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Friday, July 12, 2013

{GARDENIA PASSION}

On June 12, I did manage to cut our last Gardenia blossoms. They lived a miserable life with all the heavy rain, turning brown on their edges. But they were gorgeous and they tried so hard to be beautiful; regardless the environment. So I did use them for two of our dinners as table decoration. Let me share these gorgeous blossoms with you; too bad I cannot recreate their heavenly fragrance for you to enjoy...
Such a spiraling bliss with heavenly fragrance...
These still look fine; not all got browned from the rain, depending where they were on the shrub.
For our dining room table I used this large oval Wedgwood  Cream Color on Cream Color vase.
Here you see more of the browning from the rain.
The square Wedgwood Cream Color on Cream Color vase I used for the round kitchen table.
Our Gardenias consist of different varieties and here you see our Aimee Yoshioka; the largest one.
Full of yummy pollen for the bees.
Showing this Aimee Yoshioka next to my hand, close to the kitchen bay window for more light on a rainy day.
This is really a LARGE BLOOM!
Together with these wax candles (battery operated) they make a perfect centerpiece...
Just setting the table near our kitchen bay window,  for you to see.
When I did host the dinner for 12, I might have had better gardenias but NO time on hand for making any photos... 
Old vintage linen damask tablecloth with roses and new French napkins from Le Jacquard Français with roses.
French Baccarat Piccadilly stemware
Gero Zilmeta 528 Menuet flatware
Silver napkin ring holder from Kotagede, Indonesia
Plates are French Pillivuyt Sancerre
from GeorgiaWeather Rainfall Calculator
From April 19 (when we left for our Curaçao vacation) till July 9, we had 37 Rainy Days with a total Precipitation of 17.15 inch or 43.6 cm.
No wonder that Gardenias do show brown edges...
By the way, IKEA is selling Gardenia jasminoides as potting plants! In the US, The Netherlands and in Germany and probably other  countries as well. It's the small variety but still the same fragrance!

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49 comments:

  1. Of all the flowers in the world ... this is my favorite! Yours are lovely, in spite of a little rain damage.

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Helen,
      Oh sure, the Gardenia would deserve a lovely poem done by you! It is to me one of the most exotic flowers, together with the jasmine...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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    2. ... not a real poster/billboard .. just some creative tinkering by yours truly. Thank you .. I'm glad you like it. Night, night.

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  2. Hi Mariette, your photos are lovely! Very gorgeous and creative.

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    1. Dearest Linda,
      Despite the rain, we treasured all the blossoms we got. The fragrance is no less and the little browning we took with a smile.
      Thanks for your visit.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  3. they're still gorgeous, even if it wasn't their best year!

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    1. Dearest Theresa,
      You're right about that and it looks almost like being human as we also have better and less good years.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  4. GORGEOUS brown traces and all. Truly beauties and a brilliant gift from Mother Nature. Love the way you arranged them. Hugs and blessings, C. (HHL)

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    1. Dearest Celia,
      They are like a gift from Heaven with their beauty and fragrance combined! Such exotic beauties; especially the large ones.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  5. I can smell them from here. I have them growing and I love them.
    Hugs

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Kay,
      Good for you; they are absolutely heavenly!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  6. Dearest Marieette,
    your Gardenia is georgeous! How big those flowers are... and I know, how lovely they smell!
    A nice decoration on each table :O)
    Have a happy week,
    Love and hugs
    Claudia

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      Oh, for table decoration you cannot find a better flower. But would you believe, there are those that complain about their fragrance...?
      Hugs and enjoy your summer week. We just have to get used to the wet life.
      Mariette

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  7. Liebe Mariette,

    das schenkt viel Freude.
    Alles Gute
    Elisabeth

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    Replies
    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Ja es schenkt uns auf jedem Fall sehr viel Freude; auch mit Regenwetter!
      Lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

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  8. Ik kan ze bijna ruiken ...wat een mooie zeg !!!....liefs van mij.,.,x !

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    Replies
    1. Ja Ria, de ultimate corsage bloem voor een huwelijk!
      Liefs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  9. Dear Mariette,

    How pretty your gardenias are and know how heavenly the fragrance must be and they decorate your table beautifully.
    My camellias have just started to flower and we have had rain and the same thing has happened for me, some of the flowers have gone brown on the edges.

    Happy Thursday
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Carolyn,
      We cannot control Mother Nature and we have to harvest what she leaves us for any blooming season. Camellias too are very sensitive to rain! But anyhow, you still can enjoy their beauty. They are like us; not every day is a peak day in life.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  10. They look beautiful, I have never seen them in reality, only in pictures or movies. The table looks very stylish with the wedgewood.

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    1. Dearest Marianne,
      You can even buy them at IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/nl/nl/catalog/products/56804359/
      For only € 5,50 you get a potplant of 25 cm tall!
      Oh, this is such a bliss for having them. Thanks for liking the vintage Wedgwood pieces. They blend so well with Gardenia jasminoides.
      Hugs to you,
      Mariette

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  11. Liebe Mariette,
    wer die Gardenien einmal riechen durfte, wird den Duft
    nie wider vergessen. Wundrvolle Fotos hast du für uns
    bereitgestellt. Danke dafür.
    Einen schönen Tag wünscht Dir
    Irmi

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    Replies
    1. Liebe Irmi,
      Ja die Gardenie ist himmlisch und ist bei euch in Deutschland auch bei IKEA im verkauf für € 6,99 http://www.ikea.com/at/de/catalog/products/56804359/
      Das ist dann nicht die grosse Sorte aber den gleichen Geruch!
      Lieber Gruss,
      Mariette

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  12. le gardenie sono comunque bellissime!!!!!! un abbraccio Lory

