Wednesday, May 6, 2009

For Mothers Day: Visit Your Local Greenhouse!


Sunday, after church, my sweet husband said we were going to Big John's greenhouses to buy our hanging pots of asparagus fern for our porch (asparagus fern is the ONLY thing that will survive the rough winds out here, we've tried almost everything!). We've gone to Big John's FOREVER. He's a customer where my husband has worked for thirty years and they know each other well and like each other very much. John and Pat are good-hearted, warm,small town people. We love them. They are the very best kind of people and we've been their customers for years, too. It feels so good to support a local business...especially when you know and love the family.

But while we were there, he told me to pick out my Mother's Day gift...from all that I saw, I could choose whatever I wanted. Last year, he surprised me with a pedestal pot with an arrangement of annuals in red, white and blue that was just gorgeous because he knew how much I liked Pat's arrangements.

This year I could choose. So...I began. I savored it, looked around. I happened to have his small digital camera in my purse. So I took it out. I was thinking how nice it would be to have these pictures to look at next winter, I could use them for screensavers-- and I could share them with you. There is nothing more glorious on which to feast the eyes for those who endure the long, gray winters of Michigan than greenhouses packed full of heavenly blooms. (When I think of heaven, it surely must be like this! Surely we will stand in His presence and just breathe it all in!)

Let's enjoy our visit to this little heaven on earth and a visual feast for our eyes together!

Big John's wife, Pat, makes the most spectacular arrangements in containers, it's her artwork. Big John has been going through chemo, has been fighting three types of cancer all at one time. I wonder if working with these flowers helps John and Pat somehow get through it all. (John and Pat could use our prayers if you wouldn't mind mentioning them to God.)







I have an idea for those hanging petunia bags that I hope to show you soon!



I enjoyed walking through this purple haze overhead!

Gerbera daisies, simple and bright!



Geraniums...



More of Pat's artwork...


A ruffly, rosy-looking trailing petunia! Isn't God so good at his artwork?











As far as I'm concerned, there could be no better Mother's Day gift than that of a visit to a greenhouse where she browse, enjoy all the color and sights, and can choose her heart's desire!


Begonia


Below are my two choices: daisies for their sunshine value and a red, white and blue mixed basket for the front porch! Thanks, honey-babe!


These are something that I will be enjoying for a long, long time! XOXO

10 comments:

Valerie said...

The photos of Big John's greenhouse are amazing! Actually, I have done exactly what you espouse for several years. We have a local nursery on the outskirts of town here on the prairie and this husband/wife team design the most spectacular hanging baskets! They're expensive, but so worth it when you consider their size and the amount of plants in the arrangements. We've made it an annual tradition.

Peace and blessings to you from Kansas,
Valerie

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

These photographs are really really good! I love the depth you created in alot of them. Any luck with your video - can't wait to hear the crowd - and you screaming :)
Came in for a tea break - my kids are popped and it's only 10, I think I even wore them out.

Marydon said...

WOW! Amazing greenhouse. Great shots, good eye! Have a great day ~

Kathie Truitt said...

Beautiful, bright, colorful photos. Love it. Hurry, Spring.

Sit A Spell said...

Just love to garden! My family always goes to the nursey and reveals what they've chosen for me on Mother's day. Very fun when a 5 yr old boy picks out flowers...I had an entire flat of blazing orange impatients last yr! My daugherter put togethere a couple of pots for my front porch last yr and did a great job! (I come from a line of green thumbs and think hers is too) : )

Farmgirl Cyn said...

I was just at our local, family owned greenhouse this morning, but not for anything so beautiful as what you were able to get! I bought seed potatoes....something I have never planted before. And 3 tiny rosemary pots. I mean tiny. One little sprig of rosemary sticking out of the dirt. Geez, I sure hope they get huge!!!

Sue said...

What a beautiful greenhouse. I said a prayer for Big John and Pat...

I approve of your choices...but what a decision. They were all gorgeous and so healthy looking! And I agree Joni. If there aren't plants in heaven, can you imagine something EVEN BETTER? Wow...

English Cottage in Georgia said...

Wowza! What an impressive greenhouse. I did inform hubby today that my Mother's Day present would be hydrangeas :-)

Daisy Cottage said...

Oh what a feast for the eyes! You captured the greenhouse and the amazing flowers beautifully! Thank you for bringing us along!

xo,
Kim

Anne Marie said...

Hey Joni....
someday! someday!!! that'll be me selling all those lovely plants!!