“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to somebody else.” ~ Georgia O’Keeffe

I came across these thoughts by Georgia O’Keeffe last week and they give voice to one of my favorite rhythms of summer—planting flowers, so I can give people bouquets. I love leaving bouquets at friends’ doors, bringing to our campus office and for my classes and colleagues.  There is something about this that makes me exponentially happy and hopefully create a bit of beauty and joy for the recipient.

Though summer edges into fall, the flowers still bloom and I hope to get a few more weeks and bouquets before the weather turns cold. 

I have discovered an essential element of giving bouquets—give them in something that people don’t need to worry about returning. For this reason, I love mason jars. I buy them by the flat during the summer. They are pretty, inexpensive, and it doesn’t matter if they are returned, so people can enjoy the flowers, without worrying about washing and returning the vase. Love this.

The bouquets tend to be messy, filled with flowers that happen to be blooming at that time. I love the colors and textures and wildness of all. Here are some of the bouquets from this summer and the flowers that I love to plant that compose them.

Through the years, I’ve come to have some particular favorites for flowers—zinnias, cosmos, roses, gaillardia, and lavender.

I love bringing flowers to my classes. I brought this to our Orientation to the Teaching Profession class on the first night. The day started…”Dawn, come here,” our student worker on campus said and then peeled off my sweater.
I thought maybe that she just thought my outfit would look better without the sweater…
Then, she turned it RIGHT-SIDE-OUT and put it back on me. Classic first day of teaching—thinking about everything-school and put my my clothes on inside out!

I especially love leaving flowers at peoples’ doors or on their desks for them as a surprise.

Marigolds, ready for summer bouquets and to be dried to usher in the spirits for the Day of the Dead.

A Dewdrops bouquet, picked this morning, especially for you.

* * *

To subscribe and receive Dewdrops in your email, please enter your email address in the box under “Follow this blog via email” or click on the ‘Follow’ icon in lower right-hand corner of the blog’s screen and ‘Confirm Follow’ in the email you receive. To return to website: http://www.dawnwink.com