I Got a Bike!

You guys! I got a bike! A mint green cruiser. Can it get anymore perfect than that? I just don't know. I have been wanting a bike for THE LONGEST time. My mom sent me a picture of this one and I debated and debated. The picture of it was on my laptop for about a week, I couldn't stop starring at it, so I finally took the plunge and bought it for myself. My boyfriend just moved next to a lake with a three mile trail circling the entire thing, so thats really the reason I bought it. So I can bike while he runs. I can't wait to get it over there. Also hoping to get it on the trail that runs from my little town out into the country side. I think THAT would be so much fun.

Outfit Details

Top || Kohls

Skirt & Shoes || Target

Belt & Necklace || Forever 21

Flora Focus || Rose

Roses are one of the most recognizable flowers around. Given in almost every occasion, from the most joyous of celebrations to days of condolences, always with a deeper meaning of love. The most common is the red rose, the classic symbol of love, but roses come in all shapes, sizes and colors. From large blooms with many showy petals to small blooms that only have five petals.

Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa spp. 

Flower: Hard to classify because they come in almost every color, have five or more petals, and most are fragrant. 

Leaf: Compound leaf with 3-9 leaflets. The margins have teeth.They turn yellow, orange, or red in the fall. 

Meaning: White- A heart unacquainted with love

                Pink- Grace

                Pale Peach- Modesty

                Burgundy- Unconscious Beauty

                Moss- Confession of Love

                Red- Love

                Purple- Enchantment

                Orange- Fascination

                Yellow-Infidelity

 

     

A rose can take on many different faces. They are shrubs and trees and can climb up trellises. Some produce rose hips that are commonly used in tea. There are gardens dedicated specifically to ornamental roses as well as cultivars bred to be cut flowers. The petals can be crushed and the oils used in perfumes and made into rose water used in cosmetics, cooking and medicine. 

Are there any rose gardens around your area that you visit often or have been wanting to visit? There is a rose garden very close to my boyfriends new place that I will hopefully be visiting very, very soon. 

Past Flora Focus Posts

• Anemone & Ranunculus
• Tulips
• Forget-Me-Not & Evergreen Candytuft
• Bluebells & Honesty        
• Lilac    
• Dogwood
• Balsamroot  
• Peony   
• Oriental Poppy 
• Yarrow & Lupin 
• Sweet peas
• Hydrangea

Let me know of any other rose gardens I should put on my must see list! Or any gardens in general at all!

xo

Sweater Love

I love being able to wear a sweater in the summer. I would much rather be on the cooler side than on the warmer side. You can only take off so much and you still wouldn't cool down. But you can always put more layers on and warm up when it is a little on the chilly side. Plus it is so much cozier. No one likes to sweat to just sitting there, that is completely uncomfortable. We have another heat wave coming in the northwest, so I apologize in advance for any complaining I do about the heat. Just a little while longer and fall will be here.

Outfit Details

Dress || Zara

Sweater || Kohls

Boots || Borrowed from Mom

Rings || Macys

Feels like Fall!

I am currently typing this with the wind blowing and rain falling at a constant rate outside my window. I could not be any happier. With that heat wave we just had, this rain is a VERY welcome sight. Last Saturday, my boyfriend and I went to the carnival that was in town to watch a hot air balloon glow. We got there around 9:00 pm, got these photos taken, walked around a little bit, played a little carnival game and went back to the car to put on more layers, grab our blankets and umbrella and head out to find our spot on the grass. As we were sitting there it started raining harder and harder and it became evident that there was going to be no balloon glow that night because of the rain and wind. I wasn't even mad or sad. I was so happy it was raining. The first rain in a very long time. Let me tell you, I cannot wait for fall. Constant rain, wind, storms, sweaters, pumpkins, apple cider, Halloween, changing leaves, crisp air, tights and boots. Im ready.

Outfit Details

Dress || Ruche (Now on Sale!)

Jacket || Nordstrom

Shoes || Vans

Flora Focus || Hydrangea

When Hydrangeas are planted in the right location, come mid summer they are nothing but a big wall of color. They produce the largest blooms of bright blues, pinks, purples and white. A little fun fact about this shrub is that the flower changes color depending on the soil that it is planted in. When planted in acidic soil (pH below 6), the flower will be closer to blue and when planted in alkaline soil (pH above 6), the flower will be more pink. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Hydrangea
Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
Flower: Large clusters of brightly colored flowers. Comes in white, pink, blue and purple.
Leaf: Large oval leaf coming to a point with serrated edges.
Meaning: dispassion

7 Florists and Flower Farmers to Follow on Instagram

My Instagram and Facebook feed has slowly started to become nothing but flowers. Photos of flower farms, bouquets, arrangements and more flowery goodness. Since I have been blogging more about flowers on Pretty Lovely, a lot of you have expressed interest in learning more about florals and floral arranging. I'd thought I would start by filling your Instagram with some of my favorite florists and flower farmers on social media to give you some inspiration to maybe plant your own flowers or start cutting some from your own garden.

Floret

One of my favorite people to follow. Her photos are complete gorgeousness full of flowers and flower fields taken at sunset. If you only follow one person from this list, make Floret be the one.
Website
Blog
Instagram

Saipua

Saipua travels the world creating wild arrangements for every occasion.
Website
Blog || Farm Blog
Instagram

3 Porch Farm & Moonflower Design

A flower farm and a design studio by the same couple. Follow their farm account to see what life on a flower farm is like and the design account to see what they create.
3 Porch Farm Website || Moonflower Design Website
Farm Blog || Flower Blog 
3 Porch Farm Instagram || Moonflower Design Instagram

Field to Vase

This is a blog that highlights farmers and florists all over the country. This is a really good account to follow if you want to learn more about the local flower movement and meet lots of other farmer florists.
Website
Blog
Instagram

Amy Merrick

Think wildflowers found in the fields of her families old farmhouse in New Hampshire. Dreamy photographs.
Website
Blog 
Instagram

Love n Fresh Flowers

Another farmer florist that creates large, lush, wild bouquets and arrangements from farm fresh flowers.
Website
Blog 
Instagram

Verbena Florist

A mother-daughter duo farming and designing on a small one acre plot. Sounds like a dream.
Website
Blog 
Instagram

All of these farmers and designers have THE MOST gorgeous photos ever. Which is obviously why I am sharing their sites with you. They are experts at their craft and will leave you wanting your own flower farm and studio. They did it to me.
Grab something to drink and have fun exploring today. You won't regret it.
Thanks for reading!
xo

Small Town USA

I love small towns. This is a little tiny neighborhood out in the country of my little town. This little nook comes complete with a little picnic area and a cute little white church with the big steeple. Could it get anymore perfect. The houses are old farmhouse style houses with big porches and huge yards. Lots of little knick-knacks in the yard and big gardens. I would love to just walk around the yards of these places but that is frowned upon and may be a little bit creepy. So I'm stuck admiring from the other side of the white picket fences.

Outfit Details

Dress || Modcloth

Vest || Thrifted

Shoes || Target

Bracelets || Handmade & Kohls