaths and paperwhites-holiday staples ready to take home

Amaryllis flowers-perfect for holiday arrangements

I used kumquats this year-so fragrant and delicious too!
Roses anyone?
 My favorite holiday gift for friends-potted paperwhites 
 Everything looks so beautiful!
I always need fresh orchid plants (no green thumb here!)
How do you decorate your home for the holidays?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh this is heavenly, flowers really lift my spirits.
My house is filled with orchids, white roses, pine cones. mistletoe holly and ivy.

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

I adore the photo showing all the shades of roses. This looks like a great stop! Enjoy your holidays! Janell

The enchanted home said...

Wow Barbara..cannot wait to see what you create! I am so much like you, I get sooo excited when I am around flowers, and containers and beautiful greenery, my mind races like a manic about all the pretty thing that can be made! Looks like you had a bevy of gorgeous things to choose from....love paperwhites, greenery and of course orchids!! Have fun.

I Dream Of said...

Barbara, thanks for taking me with you on this stroll through the NYC flower market! So beautiful.

Our house is trimmed with evergreens and filled with the scent of paper whites. The red Amaryllis is just starting to pop. There's a small pitcher of red and white tulips on the kitchen counter, and my blue and white ginger jars are brimming with red greens. It wouldn't be Christmas with out flowers!

Party Resources said...

I love this post! I feel like I am walking through Manhattan with you. Paper whites, boxwood, orchids, poinsettias, all make there way to my house this time of year! xx

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Oh my goodness, Barbara! I have never seen such a beautiful shop. You have so much near you there. Beautiful images.
Thank you for sharing.
Teresa
xoxo

CDS said...

My thumb is far from green---but I love going into flower shops---they smell like heaven! For the holidays I like to put out poinsettas. :)

All in the Detail said...

Is it possible to have "Shopping Location Envy"?

Wonderful - thank you for taking us along on your Saturday outing!
Merry Christmas

- Jalon

Splendid Market said...

What a treat to visit your flower market with you, beautiful, I can almost smell it. Did you buy kumquat trees or branches? I have kumquat and lime trees, but they rarely produce fruit, so during the holidays, I wire them on!
The halls at the market are decked with balsam fir garlands, as are all of the mantles, scattered with objects you may find in a frosty forest. Vases and zinc flower pots are filled with Fraser fir and other greens and loaded with Casablanca lilies. Pinecones are dominate on the scene, I found the greatest pinecone balls, with just the right amount of glitter, at Target!

Allie said...

We just put up our tree yesterday. The decoration process will take place over the next couple of days. Those pics are fabulous of the flower market. The orchids are so beautiful too. I am having a vintage holiday brooch giveaway at my blog, please stop by...

Acquired Objects said...

So beautiful and those roses are fabulous! We use tons of greens and natural items found in our forest interlaced with my orchids and paperwhites. We get the house smelling wonderful by throwing a handful of cloves in the wood stove, smells heavenly!

MAGNOLIA said...

WE LOVE FLOWERS! WE LOVE THIS POSTS!!!
YOU GOT REALLY GOOD TASTE!!

MAGNOLIA MAGAZINE
www.magnoliamag.com

The French Hutch said...

I love flower markets and it would be a thrill to visit one before Christmas. I see how you have to have a plan when you visit for serious shopping, otherwise need a truck to get it all home. I can't wait to see how you decorate using the flowers. I use fresh throughout the house, paperwhites and ivy topiaries are my favorite.
Merry Christmas.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

So gorgeous it makes me swoon. I love fresh flower markets. All the greenery is just divine.

Stacy CUrran said...

What a perfect little slice of heaven!
Stacy

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

beautiful! I only wish I could get there more often!

Mary Ann Pickett said...

It all does looks so pretty. Nothing like fresh flowers and greenery for livening up a home.