The Monkey Flower Group Web Log

Where Are My Manners?

2012-03-05T07:45:00.003-08:00

Please allow me to introduce the newest member of The Monkey Flower Group team, the Ford Transit Connect! He actually joined way back in September, so I must apologize for the horrible delay in making acquaintances. My only excuse is that we were such a good fit for each other from the very first delivery, that I quickly forgot that we have not been together always! I am totally smitten with this little truck, which is easy and comfortable to drive, fabulously fuel efficient for cargo its capacity, and cute to boot. If you see us around town, be sure to wave hello!

Flowers in the House

2012-02-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

After a long, sad hiatus, I've finally got my act together in time to contribute to Jane's Flowers in the House Monday. It's a magical time, with seven of the 10 or so varieties of narcissus planted here in our yard blooming at once. We've been enjoying jar after jar of these, my most favorite flowers, for the last two weeks! And I'm glad to see from other contributors that I'm not the only one getting a good daffodil fix :). Thanks for hosting, Jane!

Getting Closer

2012-02-26T22:23:00.000-08:00

Even at the height of Northern California's growing season, it doesn't get much more local than these arrangements of daffodils from Napa and arum lily leaves, snowdrops, and tulips from Petaluma; sure proof that Spring is here. :)

So Pink

2012-02-23T11:49:00.001-08:00

CameeeeEEeeelias from Napa.

So Sweet

2012-02-22T18:15:00.002-08:00

The studio stunk to high heaven with fragrant, sweet blooms for St. Valentine's Day including sweet peas and ranunuculus from Yorba Linda, hyacinth from Arcata, freesia from Pescadera, magnolia from Tracy, and clematis, hellebore, viburnum, and currant from Napa.

The Second of the Jasmine Arrangements

2012-02-15T21:47:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a lovely St. Valentine's Day! Before I share some photos from yesterday, I wanted to post these of a second prototype for that same jasmine centric wedding. In addition to the ranunculus and anemones from Yorba Linda, dusty miller from Watsonville, callas from Moss Landing, and teasel from Napa, this more silvery and less green version features eucalyptus from Petaluma and wild plum twigs from Napa.

The First of the Jasmine Arrangements

2012-02-10T14:22:00.000-08:00

It's a bit early yet for jasmine flowers, but their pretty pink buds are beginning to develop like a pink froth on hedges, walls, fences, and screens all around the Bay Area. This centerpiece, a prototype for a jasmine centric wedding later this Spring, is my first arrangement of the year to use a few sprigs of the awesome vine, along with ranunculus and anemones from Yorba Linda, dusty miller from Watsonville, parrot tulips from Oregon, callas from Moss Landing, and teasel from Napa. Can't wait for the big jasmine bloom to come!

That Wild Plum Is At It Again. . .

2012-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

. . . pulling out the flashy antics and looking all awesome against her dramatic backdrop. Guess she'll stay another year.

Daphne Days Are Here Again

2012-02-04T07:48:00.001-08:00

Daphne and tuberose. What could smell sweeter?

Local Color

2012-01-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

We haven't had much rain yet this year, so the subdued greyish greens, blues, and umbers I usually associate with fall are still prevalent in the landscape and garden. Hopefully soon we'll have some real rain to bring on the green grass and wildflowers, but in the meantime I'm enjoying the calming colors as I tidy my annual financial reports and prepare for the coming season. I am getting increasingly excited for spring and summer weddings to come!

$30 Overstock Special!

2012-01-11T11:46:00.000-08:00

Faced with some of my spring and all time favorites (such as freesia, stock, and lisianthus from the Los Angeles area, forsythia and daffodils from Washington, feverfew from Arcata, and carnations from Petaluma-laaaaaa!), I lost all control and soon found my studio bursting to the gills with product I don't really need.

But my flub is your gain! For $30, I'll be making some special deliveries of these beauties to homes and offices in Napa (sample arrangement below). If you or a Napan you know could use a Wednesday pick-me-up, please give The Monkey Flower Group a call at 707-418-8615. : )

[Announcement: We're all sold out! Thank you!]

