Thinking of You

Evidence: a quiet pink arrangement of abelia, naked ladies, and begonias from Napa, sweet peas from Santa Clarita, calla lilies and spray and garden roses from Petaluma, and brake fern from Orgeon.

Flowers in Her Hair

Napa Farmer's Market Today, 7:30 to 12

This week's offering includes lots of brick red manzanita berries, bay, and delicate rabbit foot fern. Also, I've refreshed my notecard supply. Come browse the new selection and say hi!

What All Happened Part 5 of 5: A Wooden Valley Wedding

I can't imagine a better way to end a busy stretch than A&N's beautiful wedding at Wooden Valley Winery. Full of personal details lovingly executed by family and friends, the evening epitomized what it means for a community to celebrate the happy union of two amazing people. I'm so happy I could be a part of it!

 

Although Wooden Valley Winery is technically located a bit further down down the road in the (equally beautiful) Suisun Valley, many old friends from my neighborhood and elementary school were involved in the wedding, which added even more to my enjoyment of the evening.

 

The ceremony took place in the winery's barrel room, which the father of the bride transformed with soft, warm light from candles in hanging mason jars around the entire perimeter of the space. I echoed his work with hanging mason jars of flowers and more candles, both on the aisle chairs and the two easels framing the ceremony.

 

After the ceremony, guests enjoyed dinner and dancing outside beneath the twinkling glow of Italian lights, paper lanterns, and table candelabras (which I surrounded with more mason jars of flowers).

The beautiful cake and assorted desserts were created by the totally lovely and lively Jen of Magpies.

Congratulations, A&N! I wish you nothing but continued happiness together!

What All Happened Part 4 of 5: A Sweet Backyard Wedding

 Friends, family, good food, and a bouquet and boutonniere of ivy and sage from Napa, calla lilies and roses from Petaluma, stock, scabiosa, sedum, and freesia from Half Moon Bay, and lupines from Daly City. What more do you need?

Napa Farmer's Market Today, 7:30-12

Hope to see you there!

What All Happened Part 3 of 5: A Vibrant Russian Wedding

With the groom's love of orange, the bride's contagious laugh, and the couple's strong and abundant friendships (especially within the Russian Orthodox community), there was no way A&A's wedding celebration was not going to be big, colorful, and FUN.

 

Outside the beautiful Russian Orthodox Church in San Francisco, the groom waited for his bride with bouquet in hand.  When she arrived they exchanged flowers and entered the church together.

These photos, taken just as guests began to arrive, give just a hint of the awe-inspiring interior of the church.

Following the ceremony guests continued on to the reception to enjoy a night of celebration.

Congratulations, A&A! It was so much fun to be a part of your wedding day!

What All Happened Part 2 of 5: Al Fresco Engagement Dinner

This al fresco engagement party called for centerpieces which looked as delicate as a wedding lace and as natural and wild as a dry California hillside. Also, they had to be tough enough to stand up to several hours in the pounding afternoon sun Upvalley (typically several degrees even hotter than down in Napa). Dusty miller, agapanthus, and double feverfew from Half Moon Bay, lunaria seedpods from Napa, and chrysanthemums from Santa Clarita did the trick, and thanks to the new transportation system, all 14 went in one trip easily. Huzzah!

What All Happened Part 1 of 5: Napa Humane Benefit

When I first disappeared three weeks ago, I was preparing for the dinner and auction event which kicks off Napa Humane's annual Cause for the Paws benefit weekend, hosted this year by Catherine Bergen of C CASA .

The arrangements, designed in containers custom welded from reclaimed metal (these containers deserve their own post, and shall have it by and by), featured scabiosa, lysimachia, sedum, and dahlias from Half Moon Bay, echeveria and kale from Watsonville, aeonium from Oakland, passionvine and roses from Petaluma, and green blackberries from Napa.

There were 20 (large!) arrangements in total, so even with the new handy-dandy, double-decker transportation system I rigged up for Buck the Subaru, I made two trips. Still, it beat four trips or renting a van. Below is a somewhat sorry shot of half the dining room; in real life the light was much more magical.

 

Just outside the dining room, I displayed botanically embellished ribbons to be enjoyed by the evening's guests (below). Although the ribbons were well received by both ladies and gentlemen in attendance, the assumption that just the ladies would be interested in actually wearing them was pretty well founded. I was totally thrilled that of the 70 ribbons provided (a feat of production logistics!), only a few went unclaimed. These went to the volunteers in attendance.

All in all, it was a beautiful evening filled with positive energy. I felt completely honored to be involved.