its time to deck that hall

the i fiori deck your hall check list:

lush cedar boughs - check

elegant white pine boughs - check

seeded and baby eucalyptus - check

velvety magnolia branches - check

lemon scented wee cypress trees - check

stylish heleborus - check

natural rose hip branches - check
crimson dogwood branches - check
fragrant paperwhite bulbs - check
showy amaryllis bulbs - check
...and even more in the shop to make your home wintery and wonderful.

This weekend we have a nice selection of custom wreaths to choose from, every one is different, and I'm sure that one of them will be just right!
See you in the shop...

i fiori celebrates it's 3rd year!

The holiday season is quietly arriving at i fiori.
I have a hard time with windows filled with twinkling Christmas trees and sparkly bits in November, but the reality is that there are some things we have to think about in advance.
Like branches and berries for easing your home into winter, and starting paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs to help your mind forget that the temperatures are dipping below zero!

simple but showy amaryllis

a simple and stunning display of paperwhites :: it doesn't have to be complicated

Bulbs are in the shop now, as are branches and berries and lots of ideas. And in the next week or so the baby cypress trees, norfolk pines, helebores, wreaths and garlands will all take their place in the store.

i fiori celebrates our 3 years this november art crawl

And my pants would be on fire if I didn't say how happy and astonished I am to be celebrating the 3rd anniversary of i fiori.
Thank you thank you thank you to my customers, my clients, my friends and family. Nothing happens in isolation (nothing good, anyway), and I am constantly challenged and inspired by all of you.
B.

meet me at Gage Park

late fall in Gage Park

Today started with a walk to Gage Park to see the Mum Show. Such a fabulous, crisp November morning and Gage Park was the perfect place to be. This jewel in our city's crown was established in 1918 to 'beautify' the eastern entrance to the city of Hamilton. Nestled against the escarpment, this morning some trees were bare, some still hanging on to their leaves, some roses in the rose garden looked absolutely content with little nip of frost. This is one of my very favourite places in Hamilton (truthfully... in the whole country!).
As usual the display of mums for the 2014  Hamilton Fall Garden & Mum Show was impressive.

so perfect

so 'showy'

And the walk through the Tropical Greenhouse was a nice contrast to the weather outside.

the view from under a leaf - a very large leaf

In this city it seems that we are only 5 minutes in any direction from the bay and the waterfront, from the forests and the escarpment, from great trails and killer stairs, from bike paths and bike lanes (yay), from calming greenhouses and public gardens. We are lucky indeed.

I 'heart' Ward 3.