Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Southern Exposure: European Bird Nest

What, you may ask, is a European birds nest? Well, as far as I can see, it looks like any other! But that was the title of our Southern Exposure project. 


Three of us returned to Southern Exposure for another evening of garden walk, dinner and creative project (aka European Bird Nest). The trouble was, none of us could figure out what the project would be, which was described as .... 

"Bird's Nest in Faux Dogwood" 
Using a large permanent botanical dogwood, we will twist and create a beautiful door or wall decoration. 
Complete with a birds nest adorned with spring accents."


But we knew it would be fun -- and more likely than not, end up pretty. And with that in mind, we enjoyed our walk through the garden.


The tulips were in full force. I don't know how they do it there -- my tulips are still buds.


But these seemed to be large and endless!


I loved this woodland poppy, too. Scott said "Just pull some out to take home on your way out" but by then it was dark. 

 

Maybe on the next visit I'll bring a trowel and a bucket!


The bleeding heart plants were enormous. These were a real treat.


My grandmother had a large bush of them at their farm and I always associate these sweet plants with her.


I've tried to grow them and this year my plants came up and actually are flowering. But nothing like this!


I am such a sucker for trillium. These were in full flower!

 

In my last post I spent quite a lot of time in the greenhouse and this time we did the same.


They change it up. It looked completely different from two weeks ago. I loved this huge collection of pansies in a giant strawberry pot.


And this one, too.


While they'd kept the "succulent shoes" in place with the blue jar from last time, new things were added.

 

I'm very fond of these electric candles in planters. They don't sell them there and I haven't been able to find any -- but I keep looking!

 

And the lighted sphere looked great beside these ceramic leaves outside the gift shop.

 

The gazebo was lit with fairy lights.

 

And the classic car posing, just for us! 


As beautiful as the gardens were, it was pretty cold and windy during our visit so it was delightful to come inside to a beautifully set table, chicken with gorgonzola sauce, fresh asparagus, a caprese salad, wine and bread. I passed on the apple pie a la mode (regretfully!)


Then it was off to the craft tent for projects time. This is what we saw when we entered. A little intimidating, no?


Even the Southern Exposure chickens, Bette and Joan, were keeping their distance!

 

And these supplies were at our places.


We began by stripping the willow, clipping off branches and wiring them together and then adding the dogwood. Kate mastered it!


We also made a wee bird's nest from birch twigs and moss and added three small eggs. (Having trouble uploading that photo -- I'll try later!) The end result in class...


...and on my wall at home!


It was a fun project and looks cheerful and happy! Now, if only I could find these candles!

No complaints on my end! Now I'm looking forward to making a "Lighted Conservatory" on my next visit!



46 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time at Southern Exposure. It's really beautiful there, and on top of that good food and the opportunity to create - wow! Love your creation, but I'm still wondering what the difference between an American and a European bird's nest is.....Hope you are getting enough rest! Hugs, Valerie

Cat Lover said...

What a gorgeous place to visit, have lunch and make a project. Yours turned out beautifully.
I popped over from Deb's "Just cats" blog. Glad I did!
Have a wonderful day!
Robin

Deb said...

What a beautiful post. And that greenhouse....my goodness! :)

Anne said...

Hi Jeanie. Google electric candles. Lots turn up.

As usual, you knock it out of the ballpark with another Southern Exposure post.

Preppy Empty Nester said...

So glad that you are doing well after your surgery, Jeanie! Your photos are gorgeous. Looks like a fun time had by all.

The Happy Whisk said...

Truly lovely photos on this post and now I'm wondering ... how many I can eat. How many are edible? Fun stuff.

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Oh what a fun place and those beautiful flowers blooming all over. The meal looks so good, and I am sure it tasted great. I loved the project that you worked on and it looks really good on your wall.

I sure we had a place like that here. Enjoy your recovery time.

Hugs,
Mary

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Such a beautiful place and what a fun crafting time. Dinner sound delish!