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    Replies
    1. Cara Lory,
      Le gardenie sono sempre bellissime anche quando hanno un bordo marrone.
      Penso che anche IKEA in Italia vendele.
      Baci,
      Mariette

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  13. Dearest Mariette,
    They still look gorgeous in spite of the rain! That slightly weathered look gives them a special charme! And your dinner table for sure looked amazing... your dinner guests must have been delighted!
    I hope you get some sunshine soon, and get to sit outside in your wonderful gazebo!
    Sending sunny hugs from the Alps! :)

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Anna,
      Oh, those Gardenias never really loose their charm no matter what weather they encounter. It makes for a lovely dinner table setting.
      For the entire month of July the humid weather with lots of thunderstorms continues. But we still have till end of November for enjoying our gazebo and balcony. Even in winter time it can be lovely. We look positive at the future.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  14. Replies
    1. Cara Daniela,
      Sì, che odora di profumo. E IKEA li vende anche da vaso...
      Baci,
      Mariette

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  15. Yes we have had way too much rain this year. So sorry your gardenia suffered badly. But they sure are beautiful. I love the creamy white color. With the vase, they kind of look like cake :-)

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    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Love your sentence about the creamware vase that makes them look like cake! So true in a way. Today I made my rounds through the wood garden and did check for any more blossoms but they're gone for now. Maybe later in the fall they will reward us with blossoms.
      Hugs to you and yes, every day we got our thunderstorm; just had one...
      Mariette

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  16. Dearest Mariette,
    Gardenia lived a miserable life with all the heavy rain!
    The square wedywood cream color vase for the kitchen table.
    Your Gardenias consist of different varieties see Aimee Yoshida's largest one.
    You had better gardenias but no hope of any photos.
    Old vintage linen damask table cloth with roses LeJckward with roses most exotic flowers too.
    Hugs to you!
    Michiko

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Michiko,
      You are doing well with practicing words and I am very proud of you! This is the best exercise for the brain and what better subject than lovely gardenias with their heavenly scent. Wishing you well dear friend and keep going forward. Look at what Celia from High Heeled Life has accomplished; there is HOPE.
      A tight hug to you,
      Mariette

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  17. la gardenia è un fiore dal profumo inebriante :) mi piace tantissimo, inoltre è adatta per arredare in maniera molto chic ogni angolo di casa :) un bacione e ti auguro un bellissimo fine settimana!!

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    1. Cara Elly,
      Sì, il profumo delle Gardenie è anche il mio profumo preferito. Divertente che IKEA Italia offre anche questo Gardenie in vasi. Sono un sogno...
      Baci e anche un bellissimo fine settimana.
      Mariette

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  18. Un fiore delicato, spesso lo si vede all'occhiello di uno sposo pronto per andare all'altare. La gardenia è deliziosa, rende elegante un giardino o anche un piccolo angolo di un terrazzo. E' davvero un fiore splendido. Paola

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    1. Cara Paola,
      Una gardenia può donare sulla gioia ancora più piccola balcone e l'odore è davvero il paradiso! Come da sposa corpetto è un sogno...
      Baci,
      Mariette

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  19. Cara Valeria,
    Grazie a farmi visita. Sì Gardenie sono un sogno.
    Baci,
    Mariette

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  20. Hi Mariette, I just love Gardenias. The scent is so beautiful. Your bouquet is stunning even with the weather keeping them from their best. The bowl you have them in is gorgeous.

    So sorry to read your sweet fur baby has passed. It is hard, but they stay forever in our hearts.
    Thank you for stopping by and your kind comment on my post for WBC.
    Have a wonderful weekend and blessings to you always.
    Hugs, Celestina Marie

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Celestina Marie,
      Thanks for stopping by. Gardenias surely belong to the pleasures of life. As for the loss of our fur babies, yours and ours, it is tough but we did love them during their life with us together.
      Enjoy your weekend and hugs to you,
      Mariette

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  21. Gardenias are such amazing flowers and rare to find in tres lately. My Bil has a huge tree and I love to bring one at least, so I can smell the unique fragrance with heavenly bliss. Your table setting is lovely and the Wedwood base where the Gradenias rest is stunning my friend. The French linen and flatware make this table a total luxury! Thank you for your wonderful and generous visit. I just learn about the Wood Cadillacs use; around here this Wood it's not something Price prohibited at all. Have a terrific Summer weekend.
    FABBY

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  22. I meant VASE...typing error, lol
    FABBY

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Fabby,
      Thank you for your visit; always refreshing to exchange thoughts with you; we both ways learn! Gardenias ought to be available readily. Here in the USA and also in Europe, they are sold now by IKEA I learned. That is a smart move because who does NOT love them?
      Enjoy your summer weekend too!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  23. Replies
    1. Dearest Jo-Anne,
      Thank you; guess all people do love gardenias.
      Happy weekend.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  24. Mariette, I envy that rainfall chart. TX could definitely use some of that excess. Your gardenias are lovely. I've not had luck growing them, but your post makes me want to try again.

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    1. Dearest Sarah,
      Oh, we know the feeling of drought too, that was the case for 2010 and 2011. We lost so many plants, shrubs and trees...
      Gardenias are rather easy and even in a pot you can keep them.
      Happy weekend and hugs,
      Mariette

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  25. Your gardenia's are lovely, especially in the Wedgewood vases! I can only dream of having such beautiful blossoms, so I am admiring yours very much! xoxo

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    1. Dearest Karen,
      Thank you and yes, the Wedgwood vases do bring out their beauty even more so. You could have Gardenias in pots and bring them indoors for winter. IKEA sells them too.
      Hugs and enjoy your Sunday evening.
      Mariette

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Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...