A Well Planned Proposal

2012-01-10T18:25:00.000-08:00

When a childhood friend requested I provide the flowers for his very well planned (whole family-involving, escalatingly romantic, multi-location, treasure hunt of a) proposal, I wouldn't have agreed to help if I didn't believe his gal would definitely say yes, elaborate proposal or not. : ) Congratulations, N&B!

The four bouquets, delivered with instructions over the course of a day, included sweet peas, dendrobium orchids, and ranunculus, from Watsonville, tulips and hyacinth from Arcata, freesia from Pescadero, and stock from from outside Los Angeles.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

Well hello again! I hope everyone has been enjoying a wonderful holiday season and a good start to 2012!

Here's a smattering of what The Monkey Flower Group has been up to these past two weeks. I've continued to be so impressed by the bounty of beautiful local materials available- nearly everything pictured in this post was grown in Northern California, and mostly right here in the Bay Area. The exception is the stock which was trucked up from Los Angeles. I splurged on it as consolation for not allowing myself any of the gorgeous blooms being flown in from Holland this time of year (I think we did fine without them, and goodness knows there are better uses for those fossil fuels . . . ).

Happy New Year!

Sugar Cookies on Parade!

2011-12-20T17:06:00.000-08:00

I put together little packages of my favorite homemade sugar cookies for the local growers and their wholesalers - the very least I could do to show my appreciation for their constant awesomeness. Thanks for a great year, guys and gals!

Fallon's December Roses

2011-12-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

These roses are not from another hemisphere, or even a hot house. They're not from the archives of summer either. Nope, less than a couple weeks ago, when Fallon and I had planned to meet at her studio at Garden Valley Ranch to make some holiday wreaths, we found these lovely gems toughing it out in the fields. (Be warned, December brides, this is not normal!)

So naturally, we had to do something with them. Fallon made this smashing arrangement including a sophisticated combination of many flowers and botanical textures (above). I, however, totally lost my cool and went all rose centric on it (below). Only a few hellebores and honeysuckle vines succeeded in gaining a spot among the roses. Still, the effect was not bad, especially for December! Thank you, Fallon and Garden Valley Ranch, for the Christmas magic!

All Local, All the Time!

2011-12-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

A whole lotta holiday is going on here at The Monkey Flower Group, including these wintry arrangements of redwood, magnolia, and lilies from Petaluma, Queen Anne's lace and snapdragons from Salinas, narcissus from Pescadero, tulips from Arcata, and live oak from Napa. I feel so lucky to have access to such beautiful local materials, even at this time of year! And wait 'til you see the roses Fallon and I found last week . . . but that's a whole different post. Anyways . . .

I know I've discussed the classic California ambiance and unparalleled views at Silverado Vineyards, but have I mentioned Barbara, Events Manager Extraordinaire? HERE is an extremely classy and kind woman who truly cares about her work and takes pride in orchestrating finely detailed and personal celebrations. If you're looking for a gorgeous venue for a birthday, engagement dinner, or anniversary party, and a talented and friendly person to help coordinate it, I highly recommend you check her out!

Support Napa Humane at Castello di Amorosa

2011-12-09T12:34:00.001-08:00

From 9:30 AM till 5:00 PM this Saturday and Sunday (December 10th and 11th), Castello di Amorosa is hosting its Holiday Cheer Weekend. In addition to live music and refreshments provided by the outstanding Tra Vigne, Elaine Bell Catering, and Monterey Chocolate Company, the event will feature a display of holiday wreaths, created by local artists to be auctioned off to benefit local charities.

I was thrilled to design this wreath for Napa Humane composed of reusable (or donatable) pet items, generously donated by Napa's Pet Food Express. (Our neighbor's cat, below, was very interested.)

Please come enjoy the festivities, see the wreaths, and support your favorite local charities!

Event admission is $15 in addition to the $17 Tour and Admission fee, and includes 3 raffle tickets.

4045 North St. Helena Highway, Calistoga, CA.

Recent Fruity Centerpieces

2011-11-30T09:40:00.001-08:00

Oh man, was Thanksgiving wonderful this year. Best. Holiday. Ever.