Pom Pom said...

How fun! You took some gorgeous photos!
I wonder if you could find some solar powered candles on Amazon.

Sally Wessely said...

Southern Exposure is absolutely a delight even to us here at home. Can you imagine what fun it would be to create all those scenarios?

I really like the wall hanging you created. I had several corkscrew willows that grew next to my home in Utah. The branches always fascinated me. I could have created a cool wall hanging if I'd been a bit more creative. Sigh...

Hope you are continuing to heal well.

Marilyn Miller said...

Their plants are amazing and beautiful. Love the project too, what a terrific idea. I use to have candle lights similar to those, but just thought of them for sitting in the window. Not sure if I still have them, but I love the idea to put them in a planter like that. Now curious to know if I still have them.

Bella Rum said...

My goodness, Southern Exposure is the most beautiful place. It must be inspiring to go there. I bought a bleeding heart the other day. I hope it does well. Those pink tulips were pretty. Our tulips are long gone down here.

My name is Erika. said...

European or not, I think that was a beautiful project. I want to visit this place, or one like it. No, I think I want to move in. :) Hope all is well. Hugs-Erika

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

It has to be SO therapeutic as well as FUN to be in a place like this. As I look at the photos, especially of the gazebo, I am reminded of my own home and garden, and how I long to spend time here when school is over. I have a bit of cleaning up to do and preparing my covered deck, but once it's done, I hope to spend many sunny days there, dreaming. Jeanie, what a PLACE!

Patio Postcards said...

I felt like I was there with you at Southern Exposure. Hi, I'm visiting from Deb's Just Cats ... your card to Annie is lovely. I have seen those electric candles in the Christmas lights aisle. Good luck with that search. Mary-Lou

Joanne Huffman said...

Lovely project. I have to admit, the menu made me hungry - sounds fabulous. Amazon has lots of electric candles.

La Table De Nana said...

I love that place!! Costco had great battery candles..pillars..they flicker..love them..atmosphere:)Of course I have a thing for the chickens too;)

Pam said...

What a cool looking place. Love the flowers, enjoyed my tour with you. Thanks.

Lynne said...

Looks like something I must do . . .
Fitting it in next year . . . remind me please.
Bet NE will tell you where to purchase the candles.
Look like ones I find during the holidays . . .
We placed one in the garden house window and it was still lit two months later.
Would I ever love to create a candle flower sanctuary near the garden house . . .
So charming, all of this . . . and lunch too . . . oh my!

Mary Rose's said...

Love the way you document your visits to Southern Exposure. For me, it's like being a little bird on your shoulder.

XOXOX. Maryanne

Bonnie said...

The candles look just like those I used to use in my windows at Christmas. They have to have an electrical outlet or they are battery operated. Looks like they put moss on top of them. I took a bag full to the Mission a few years ago.
Hoping your recovery is going well. My husband had to watch the fats for a while. Glad it's over for you.
Your outing at Southern Exposure looks nice. Love the hay bales for tables.
The statuary and flowers in the garden are so lovely.

Victoria Zigler said...

Sounds like another wonderful time was had by all... The projects from there always sound like so much fun to do!

Red Rose Alley said...

The little bird nest on your door is so charming, Jeanie. This is such a lovely place and so peaceful. I think my favorite picture was the gazebo with fairy lights. I enjoyed looking at all the flowers as well. You have many different flowers than ours here. Your woodland poppy is way different than our orange California poppy, which is our state flower. But the pansies will always be pansies, won't they? Thanks for sharing your day with us, Jeanie.

~Sheri

Rita C at Panoply said...

I love that place (Southern Exposure) and anything and everything you share from there, Jeanie. I wish we had something similar around here. Neat project, too.

shoreacres said...

When I googled "LED tapers," I found candles that look exactly like the ones in your photo. As so often happens, it's the search term that makes the difference. "Candles" didn't turn them up, but "tapers" did.

