Looks like it’s Catalpa Tree blooming time! Maybe a little bit past their prime?… or just “beat-up” a little from the storms? Either way, it’s always fun to see these huge trees flowering… and then in a few days when the flowers fall off the trees and everything gets scattered with these orchid-like flowers.

But then those flowers start to decay… so enjoy the pretty now!!!

Last night in my Intermediate Wheelthrowing class, we celebrated our last class of session with a fun trading game. The category was a handmade orchid pot with a live orchid in it. Beautiful pots & beautiful flowers… thanks to those of you who participated… Christine, Darcy, Claire & Tessa!

My entry in the game was this last one… purple glazed with a purple orchid. It worked out well for me… as it was also a class demo on “carving” a few weeks earlier for my Surface Decoration class!

Day One of “Hinsdale” done… and fairly drippy! We had pretty steady rain all day… and just hoping to have a better & drier day tomorrow! If you stop by, everything should be freshly washed!!! Nice & clean for Day Two of the Hinsdale Fine Arts Show tomorrow from 10am-4pm.

Just enjoying a little FLORAL FRIDAY with a fun arrangement in a stamped & soda-fired oval vase. I do get a lot of questions at art fairs as to what you can use an “oval” vase for?! My answer is “pretty much anything!” But I do enjoy how an oval vase makes the flowers spread out a bit more from side-to-side so you can see them better… instead of all squished together as some taller round vases do!

A single yellow rose sitting beautifully on a stamped & soda-fired ikebana vase.

I’ve been nurturing this little peony bush for a couple years starting with a little sapling in my garden. So excited that this year it FINALLY bloomed!!! Okay, so it’s only two blooms… but I’ll take it. And hope for more next year!!!

While the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival was washed out today, at least my booth flowers still look good! And as things would have it, about an hour after I got home, the rain stopped & the sun came out with blue skies & fluffy white clouds!!!

Early morning allium flowers in my front yard. Fun balls of small flower blossoms swaying on a tall stem. I kind of “assumed” they only came in purple when my cousin Kim & I planted a ton of bulbs last Fall. So it was great surprise to see these come up this Spring. Thanks again Kim!!!

It’s that time for the year… and I’ve got quite a few irises blooming in my front yard. Such a great childhood throwback… especially the traditional iris scent. I just wish the blooms lasted longer. At least we get the cool “sword-like” leaves all summer long!

Getting ready for day two of our PLANTS & POTTERY SALE. If you’re in Central Illinois, swing by to see their incredible terraced gardens, hundreds of flowers, one of my totem poles… and quite possibly leave with some plants & pottery of your own! Today from 9:00am-4:00pm in Bartonville… just southwest of Peoria!