Even if it did make these centerpieces unseasonable overnight.

Here they are with pomegranates, persimmons, oak, and clematis from Napa, calendula from Daly City, roses and viburnum from Petaluma, arbutus and koelreuteria from South Bay, ranunculus from San Diego, chrysanthemums from Yorba Linda, scabiosa from Half Moon Bay, oncidium and veronica from Watsonville, and rose hips from Eureka.

Hope your Thanksgiving was awesome!

The Last of Late Summer

2011-11-20T09:17:00.001-08:00

From a while back, strawflower from Daly City, chrysanthemums from Yorba Linda, hydrangea from Napa, eucalyptus from Solano, and delphinium from Pescadero.

A Mountain and Ocean Wedding Week

2011-11-17T11:16:00.001-08:00

J&S spent the week of their wedding enjoying the ocean, mountains, and woods surrounding the colorful beach town of Bolinas, where they rented a lovely house with their friends and family.

J's bouquet included lisianthus from Yorba Linda, oregano, scabiosa, and stock from Half Moon Bay, roses from Petaluma, brake fern from Eureka, oak and abelia from Napa, gomphrena from Daly City, and veronica from Watsonville.

The flowers to wear also featured ivy, rosemary, redwood, and lavender from Napa.

Congratulations, J&S!!

Leftovers

2011-11-09T08:01:00.001-08:00

'Swan' roses from Garden Valley Ranch in Petaluma, parrot tulips from Arcata, and begonias from Napa.

A Ridiculous Cake

2011-11-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

The last time I made a ridiculous carrot cake Elizabeth was somewhere off at sea, no doubt suffering from a diet rich in overly cooked frozen vegetables and generously salted commodity meats. Not surprisingly, she felt her loss sharply. Luckily, last week saw the happy confluence of Liz back in Napa, her birthday, the second summer fig crop (laaa!), and some fantastically blown open leftover spray roses. Obviously a ridiculous carrot (and fig) cake was going to happen.

A Wine Country Wedding

2011-11-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

Chicago couple J&J married surrounded by their closest friends and family at an intimate wine country wedding tucked up in the Sonoma hills. They had perfect weather, which made me very happy. It also made me very happy to meet J&J in person. (Congratulations again! You make a lovely couple!)

Amazingly, the whole elegant affair was coordinated from afar by Jolene Sullivan, an event planner and designer based in Denver. I cannot praise this woman enough. Specializing in smaller weddings and celebrations (though she's experienced coordinating very large events as well), she favors an understated, crisp, and natural aesthetic, allowing the surrounding environment and a few carefully selected details to set the mood (without overwhelming it). In addition to this uncontrived approach to design, Jolene is a master of organization, tact, and articulate and prompt correspondence. And she is super nice. In other words, she's everything you could ever want a person in charge to be. And lucky for us, Jolene has family here in the Bay Area and loves an excuse to visit. : )

The flowers to hold, wear, and share included roses and passion vine from Petaluma, garden roses from the amazing Garden Valley Ranch in Petaluma, stock, oregano, kale, and scabiosa from Half Moon Bay, oak from Sonoma, parrot tulips and hyacinth from Arcata, brake fern from Eureka, freesia from Pescadero, bearded iris and anemones from Watsonville, and one bunch of campanulas from (GASP) Ecuador (I thought they were from Watsonville and didn't realize my mistake until I unwrapped them back in the studio. I figured by then the damage was done. Sigh.)

For Mama And Baby . . .

2011-10-31T08:54:00.000-07:00

. . . parrot tulips from Arcata, ornamental oregano, nigella, and scabiosa from Half Moon Bay, garden roses from Garden Valley Ranch in Petaluma, clematis vine from Napa, and freesia from Pescadero. Congratulations and welcome!