Those tulips are gorgeous. I do miss tulips, too.

Jenny Woolf said...

As ever, this place looks wonderful. And now it is absolutely spring like! I particularly like the pink tulips and I have resolved to plant more tulips next year myself - they always give me such a buzz when they come out.

Carol @ The Red Painted Cottage said...

I love your bird's nest! Your photos of the beautiful flowers helped to brighten this dreary, wet day in Ann Arbor for me today. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

Barbara said...

I love this place. It is such fun to find places that do dinner and a craft or DIY. Your final arrangement looks great too.

Jennifer Richardson said...

I love this place:)
And that you get to visit and create beauty to take home there.
And that they feed you deliciousness!
What a way to spend a day:)
Glad:)
Happy May,
Jennifer

The French Hutch said...

This I'm sure was a wonderful event. Such lovely blooming plants, love the bleeding hearts. Your menu sounds delicious and love your finished project. I know you had a great time from the big smile........

Joyful said...

Absolutely beautiful seeing all the wonderful colour in the flowers. Just wonderful. You brightened my day :-)

Kitty said...

I envy you having a place like Southern Exposure. It, with its beautiful resources, and you, with your creativity, are a perfect match.

BeachGypsy said...

That place is magical!! Love your posts from your visits there. When you find the candles please let me know-- i want to order too-- those are amazing and ive never saw anything like those before

Tracy said...

Springtime in all her glory...it's just sooo BEAUTIFUL there at Southern Exposure!! :) We have two bleeding heart plants in the garden, one pink, and one white...something about the white ones I really love. I hope ours will grow as bit as those as SE. So lovely that table set for your delicious meal--the apples at each place setting is very sweet. Your birds nest decorations are sooo PRETTY! So glad you are doing well post-surgery, and even about to be out and enjoy some things. Be taking good care, though... :) ((HUGS))

Marcia said...

OH MY! This is stunning, every single detail. THAT greenhouse. I have to go through again because my creative mind does funny things when it sees too much beauty at once. ;) Okay, taking a breath, ready for round two.
We're all serenading spring together, aren't we ...and isn't she so deserving.
xoxo

Marcia said...

Your door swag is gorgeous.
<3

Marcia said...

Oh Jeanie, I almost forgot. You might find the candles at candles.com. We purchased battery operated tapers from them for our daughter's wedding (sadly venues rarely allow real candles anymore). That or amazon.
xo

Eilis@MyHeartLivesHere said...

I was not familiar with bleeding heart flowers. They are amazing. Love how your project turned out. I'd be looking forward to the next one as well.

Tamara said...

Again, some wonderful shots to,compliment your story telling. Your artwork is stunning. Simple and elegant... as good as you'd see on David Attinboroughs shows of real birds nests,..... well done

Esme said...

Southern Exposure looks like quite the fun place. Their flowers are just lovely. I also like your craft. It seems that you had a delightful time. Have a good week-I need to send you an email. xoxo

roughterrain crane said...

Amazing! Your place is filled with precious gifts from spring. It's a really great post.

Paulita said...

Jeannie, Love all the flower pictures, and your European bird's nest looks amazing. Thanks for joining in with Dreaming of France too.
Here’s my Dreaming of France meme

Elizabeth at Eiffel Tells said...

What a wonderful evening in magnificent surroundings. I wish my Melbourne garden was as lush as this in the spring. My garden in France consists of fruit tress, red currents, peonies and strawberries competing for soil and sunlight. When in France, we are so focused on renovating our medieval house that any garden beyond the upper terrace has to fend for itself! Elizabeth xxx

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I can't get over how beautiful this place is! Their flowers and all the attention to detail are just amazing! You are lucky to live close to such a wonderful place! Your project turned out really cute, too!!

Barbara said...

Such a beautiful place, I would love to be able to visit.

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanie, this is the most delightful place with their gardens, a meal, and then a craft project. I would never want to leave!. The bleeding hearts are gorgeous!

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