Dearest Dahpne

My, do I feel fortunate today. The very catastrophic situation in Haiti is so troubling. I feel like I should go to help these people. A very good friend is a rockstar of a surgeon and is involved in the organization Direct Relief International. Instead of trying to catch a flight to Port-au-Prince, we have donated a small sum to this group, because we feel our funds will go so far.

This Santa Barbara based organization serves as a clearing house for the major pharmaceutical and surgical supply companies willing to help people in need. Fed Ex is on board and delivers these donations for free. Because of this unique situation, for each dollar spent, DRI delivers $21 – $37 in medical materials. Forbes magazine rated this organization 99% efficient for the past 8 years. If you would like to see daily updates on what they are doing in Haiti or learn more about this organization please click on Direct Response International.

We love the shocking sight of Daphne in the winter when the skies are grey and the rain is cold and constant.

Here these brave little clusters of pale pink flowers appear, just as confident as can be.

They must get the feeling that they look out of place. But we are so happy they choose to keep their heads held high and choose to believe they are the best dressed girl in the room.

Last year we wrote a post on the whims and desires of Daphne Odora (click on the name to read and see photos), a lovely (though difficult), low evergreen bush which offers blooms similar to those in the photo above.

This is Odora’s tall, awkward, gawky cousin, Mezereum (or commonly called Feburary Daphne). We’ve had a mild winter in the PNW, which has brought her to bloom earlier than usual.

We must admit, we seem to have let this girl get a little out of control, it seems to be time to bring her down a size.

This winter pruning project is actually quite a pleasure,

because the by-product is a beautiful sight to behold indoors! To read about other Splendid Market posts on branchy bouquets, click on the name of your choice: quince, lilac, flowering fruit branches.

We cut the branches at an angle, to allow them to absorb more water. Any smaller branches that would be below the water level of our vases have been trimmed off. Into the vases they go..

The spicy-sweet, earthy fragrance fills the rooms and keeps away the chill of winter.

Any smaller branches which were trimmed off are perfect gracing a nightstand or two.

Sometimes, I wonder if these delicate puffs were the influence for the ballerinas’ tutu?

This one is a little haute couture, but the color and the straighter sides look like the base of the stalkless flower clusters that appear on the dark burgundy branches.

This tutu looks like the fullest part of the petite petals.

We were recently introduced to a great lifestyle blog, the author is also based in Santa Barbara. We love her photography and intrepretations of nature. She offers some great product ideas and her posts are VERY fun to read!

She did a piece comparing a flower to runway fashions, click on Slim Paley to enjoy.

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