A Little Touch Goes a Long Way

                                                                                                                                                                         Kathy Wirtala Photo

A little touch can go a long way to brighten your home and add to its warmth. This is simply 1 red tulip with 1 small piece of seeded eucalyptus in my favorite little bird vase.  Each time I use it, I think of the friend who gave it to me - the best part!

Valentine's Tulips!

Before the red roses arrive from your sweetheart, get into the spirit of the holiday with gorgeous red tulips.  This is a very simple arrangement of about twenty tulips that will brighten any spot in your home. See how below.

                                                                                                                               Kathy Wirtala Photo

The Promise of Spring!

The Dining Room Table

                                                                                                                                          Kelly Johnson Photo



                    Kelly Johnson Photo

I did this early spring arrangement for Kelly Johnson's dining room table for a Luncheon Meeting.  It was a cold, damp, dreary day in January, so we needed a breath of spring.   There is nothing that conveys the promise of spring more than tulips.  I love to use them with bare branches, as a reminder that winter is still with us.  I chose Kelly's rose medallion porcelain bowl for the arrangement. Proportionately, this bowl is a great size for Kelly's dining room table and the arrangement didn't overwhelm the simple menu of quiche, salad and ham biscuits.  I used orange and salmon flowers, as I'd been shopping the day before and saw these colors everywhere, clearly the "it" color for spring.  These colors also go beautifully with Kelly's decor. 

Christmas Candlelight Tour 2011, Historic Fredericksburg Foundation

I led the decorating team for 404 Hanover Street, the circa 1842 home of Gaynelle and Courtney Scott, for the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Christmas Candlelight Tour.  The stately home, filled with early Virginia and New England antiques, was the perfect setting for simple decorations with a bounty of fresh, local greenery.  We had a fabulous team working on this house, with members of the Ann Page Garden Club - Andi Gabler, Laura Ann Cline, Alice Nuckols, Lana Kelsey, Martha Manner-Brown, Sue Moorefield, Carol Evans, Leslie Campbell, Sharon Fick, Sharon Null, and Rita Campbell; and friends and family, Tina Egge, Betsy Kiley, Sarah Hall and Gaynelle's sister-in-law, Susanna Jett.  Gaynelle and Courtney Scott were gracious, kind and generous throughout the process.  We had such fun and the results were perfect for this house.  I was thrilled to support HFFI in this way!  My daughter, Khaki Valentine, took all of these pictures.

Welcome to 404 Hanover Street

                                                                                         Khaki Valentine Photo
Tina Egge, Betsy Kiley and Sarah Hall wrapped the columns and framed the front door with the beautiful cedar garland that I bought at the wholesale florist. They then embellished the garland with nandina, magnolia and cryptomeria.

Wreath Workshop at Stratford Hall, December 2011

                            Make your own fresh wreath with greens from Stratford Hall

Join Betsy Valentine at Stratford on December 7!

What better way to launch the holiday season! Join Betsy Stuart Valentine at the Barns at Stratford for a workshop to design and create your own traditional wreath using seasonal, native plant material cut on the plantation. We'll have fruit, bows, and other traditional decorations to enhance your natural wreath. Suitable for beginners to advanced. Join your friends for a fun way to start the holiday and take home your own wreath!

Wreath Workshop

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

                                                                      $35.00 for Friends of Stratford

$40.00 for non-members

All proceeds benefit Stratford Hall

Workshop with Limelight Hydrangeas - August 2011

Christine Morin Photo

Betsy Valentine

Invites you to a

Flower Arranging Workshop

Arranging with Limelight Hydrangeas! 

Thursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12, 2011

810 Caroline Street

Mezzanine Level - Upstairs from Jabberwocky

Downtown Fredericksburg

Limelights from my garden conditioned and ready to go! I have 19 limelight hydrangea bushes.  I cut all the hydrangeas and other flowers the morning before the workshop, put them in lukewarm water immediately after cutting and kept them in a cool place until the workshop.  I put the water up to their necks and cut each stem at a slant, or split the stems of some of the thicker hydrangea stems. Woody stems may be split or smashed with a hammer to let in the most water. Plant material should always be cut at least 8 hours before arranging. Don't take shortcuts with conditioning your flowers. If you do, all your hard work may be a waste when your flowers don't hold up beyond the first day. 
My daughter, Khaki, helped me with this workshop and took all of the following pictures.

Workshop at Belle Plains, May 2011

Betsy Valentine

invites you to a

Flower Arranging Workshop

Just in Time for Summer Entertaining!

on

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

9:30 to 11:30 AM

in the Carriage House

at "Belle Plains"

the Home of Chris Morin

We'll be working in the Carriage House, so we will enjoy the beautiful Potomac River View in the midst of Chris' fabulous gardens!

Marnie Vanderpoel, Kathleen Edwards, Mary Elizabeth McManus and Maggie McCormack get down to work on their creations.  We made 2 arrangements that day. One was a casual grouping of a few flowers in a glass cylinder vase.  The other arrangement was a bouquet of bouquets - a centerpiece made up of multiple bouquets, wrapped in raffia, and given to each guest at the end of the party.  I found fabulous garden urns on sale at Hobby Lobby for the centerpiece.