Oops — we let our monthly budget-blooms tradition slide for a bit. But look what I found thriving in the wild patch that is our front lawn:
Let me channel my best nature-show narrator: The air is still. No obvious predators. Something stirs in the brush. A buzzard circles above. Somewhere in the distance a lion gives a mighty roar. Wait — that’s just a baby crying. And just like that I’m back to being me.
I don’t know the botanical name for these — I’m no flower expert — but “Purple Ring Pops” felt right, so that’s the name I’ve been using. At first I simply admired them from the driveway, then I decided to clip a few stems to bring indoors and enjoy more often. Here are a few cuttings lounging on the back of our living-room console table.
Side note: Everything looks a little chicer with a white cardboard rhino in the background (we picked one up a while back).
This vase probably gets used more than any other in the house — it’s from Crate & Barrel and I’ve had it for a few years. Pink and purple together might sound like it could tip into unicorn territory, but somehow the pairing works.
Any idea what these flowers are called for real? Have you stumbled across mystery blooms in a field, at a farmers’ market, in a grocery store, or growing in your yard? I always debate whether to leave flowers outside where they brighten the garden, or snip a few stems to bring into the house where I spend more time. My rule of thumb is usually to admire them outside for a couple days, then I can’t resist bringing some cuttings in. Also — these photos were taken before we swapped our frames this morning, but it took me longer to write this post than it took John to finish his project. Maybe we should add Overachiever to his list of nicknames: John Overachiever Danger Soda Petersik. It has a nice ring to it.
Psst — Want to see past budget-blooms posts from previous months and years? We’ve shared lots of simple bouquets over time that celebrate small, everyday flowers. It’s always fun to look back on the little bursts of color that made their way into our home.