Mothers, Mums, and Beautiful Memories!

A table full of fresh cut flowers such as white giant mums, white tulips, yellow alstroemerias, as well as pink alstroemerias.

If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May flowers bring? JOY of course! My grandmother loved her roses, they truly brought her joy. And although her yard was mostly paved in concrete, she found a way to plant several rose bushes all along the edge of it. Besides the traditional red, there were yellow and orange blooms which she attended to daily. I remember her kitchen table always had a floral bouquet from her garden, displayed in a simple drinking glass. I know that she passed her passion for flora onto my mother, who in turn, passed it down to me. Mothers, mums, and beautiful memories… let’s take a minute to reflect in celebration of Mother’s Day!

A close-up view of pale pink alsroemeria blooms and peonie leaves in a vintage green ceramic vase flower frog.

My mother loves all flowers, and as I was growing up she was always bringing in blossoms from the yard and arranging them. My father loved to garden so he always made sure she had plenty of varieties to choose from, no matter what the season. Their colorful mums and peonies remain special in my mind.

a very close-up view of three giant white mum blooms with green leaves in the background.
A close-up view of three bright magenta peonie blooms surrounded by green leaves.

My mom has always been an artist and her creative arrangements really spoke to me. She was also a member of a local ikebana flower-arranging group and used such pretty ceramic planters and flower frogs in her designs. What she could do with a few blooms and some leafy sprigs was simply amazing!

A close-up view of a variety of vintage flower frogs: two green round metal spiked ones, a round clear glass one, an oblonge green metal spiked one and a green ceramic vase one.

For those who aren’t familiar with flower frogs, they are an incredible invention, such a silly name but you’ll never forget it. They come in many forms including metal, glass, ceramic, and plastic. They are placed in wide-mouth vessels like planters, bowls, and pots. Flower frogs hold stems or branches in the right spot when designing a flower arrangement. I’m obsessed with the vintage ones! They make me smile and bring back happy memories.

A vintage aqua blue McCoy planter with a round glass flower frog inside of it. There are two round green metal flower frogs, and greenery in the background.
A vintage ceramic aqua blue McCoy planter with an oblong metal flower frog inside of it. Also displayed are two green metal flower frogs and greenery.
A close-up view of an aqua McCoy round planter with a round glass flower frog and sprigs of leaves in the holes.
A vintage aqua McCoy planter with a mettal flower frog inside with sprigs on leaves in the spikes of the holder.

I am so blessed to have been brought up with such an appreciation and LOVE for flowers. I confess I’m not the greatest gardener so I do buy fresh bunches weekly! However, from time to time I do get a chance to bring in my homegrown blooms from my own yard! I really enjoy the process of arranging them and having them around. Sometimes I’m simple and use a drinking glass, and other times I’m more creative and use a vintage planter with a frog. No matter how I display them FLOWERS bring such abundant cheer to me and my home!

A close-up view of vintage ceramic aqua colored planters, flower pots, bowls and a flower frog vase. Some pottery pictured is McCoy.
A close-up view of an aqua McCoy planter with a flower arrangement of three giant white mums and peonie leaves.
A close-up view of an aqua McCoy round planter with three large magenta blooms arranged in it, along with greenery.

To this day my favorite flowers are giant mums, spider mums, and peonies. Every time I make an arrangement I think of my beautiful memories of grandma and mom. They both taught me the necessity of bringing the outdoors in, and that flora is our friend! So as we near mid-May, I encourage you to try some flower arranging of your own. Indulge yourself! Try vintage planters with frogs, or use a simple drinking glass. It’s the perfect time of year with such wonderful varieties and colors all around us! So let’s get springy! Let’s get flowery! And most of all, let’s get HOMEY!

A close-up of a peonie bush with large magenta blooms and spring green leaves.
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