Ella Fitzgerald's melodious rendition
of the Kern/Mercer classic waxes
eloquently about nostalgic orientation,
yet most eschew anything passé. In
our search for fashion, we overtly
strive for chic. However at times we
have limited access to botanic exotics.
Hence my only choice may hail from
the corner shop supermarket, or FTD
florist's refrigerated case, Most offer
familiar floral fare. Stolid standards
that last long and don't smell. It's no
wonder they've fallen out of favor.
What's odd is that I don't find such
limitations a problem. Rather than
rebel, I channel Constance Spry
and celebrate these tried and true
blossoms from the past. The fact
is having fresh flowers at home is
considered posh in most parts. No
longer do I worry whether Renny
or L'Olivier might wilt at the site
of my centerpiece. Now it's just
about making my guests feel a bit
special and not keeping up with
the latest floral frenzy.
I adore roses and while the old
varieties are most fragrant, I'm
perfectly happy with the long
stemmed beauties. Two dozen
grouped en masse in a rose bowl
create a lovely focal point on my
table. One Christmas I used red
to great effect and while not chic,
they certainly made a statement.
Usually I stay with the one variety
and color. However occasionally
I mix in tea roses of a subtle shift
in tone for a charming effect.
I'm also a fan of Carnations. I adore
their sweet peppery scent and find
the miniature variety gathered by a
common tone quite suitable. Often
deemed funereal, Gladioli grouped
in a proper vase can be quite elegant.
Again I've found that if you stick to
one tone, you can arrange a mix of
these hot house varieties into rather
spectacular bouquet. Certainly not
fashionable, they're oddly charming
in a nostalgic way. I may be old but
I love remembrances of times past.
Back in Montana, cottage gardens
sport viable varieties. Peonies are
able to survive the harsh winters
as are lilacs. The Passion Pit has
two huge bushes which bloom in
the deepest violet I've ever seen!
Their fragrance wafts on a gentle
breeze to create pure heaven. As
equally charming are hollyhocks,
daisies, sweet peas, delphiniums,
zinnias, or other classics in bloom.
Somehow we forgot the simplest
of things. Now we're floral snobs!
If liking all of the above means I'm
out of date then so be it! What was
good enough for Wallis Simpson is
fine for me! Before everything was
shipped from South America we
made do with hot house stock or
artificial posies. Exotics were rare
because all had limited geographic
or seasonal access. In my opinion,
instantaneous gratification ruined
many things including flowers. It's
time to stop and smell the roses...