For the first time, I became interested in succulents. I initially was trying to find a succulent arrangement to give to my old college roommate, Susan, but I couldn’t find any in a number of local nurseries. So I made one myself, and it was quite fun. Here’s my first attempt.

My bouquet for an April 28th dinner party at the home of Susan, my old college roommate.

Close-up of the bouquet for Susan’s dinner party, April 28th. This bouquet comprises watsonias, gerbera daisy, geum, roses, dianthus, scabiosa, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), alstroemeria.

For the hostess, Susan, my old college roommate: a bouquet, a miniature succulent garden, and a beautiful handcrafted wooden cutting block from the Gardener, Berkeley, CA, April 28th.

Close-up of a bouquet for my friend Kelly’s birthday, April 29th: Roses, African daisy, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), alstroemeria, watsonia, and straw flower.

May 11th bouquet of calla lilies and alstroemeria.

Look at this beauty of a dahlia!

May 11th bouquet: Note the beautiful and delicate aquilegia chrysantha “Yellow Queen” in the center of the bouquet, the aquilegia vulgaris “Black Barlow” at the top of the bouquet, and the blue delphinium at the bottom right of the bouquet.

Close-up of the yellow dahlia, Yellow Queen aquilegia chrysantha, and scabiosa, May 11th.

Close-up of the aquilegia vulgaris “Black Barlow,” May 11th.

Another close-up that includes the baby-blue delphinium, May 11th. The “Yellow Queen” aquilegia chrysantha is as graceful as a diving swallow.

May 13th bouquet. Note the little white flower with the black center in the lower front of the bouquet, helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

Emboldened by my succulent garden success, I made another one, this time for my friend Felicia, May 13th.

And I made a miniature succulent garden for our kitchen, May 13th.

May 17th bouquet of alstroemeria.

Close-up of the pink-and-yellow alstroemeria, May 13th.

For this May 17th bouquet, I added my favorite blue hydrangea and the purple succulent.

Close-up of the yellow dahlia and blue hydrangea, May 17th bouquet.

Another side of the May 17th bouquet.

Close-up of the May 17th bouquet featuring the aquilegia chrysantha, “Yellow Queen.”

May 20th bouquet that includes the sunny and colorful gazania sunbathers “Totonaca.”

May 20th bouquet featuring pink zinnias, one of my favorite annuals.

May 20th bouquet of dahlias, alstroemeria, geum, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), dianthus, and helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

May 24th bouquet with a centerpiece of ginger, dahlias, orlaya grandiflora (Minoan Lace), dianthus, scabiosa, pink hydrangea, and aquilegia chrysantha “Yellow Queen.”

The other side of the May 24th bouquet.

May 24th bouquet of pink alstroemeria.

May 27th bouquet of orange alstroemeria.

May 27th bouquet, with orange zinnias and my favorite dianthus, caryophyllus, “Chomley Farran.” You can see the purple and red striped flower to the right of the orange zinnia.

Two dahlias, May 27th bouquet.

Close-up of dahlias and geum in this May 27th bouquet.

May 30th bouquet exploding with alstroemeria.

May 30th bouquet, featuring a white echinacea or coneflower.

The other side of the May 30th bouquet, with greenery – foxtail asparagus fern at the top and right side.

Close-up of the white echinacea or coneflower, May 30th.

June 6th bouquet, featuring white cosmos.

The other side of the June 6th bouquet, featuring dianthus caryophyllus “Chomley Farran.”

Close-up of the June 6th bouquet. Note the dianthus caryophyllus “Chomley Farran” – the two flowers surrounding the pink and white dahlia, and the green seed pods of the Love in a Mist.

Another view of the June 6th bouquet.

Close-up of the June 6th bouquet. See the Love in the Mist pods, dianthus caryophyllus “Chomley Farran” and white helipterum roseum “Pierrot.”

Close-up of the June 6th bouquet. I love mixing brilliant blue, fuschia, and pink.