A Lace Trimmed Wedding

2011-10-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Just about a month ago today (this is how behind I am on posts) we were having one of our first rains of the season, and I was worried for E&J's upcoming outdoor wedding. But lo! The clouds parted to reveal freshly cleared skies and soft sunshine, making the views from the iconic Auberge du Soleil even more breathtaking. The happy couple married with a backdrop of the Napa Valley, punctuated by roses, passionvine, and Queen Anne's lace from Petaluma, larkspur from Pescadero, stock from Half Moon Bay, lyismachia from Gilroy, and dahlias from Miramar.

I made the lace accents from a stash of vintage trims I first acquired while going to school in Iowa, and had carried along with me to Boston, Vermont, and back to California, waiting for a worthy use. I'm glad I held out! The incredibly sweet E wanted to incorporate as many lace detail as possible throughout the celebration; I can't imagine a more perfect use for my long hoarded treasure!

Congratulations again, E&J! It was a joy and honor to be a part of your day.

A Handmade Wedding

2011-10-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

Chefs M&L have made a food-filled life together up in Portland, but decided to celebrate their wedding closer to family at a friend's home in the El Cerrito hills. They married in a nearby park then returned to a reception full of delphinium from Pescadero, solidago and marigolds from Half Moon Bay, garden roses from Sonoma, lion's tale, nasturtiums, geraniums, and persimmons from Napa, and a feast prepared by the couple themselves. Quite an impressive accomplishment, which bodes well for many happy years to come! Congratulations and best of wishes, M&L!

M wore a retro knee length dress she reworked at the neckline with a bold nastutium applique salvaged from vintage linens (endless talent, right?). Her bouquet was a small and simple gathering of marigolds, mint, and nasturtiums (which I was worried about sourcing but managed to harvest enough of from a friend's garden- thank you L!). I hope someday to have photographs of the flowers and the dress together!

I Heart Chrysanthemums

2011-10-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Wreath Season

2011-10-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

Even as I revel in the last few weddings of the season, I'm getting super stoked for the wreaths to come! Here's one of the first- acorns from South Bay, rosemary and olive from Napa tied with real silk ribbon.

Get Ye to Alice's

2011-10-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited that The Monkey Flower Group is now delivering flowers for sale at Alice's, one of Napa's loveliest consignment and antique shops (newly relocated to Randolph and Third St. between the Uptown Theatre and Bilco's- my kind of block!). These photos are of last week's offerings, but I'll be delivering another little batch later today (by the lunch hour) and again on Thursday. Come by to grab one adorable nosegay for your desk . . .

. . . or a whole bunch of them to fill a vase for a centerpiece!

And then there's all the other goodies to check out at Alice's. I need someone to come purchase this beautiful set of silver with an awesomely dense daffodil motif before I do something rash!

A Few Tips to Share

2011-10-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember this tricky vase I was struggling/experimenting with designing in a few months back. Well, there is a solution! Today I am happy and honored to be able to share that tip and a few others for making the most of your garden's flowers over on Belinda's wonderful blog, Wild Acre. Most of you are probably already familiar with Belinda (that veritable powerhouse of jewelry, garden, and floral design, not to mention perpectual source of warm maternal wisdom, keen perception, and sharp wit). But if not, you're in for a treat! Thank you, Belinda, for including me in your lovely forum!

Lavender Blue

2011-10-13T21:53:00.000-07:00

Nigella from Watsonville, roses from Petaluma, brake fern from Eureka, kale and scabiosa from Half Moon Bay, and acorns from South Bay.

For Grandma and Granddad

2011-10-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

These forget-me-nots remind me of Grandma (who grew up in Alaska), the painting reminds me of Granddad (who purchased it while in Japan during WWII), and the clock reminds me of them both (it was a wedding gift).

Thank you for always being there for me, Grandma and Granddad! I love you.

A Barn Burner Release Party

2011-10-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

Trying to describe Tom and Lauren Scott of Tom Scott Vineyard makes me feel rather silly, because the adjectives that come to mind all seem contradictory: whimsical and practical, causal and elegant, fun-loving and driven. But it all rings true, especially when you observe that while Tom and Lauren are incredibly serious in their devotion to growing the highest quality fruit possible for their single vineyard field blend Cabernet Sauvignon, they still manage to maintain a refreshingly playful approach to life. I think that's something worth striving for! So when Lauren asked if I could design the flowers (colorful, casual, and elegant, in true Tom and Lauren style) for this year's party celebrating the release of their 2008 Barn Burner Cabernet, I was honored. Thank you for letting me be a part of your happy story!

