It felt so amazing to make a special floral arrangement for my mom, to celebrate Mother’s Day. It was a gift for me to even have my hands on fresh flowers during quarantine. It has been a while! I swooped up some of her all-time favorite flowers: Lilacs, Roses and Dusty Miller.
I made a little quick-video to show how I put this all together, via Instagram.
The main arrangement is in a big, beautiful vessel for her bedroom. I filled it with water and used waterproof florist tape to criss-cross over the top so that the stems could hold up and be placed where I wanted them to go.
My color story was all about letting the lilacs be in the foreground, with hues of purple and silver. I used 18 or so “Deep Silver” roses that have touches of very pale purple, most all of the lilac branches I found in two different shades, one bunch in a deeper purple, and the other in a variegated paler tones, along with touches of the silvery-leaves of Dusty Miller, to add some layering rather than filler.
The last time I had my hands on fresh blooms outside my yard at home, were the bunches of ranunculus I ordered from my supplier for my daughter’s sweet 16 – first day of Spring – so yes, that also happened to be during the stay-at-home orders. The very next day, my regular floral supplier had to shut down because of the COVID-19 regulations. Since March, many of my family members and friends have had quarantine birthdays that were celebrated apart.
Mother’s Day seems like another compromise, but not really. Not when it comes to these flowers. Nonna’s health and safety is of the upmost importance to us during this strange time we are living through. Celebrating her and making sure she feels cherished with some of her favorite flowers, is a treat for all of us. Her happiness is ours.
When I went out early in the morning to pick up the flowers, before anyone except for my husband was up in the house. I didn’t tell her where I was going or what I was doing. I run errands on my own anyway. She probably thought I needed to get groceries when she heard me leave. Anyway, I come home and my mom is wearing a top that goes with the color of the flowers! How could this be any more amazing and cute?! I couldn’t hide the bunches from her, and she’s like me and never assumes anything is for ourselves, so it was a surprise when I went outside, put them together and then brought her to the finished product. She was so happy. She absolutely loves them. She keeps telling me that I outdid myself. Nothing is too special or too beautiful for my mom. I would give her the whole world if I could but for her, my love and friendship is more than enough.
I’m excited to see how the arrangement develops, as the roses blossom. I didn’t have the opportunity to get them to open up after unpacking and cleaning them, because I wanted my mom to enjoy her flowers as soon as possible.
These roses are pretty amazing because their color adapts to the light. They have a very slight, pale purple tone that are absolutely gorgeous. Here’s the same rose in different light, in the same sitting.
I like taking a closer look at the lilacs. I made a little vase for my mom to enjoy in her bathroom too. And with clippings, I made a similar size for my daughter’s bedroom.
The lilac branches are so gorgeous! I love working with them, and the way they can drape down or turn up. Their fragrance and little individual buds are stunning.
On their own, I think I like the darker lilacs a little more. Together is the best. I’m beyond thrilled that my mom gets to enjoy them!
To all of the mothers out there, I just want to say that you are loved and cherished. Happy Mother’s Day!
No one could ever put into words what this takes, within every single stage of motherhood. All we can do is keep trying and caring, if we hope to be any good at it. That’s all anyone, including myself could ever ask for in a mom. I know that I’ve been growing up, and learning, and changing, right alongside the people I was destined to have as my own children and even step-child, and in my roles as daughter to my own mom. This time is ever-evolving and I can’t sit still anyway.
