Fascinating ruffled ranunculus. Spring 2025

©2025 Photo by Suzanne Luby Ahrens, Verde Cosi, all rights reserved. For permission to publish or write about designer and artist Suzanne Luby Ahrens, Verde Cosi. Please subscribe to my emails via 

Waiting while the buds slowly develop on my four year old Galtonia Candicans is like being a child anticipating the prize from a Cracker Jack. Galtonia Candicans or Summer Hyacinth is not hardy in zone 6a, our garden's hardiness zone. Hardy in zones 7 thru 10 I am able to dig the bulbs up in tact in their soil and transfer to a pot and put in a warmer sheltered place in my garage near a window in the winter months. I water it when the soil looks dry and it basically looks like a pot of dirt all winter long. I label it well to remind myself of the prize inside that pot when during June and July it develops into the gradual bell shaped white flower cascade - perfect for hummingbirds. Ornithogalum candicans or Galtonia candicans is native to moist grassland in South Africa and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Merit. Much taller than a typical hyacinth it shows beautifully in your garden and is well worth the act of storing it away in winter months. It would make a worth while cut flower for a really unique display. The older the bulbs are, the more apt you will be able to divide and multiply them.

Pumpkin seeds must be very resilient because this green pumpkin seeded itself from our compost and was inadvertently planted in our garden this spring. The growth pattern is fascinating with its curly growth from the stem, massive leaves, and progression to new flowers. I spent three days capturing it with my camera along with my Verde Cosi "Wavy Leaf" table linen, deep orange nasturtium, and my Mother's vintage dish which the light passes through. Please purchase Verde Cosi "Wavy Leaf" table linen for your table this fall. 

Three years ago one of my daughters and I discovered this tree. We have made it a tradition to visit it in spring to experience it's beautiful flowers which blow in the wind and fall onto the surrounding rocks. There are no words to describe how magical this is. In celebration of Earth Day I would like to highlight this tree which illustrates the diversity and gift of our natural world.

Halesia Carolina tree is a species flowering plant in the family Styracaceae, native to southeastern United States. It is a vigorous deciduous shrub or tree, bearing masses of pendent, bell - shaped white flowers which develop in spring before leaves appear.

This year I'd like to show you more photography of our gardens and processes in regard to my paintings and designing fabric. This is my set up for plein air painting a series of watercolors in our gardens. I collect plants, propagate some of them, and am simply fascinated with horticulture. Pictured here are pink tree peony, fig, gladiolus murielae, oleander, agapanthus, lavender, blueberry, tulip, poppy, lily. My photograph was taken in May 2019. Reminding us of the miracle of spring into summer. I have a new painting available, introducing "

Watercolor by Suzanne Luby Ahrens ©2020 all rights reserved

Peace.

©2020 Suzanne Luby Ahrens, all rights reserved

Bursting with berries at the end of August and September this European Rowan Tree has been on the property of an established farm for many years.

The wood of the European Rowan Tree is dense and used for carving and turning for wood handles. Rowan fruit are a traditional source for vegetable dyes. In Finland it is a traditional wood for sled shafts and rake spikes.

The fruit of the European Rowan can be cooked and made into a slightly bitter jelly which in Britain is traditionally eaten with game. European Rowan berries are also used to flavor liqueurs and cordials.

Fruit eating birds thrive on this plant.

The dense clusters of varied orange berries and spiked foliage are a beautiful visual for fall, I would love to use them in an arrangement for my table.

Suzanne Ahrens

Often times I like to document moments, but lately I understand even more how precious living in the moment without thinking about documenting is so important. It is natural and slow. However when I see a part of nature that isn't easily remembered - I try to honor it with a photo. 

This little piping plover runs fast with it's tiny little legs, it is considered endangered and threatened. Families of these plovers can be found on some beaches on the East coast. They like to live in higher areas near the water and rocks. They are so tiny and fast you may even miss them while walking on the beach if your eyes aren't great. Piping plovers migrate from their northern grounds in the summer to the south during winter. Their breeding grounds can be found extending from lower Newfoundland south to the upper areas of South Carolina. The piping plover babies are fuzzy and beautiful as well. However, try not to disturb a breeding ground and observe these lovely swift birds from a distance.

I have been working with some special fabrics for a wonderful client on an island off the coast of Maine. The fabric that I have designed has the salmon color of the piping plover's legs and beak. I am working on special tassels for one of the pillows. Would you like to see any photos of when I make these pillows? Your journey is unique to you, savor it, and enjoy the small moments.

Just a hint of sun these days. Captured from my garden. Ephemeral.

Collecting shells by the ocean is one of the lovely things from my childhood that I will always  remember. As I look back I realize this is possibly one of the things that taught me to observe nature. Look closely and you will find angel wings in one of my photos. I have always collected sea urchins but I have never seen so many mini ones all at once by the shore as this past weekend!

Please visit us at Guilford Craft Expo July 13, 14, and 15, 2018! Verde Cosi will be selling our garden inspired wares with a breeze of the ocean mixed in. Enjoy!