Artful arrangements

When I was in Austin a few weeks ago, we visited a graffiti park. If you're familiar with that city, you'll relate to their motto: Keep Austin Weird. It's a great place to revel in the offbeat and marvel at the creativity that flows like water through a swollen river.

At the park I noticed that not even the plant life in the area was spared from the spray can (above). The whimsical colors sprinkled on the petals, like Fantasia fairy dust, sparked a few ideas in my own brain. I thought about creating floral centerpieces with whatever flowers could be gathered in nature. Scooping up all manner of foliage and florals, be they desirables or weeds, then dotting them with various colors and arranging them in vases might look fantastic.

It may also prove to be a less expensive floral centerpiece option, since all that's needed are a few paint colors, a willingness to pick flowers, and the patience to arrange them so that they look their best.

Why not give it a try? Got a few cans of spray paint hanging around your garage? Have access to perennials, annuals, or even weeds? Try your hand at creating your own artful arrangement. I'm going to give it a shot. If it looks okay, I'll include it in an upcoming post!

Dandy dandelions

Having been away for the past few weeks, I arrived home last week to discover my lawn inundated with dandelions. Taking to the yard with my spray bottle filled with white vinegar, and my mouth spitting vitriol about weeds that masquerade as flowers, my neighbor dropped by to ask about my cross-country trip.

"It's a shame you're getting rid of the dandelions," he said.

I looked at him, sure I'd misheard him. "What?" I asked.

"The dandelions, I just love them," he said. "They look so nice, popping up in the yard."

I took my finger off the spray-bottle trigger and tried to see the weeds the way he did. "Really?" I asked. All I saw were weeds marring an otherwise uniform green expanse.

"Yeah, I've always loved them. They're so cheery."

That's when his words hit home: One woman's weed was another man's precious flower. I stopped spritzing the yard and went inside with a good book, realizing if I didn't stress so much over what I envisioned as the "perfect weed-free yard," I'd have a heck of a lot more time to catch up on my reading. I have a list a mile long of personal must-reads.

The dandelions continued to grace the grass with their festive yellow blossoms. I remembered that my daughter's favorite color was yellow. I smiled and realized--yet again--it's all in how you look at it: weed or wondrous little flower, determined to thrive despite being (almost) universally hated.

At that moment a chubby little gopher waddled across my yard--eating every dandelion in his path!!! I stared in disbelief as he meticulously made his way from one golden bud to another, until he'd eaten every last one. Then, bypassing my hostas, he wandered off my yard, presumably searching for dandelions at my neighbor's place.

I looked back at my green lawn and let out a small sigh. Yes, balance was restored. And it took no effort on my part. I just let nature figure it out. I've gotta admit, I'm a long way from truly admiring the dogged dandelion. But I've got very little time to ponder that--I've just cracked the spine on a book I've been wanting to read for ten years!