A Day on the Farm

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This is one of the perks of my job with Dogwood Tree Florals (Mel Day) - but too few and far between to suit me, though. As we were setting up for the wedding, I learned of this four-day-old lamb, whose mother had rejected him. He was so soft and so cute I could hardly contain myself when I saw him out on the lawn, grazing. The man told me that he and his children would raise the lamb and he would be a 4H project for the children. He's a lucky lamb.

The views in every direction were spectacular, if you like rolling grasslands, trees and blue skies. I saw six horses in all, plus a snowy white Shetland pony. I don't know much about horses, but I love looking at them.

They had set up two clear tents and under the blazing sun we had yesterday (80+ degrees) it was too hot to stand for long. Luckily we could wait until the last minute to set out the flower centerpieces, otherwise they'd have been cooked in no time at all.

This is the arbor where they got married. This side-angle view shows it better than the "head-on" photo did. We had to stake the urns into the ground because the wind was so strong. I was up on a 10 foot ladder, decorating the front posts and it all blew over, flat to the ground. Bummer! Inside each urn was a five-gallon-bucket, full of wet oasis and water. I can't pick one up; they are very heavy! Some farm hands and guys setting up rental chairs came to our rescue, and got it upright again. If we hadn't gotten the stakes into the ground fairly quickly, it would have all blown over again, I'm sure. The stakes don't look great, but it was better than having the thing collapse atop the bride and groom.....LOL. After this photo was taken, we placed some potted plants around the base of the urns, to hide the stakes.

This is one of the two buffet centerpieces, done by Rhonda. As you can see, the colors were pink and green and they carried the color scheme throughout the wedding.

This is a garland, studded with pink hydrangeas, that led the way to the family living quarters, above the barn. It was the nicest barn I've ever seen!

One of the forty table centerpieces! Peonies, tulips, roses and hydrangeas.

Last, but not least, this is Roxy the Ring Bearer, held by one of the bridesmaids. Roxy was a good sport about her collar. It was too large, and I had to try and cut it down to fit her. She tolerated being fitted with it several times and licked my hands, face and feet in the process.

Mel and his entourage; including me, Rhonda, Billy and Sandra, got to the farm about 10 am. and after getting the urns set up and giving us a list of things to do, he and Rhonda left for a delivery to Duke Chapel for another wedding. The rest of us hung and studded garlands with hydrangea, finished the arbor, hung ribbons in trees with rose-heads pinned to them, hung potted fushias on the porch and set out all the centerpieces. It took us to almost 4pm, and almost all that time, I was in full, hot sun, without benefit of sunblock or a hat. I had worn a sleeveless knit top, which was a big mistake. Had I known we were going to be out in the sun, I'd have worn sunblock and a hat, plus a shirt with long sleeves. I have a "farmer" burn - a red neck and shoulders and half my face is as red as can be. The top of my right ear looks like a beet! I will never again go on delivery without a hat!