My Last Farmers' Market Today, 7:30-12

2011-10-08T05:59:00.000-07:00

Alas, I thought I'd make it to one more farmers' market after this week's, but the events keep coming so this will probably be the last one of the season. So please come say hi today between 7:30 and 12 at Napa's Oxbow Market! I'll have plenty of flowers to wear, notecards, and a tiny little rosemary, olive branch, and acorn wreath to kick of garland and wreath season. Hope to see you there!

And don't forget, the market will continue on Tuesdays and Saturdays for the rest of October. Please stop by and support all the wonderful farmers and artisans!

Farewell, Old Buck

2011-10-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

Buck the Subaru and I have been through a lot together, from an epic cross-country road trip . . .

. . . to elegant city deliveries . . .

. . . to sunny farmers' markets . . .

. . . and rainy farmers' markets . . .

. . . to carting all manner of awkward cargo . . .

But despite Buck's rugged good looks and can-do attitude, it was more and more difficult to ignore the fact that he was getting just a little too old to be a wedding flower delivery vehicle. So this month, amid event craziness, I sent Buck on to a better place. Farewell, Old Buck! We had some good times.

Habit Forming

2011-09-25T15:17:00.000-07:00

No matter what you call it- brake fern, western sword fern, 'polystichum munitum' . . . I am addicted. Here is some from Eureka, along with Japanese anemones from Napa and 'sereno' roses (another persistent favorite) from Petaluma.

A Honey Inspired Photo Shoot With Elizabeth

2011-09-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

A visit from Liz wouldn't really feel complete without a little photo shoot, so luckily we just barely squeezed one in before she headed back up to to Seattle ( to FINISH her last stretch of sea time and school before testing for her first mate's license!!!). Here she is all gussied up for a honey inspired affair, complete with amber glassware, gold edged plates, and a pale yellow silk dress from Community Projects in Napa (that place is a treasure trove), tiny candles of pure beeswax from Napa Valley Apothecary in Napa, honey drenched baklava from a bakery Petaluma which shall remain nameless due to its somewhat lackluster product (if you want good baklava you can go to Small World Restaurant in Napa, but you'll have to get there earlier than we did or it will all be gone!), lunaria seedpods from Napa, scabiosa seedpods from Watsonville, and the stars of the show, roses from Garden Valley Ranch and Neve Brother Roses in Petaluma.

A Sundrenched Engagement Party . . .

2011-09-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

. . . with scabiosa flowers, bronze amaranth, kangaroo paw, and two kinds of sunflowers from Half Moon Bay, and catatante orchids from Menlo Park.

When it comes to views, I don't think many places come close to Silverado Vineyards. Guests at this engagement party enjoyed dinner and drinks in a casual seating arrangement, with many tables to choose from both inside and out. Doesn't that hightop overlooking the valley look especially inviting?

For Now . . .

2011-09-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well goodness, I've got a lot to share! But for now, just dahlias and chocolate cosmos from Half Moon Bay, scabiosa from Salinas, and roses and hydrangeas from Petaluma.

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

2011-09-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

These flowers to wear are from a little while back, and feature bright manzanita berries and echiveria blossoms. The palette this week is much softer, with ornamental oregano, culinary oregano, lavender, and scabiosa buds taking the lead. I'll also have some gorgeous Garden Valley Ranch roses on display; they're left over from a photo shoot and so have been through hell, but I'll wager they'll still knock your socks off! Please stop by to have a look, say hi, and smell the roses and oreganos.

Thinking of You

2011-08-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-13T05:49:00.001-07:00

Hope to see you there!

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

2011-08-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Yes, It Really Is A Group

2011-08-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

In many ways, The Monkey Flower Group is a one woman show- Jaime Giorgi, sole proprietor, designer, bookkeeper, publicist, delivery driver, stylist, and photographer. So what's with the "Group"?

