Real or Artificial?

At a recent small gathering of friends on our back porch, one of our guests admiring the fresh cut flower display on the table asked, “Where did you get those gorgeous hydrangeas?” I paused. Do I tell her that they are artificial? I did confess that I failed to have enough flowers for the numerous vases so I filled in with fake flowers.

It’s actually a really good trick because today, some of the faux flowers look so realistic.

However, I prefer the real deal to those things that are artificial or substitutes~~ crystal and china to paper plates and napkins; real butter and sugar vs. butter substitutes or artificial sweeteners.  Even friends~~I cherish those who are rich in experience, intellect, humor and sincerity and steer clear of those who are deeply shallow.

Orchids

But every now and again, you find something that is artificial, but looks so realistic.

On my kitchen windowsill, I have several orchid plants.  Yes, the real ones.  They are mostly the Phalaenopsis Orchid, the ones you can pick up for a few dollars at Trader Joe’s or the local grocery store.  They occupy the corner of my kitchen that overlooks the yard and even though I see them daily, they suffer from my lack of attention.

I forget to water them and rarely fertilize them, yet they continue to produce the most beautiful blooms.  Yesterday, it dawned on me that I hadn’t watered them in how long? And as I went to give them the care they deserved, I noticed two plants were beginning to bloom.  I experienced a pang of guilt as they are so forgiving and generous in sharing their delicate flowers year after year, in spite of my neglect.

Though I love real orchids, the centerpiece on my dining room table is a grouping of artificial orchids~~white ones that strongly contrast the dark wood table. They certainly aren’t as detailed as the real orchids, but they look authentic from a distance.

And I don’t forget to tend to these orchids, as they look great every day!

Hydrangeas

As much as I prefer real flowers and plants to artificial ones, the really, really good quality artificial ones are worth the money you will spend.  On my hall entry table, I have faux white hydrangeas in a crystal vase.  I purchased these from The Enchanted Home. But in recently checking their website, these hydrangeas are no longer available.

They measure 16″ tall and have life-like stems.  They used to be available in a variety of colors ~~white, deep purple and lilac.  

If you are looking for faux hydrangeas, Amazon has an extensive collection here.

You see them in various places around my house~like my office that I recently cleaned and organized. See that post here.

During the year, depending on the holiday or season, I move the flowers around~~for example, red berries, greens and hydrangeas are added for the holiday garland.  Since I cannot seem to keep fresh hydrangeas alive for more than a few days, these beautiful artificial ones always look stunning.

Peonies

Another acquisition of artificial flowers is also from The Enchanted Home.   I LOVE peonies but we cannot grow them in Phoenix,  so I again relied on the great taste and quality from Tina at The Enchanted Home. The stems are short, however, so they will display well in smaller containers or a larger one that is opaque.

Unfortunately, these too are no longer available, however, Amazon has a GORGEOUS selection of faux peonies in various colors here.

In writing this post, I realized that most of the artificial flowers are located in rooms that aren’t heavily used~~the living room, dining room, bedroom closet.  The more lived-in parts of the house (kitchen, family room) are where the fresh flowers are displayed and enjoyed.

Do you remember the movie with Diane Keaton in that fabulous beach house, Something’s Gotta Give? Well, in each scene, there are fresh flowers in every room.

Right after that movie I determined that in a perfect world, I’d have flowers in every room.  So whether you like artificial or real flowers, or a combination of both, we are fortunate to have great options at our fingertips.

Happy Wednesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest