glad for gardenias

One of the best things about working a wedding, other than helping two lovelies enjoy one of the most special days of their lives, is what I sometimes get to come home with.  More often than not I get to come home with fresh flowers of some sort.  Either a bridesmaid bouquet that gets left behind, a centerpiece that didn't get taken by a guest or an arrangement that the florist doesn't want to take back to the shop.  Either way, fresh wedding flowers have a way of brightening up any room and I love when I get to come home with them.  

Last weekend, these were plucked out of the alter arrangement that was doomed for the garbage.  I made my own little arrangement out of them.  I'm crazy for those green "bells of ireland," aren't they such a cool flower?  

Last weekend I was elated to be given some gardenias by the florist.  Now there are gardenias floating all about the apartment and they smell like our wedding day.  Which brings me such joy.  

I wore gardenias in my hair on our wedding day, so the sweet smell of them reminds me of that wonderful day. 

I can't wait for the day when I have a yard, and I can just go outside and cut fresh flowers to bring in the house.  Until then...I will hope for gardenias in the next few weddings.  

Just to be clear, I would never take anything that wasn't offered to me by either the Bride and Groom, the family or the florist.  I just save a few lovely blooms from their doomed fate of the trash.