I explain this a lot. First, it's a nod to the botanical genus Mimulus, a huge group of plants native to California and the western United States. I love these natives, and I love their native habitats. Second, it suggests the network of farmers I rely on for amazing locally grown flowers. This is a bit of a mouthful to go into on a regular basis, so more than once I've regretted the name. Maybe Jaime Giorgi Floral Design would have been the easier choice?

But conditions over the last three weeks, namely a very full schedule of events coupled with a very intense little virus, have illuminated just how important that last part of my company's name is. I've found I can rely on my growers - particularly Corinna at Neve Roses, Ricardo at Neve Brothers, Louie at Figone Nursery, and David at Repetto's- as well as friends, family, and neighbors, to be there when I need them. Despite a fever, chills, and later a nasty cough, everything went beautifully. And I couldn't have done it without The Group.

Still Here . . .

2011-07-29T07:28:00.000-07:00

For now, just wild plums from Rockville, roses from Petaluma, Catatante orchids from Menlo Park, and abelia and begonia from Napa.

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

2011-07-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

Hope to see you there!

Sunflower Overload?

2011-07-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Impossible. For months those strangely un-dead foreign and forced sunflowers have mocked me from the aisles of the flower market and Trader Joe's. Now that the local ones are here, glorious in their freshness and cheerful gaze, I'm going all out. These arrangements feature sunflowers from Sebastopol and Napa, as well as 'Yellow Babe' spray roses from Petaluma and California wild grape, sharon fern, privet buds, and Scotch broom from Napa.

Catch 22

2011-07-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Alas, when it's busy and many fun things are in the works, I don't have much time to take and post pictures! Here are some from the first of many exciting events this month- happy, summery arrangements of sunflowers and cosmos from Sebastopol, and perennial sweet peas, artichokes, and pennyroyal from Napa.

Magical Mystery Tour

2011-07-08T06:15:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky to live near this magical place, the storing grounds of John's Hauling, which I frequent as often as I can in my quest for old vases and containers. The inventory is constantly changing according to what John and family are hauling, so you never know what you are going to find, other than an astoundingly diverse mix of junk and treasure (my favorite). This week was especially awesome. Anyone looking for a intricately carved wooden horse? Or an old black ceramic toilet? John's is where it's at.

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

These gorgeous berries posed for a photo a couple weeks ago at the Farm Stand at Oakville Grocery. That fine establishment is not open today (good thing, else Ben may not have been able to celebrate with us!), but I highly recommend checking it out any other weekend! It's a great place to grab local and organic fruits, vegetables, and fresh made (unbelievably delicious and refreshing) lemonade.

In the meantime, enjoy a fun and safe Fourth of July!!!

Passenger Seat Still Lifes

2011-07-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

Alas, another Saturday Napa Farmer's Market come and gone without prior notice here on the blog, and without nearly as dramatic an excuse as last week! But I'll take this opportunity to say I'll be there again next Saturday. See, I'm just really early with my announcements.

Before leaving home yesterday morning, I snapped these photos of my passenger seat, which looked surprisingly pretty piled with supplies for the day: hermie, coffee, breakfast of leftover Acme bread (more visible with the Thermos moved aside, below), purse, scarf, hat, mug, and water bottle.

At the market I took a couple more of my hat - accented with a wide silk ribbon embellished with oak, lavender, oregano, and rosemary- but none of my table, flowers to wear, note cards, or hand dyed silk ribbon samples. Oops. They were there, too, I promise.

Later in the (still early) morning, my neighbors at Big Ranch Farms received a supplemental delivery of their gorgeous sunflowers. I'd like a yard of them, please. Needless to say, they sold like hotcakes.

Upon leaving the market, my passenger seat was not so piled- just my hat, some leftover lavender bundles (to be dried and incorporated into sachets), and more bread, this time from Model Bakery.

Hope to see you at the market next week!

Dahlias Done Two Ways

2011-06-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's time for more vase trials!

