After a very long and cold winter, it finally feels like spring is here in DC. Although spring officially arrived on March 20th, temperatures have been unseasonably cold. To welcome spring, I was going to show the early bulbs in our garden. But, alas, many have yet to bloom.

However, while in Europe a few weeks ago, I did come across really lovely floral arrangements. Some had unusual and interesting combinations of flowers and foliage. Others were simply but thoughtfully arranged. And many were readily available for purchase almost everywhere: flower boutiques, open-air markets and, even gas stations!

Welcome back, spring!!

Inside the 17th century town hall in historic Delft, Netherlands, I fell in love with this beautiful arrangement of pink amaryllis flowers, yellow tulips, craspedia pom poms, contorted filbert branches and wispy foliage of some sort (?).
 Look at these gorgeous pink ranunculus flowers for sale at a gas station. The quality is just superb. Something you won’t find in gas stations here in DC!
 At the flower market in Delft, I followed this local customer (in the chic black coat) from stall to stall. She knew all the vendors, and who had the best selections.
 Above and below: two bouquets in hot color combinations. Does anyone know what these large red flowers are (below)?
 Aren’t these cool color bouquets divine? I love the bit of wildness from the purple alliums.
 What a great idea to display little potted flowers in a wooden crate. Very charming! Totally copying that idea 🙂
 There were many flats of annuals and flowering perennials, including pristine hellebores, for sale at the Thursday open-air flower market in Delft. BTW, if you do not already have hellebores in your shade garden, go out and plant a bunch! I will share more on Delft and the Netherlands in a future post.
 At the very chic L’Atelier en Herbe located in front of Flamant on the Grand Sablon in Brussels, Belgium, you will find beautiful creations from florist Jean-Charles Harze.
Outside L’Atelier en Herbe was this display of magnolia branches and peony tulips.
And also window boxes with dramatic red and orange tulips.
 At the Paris flea markets, I couldn’t stop admiring and smelling these hyacinths bulbs displayed in vintage oversized glass jars. So simple and in such a nonchalant fashion.
 From the mysterious anemones to the exquisite painted armoire to the grand scaled console table, I loved everything in Thibault Nossereau’s shop.
And here are lilacs and hyacinths displayed with large tropical foliage outside a shop at the Paris flea markets.