Two things I've been doing this week:
1. Freebasing on Dutch and Flemish still life paintings at work, thumbing my nose at things like "deadlines" and "responsibilities" which can only be bad for the spirit and not as much fun as stripey flowers.
2. Ordering bare root roses online, laughing in the face of "space restrictions" on our very modest, 4'x16' balcony and "safety measures" like "easily accessible fire escapes."
I can't help it. Around this time of year I start to go batshit crazy and, like Cassie, spend more time than is healthy browsing through the temptations at Whiteflower Farm. BEHOLD my latest acquisitions: Rosa Scentimental (top) and Rosa Strawberry Hill (bottom), which will live next to Lady Emma Hamilton, Graham Thomas, and Benjamin Britten (all of whom look ghastly on the David Austin website so you'll have to trust me that they are glorious). I'm sure the neighbors, who share our fire escape, won't mind getting burned to a crisp so I can enjoy the gorgeous scent of my beautiful English roses.
Hans Bollongier, "Still Life With Flowers" - 1639 (top)
Rachel Ruysch, "Still Life With Flowers on a Marble Tabletop" - 1716 (bottom)