This glass one was a too wide and shallow to use the ol' taped top trick, or even the ol' hand-tied trick, so I resorted to the ol' ball of chicken wire (which is easily recycled here through Napa's curbside pick-up or drop-off facility) trick, which worked like a charm. Well, save for the fact that, if someone were to look at the stems really closely, with their ear pressed against the tabletop to get a good view of the arrangement from below, they'd see the wire. Which bothers me. If anyone knows a better way to design in really, really shallow glass (aside from metal frogs, I'm working on gathering enough good ones), please let me know!

Vintage footed silver vases, which avoid the visible mechanics issue altogether, are another option. They'd of course all be slightly different, but I think adds to their charm.

But ah, with dahlias, how could one go wrong?

Elegant SF Wedding Part 3 of 3: Go!

2011-06-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

. . . And last but not least, we headed down to San Francisco and up to The Fairmont, perched at the top of Nob Hill with spectacular views of the city and bridges all around. We delivered the flowers to the Pavilion Room via the loading dock and service elevators, but I later went back to take a peak at the guests' entrance, famous for its flags, marble, and gold detailing.

I was especially impressed by the Cirque Room, apparently the first bar to open in San Francisco following Prohibition (seen below through it's brass gate entrance), which the wedding guests would pass on their way to the celebration. This gilded mural depicting a welcoming bride and groom seemed especially appropriate.

In the Pavilion Room, three walls of expansive windows, a multitude of candles, and a great, fanciful chandelier set the mood for an elegant and magical night of celebration.

Congratulations, D&J!

Flowers in the House

2011-06-27T08:57:00.000-07:00

Our tuberous begonia is making its summer debut, just in time to be brought indoors and enjoyed with the morning's coffee for Jane's flowers in the house shin-dig.

News Flash: Scorpion Attack!!!

2011-06-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

This morning, as I was making coffee (so read, before coffee), a scorpion finally went and stung me on the big toe. I looked down in time to see that is was a just little one, which for a while had me worried (I learned as a kid that over-enthusiastic baby rattlesnakes are more dangerous than adult ones . . . mightn't the same be true for arachnids?). But here I am, apparently having escaped with just a rude wake-up call and the foiling of my plan to post about the Napa Farmer's Market before attending it.
Instead, I'm here now sharing a montage of recent markets past and reporting that The Monkey Flower Group will be at next Saturday's market again. Hope to see you there!

Elegant SF Wedding Part 2 of 3: Get Set

2011-06-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

And here's what became of all those lovely, fragrant, local materials, shown here all set for their little journey into the Big City. Next up, "Go" . . .

Elegant SF Wedding Part 1 of 3: Get Ready

2011-06-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of last week moving buckets and buckets of gorgeous flowers back and forth between various levels of relative coolness and warmth, coaxing the buds into just the right stage of openness for Sunday's elegant wedding in San Francisco. By Saturday I had assembled and opened one of the most fragrant ensembles imaginable for this time of year: carnations from Petaluma, peonies (hundreds of them!!) from Oregon, freesia from Watsonville, stock from Pacifica, garden roses from Petaluma, and gardenias and sweet peas from Napa. Can you imagine? Upon coming inside from the studio, Ben noted that I "smelled like flowers", which I think makes up for those days in Vermont when I came home smelling like something else : ). Up next, "Get Set" . . .

Critters in the Garden

2011-06-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

My grandfather makes these awesome birdhouses and feeders from old chicken coop wood. Usually they are just ornamental, but this year . . .

. . . we have occupants!

We also discovered this handsome little frog laying low in the (fancy) mulch pile. See him there on the left? Here's a closer look . . .

Ben was strongly compelled to interact with it, but contented himself with admiring from a distance. It just looked too cozy to disturb.

Luke Snyder Studio Photo Shoot

2011-06-14T21:41:00.000-07:00

A couple months ago I had the pleasure of contributing to a tiny little photo shoot inspired by E. F. Schumacher's “Small is Beautiful”, a book which elaborates on ideas such as “the aim should be to obtain the maximum of well-being with the minimum of consumption”. To create a festive and beautiful atmosphere while conserving resources, we incorporated vintage, local, and reusable details. Examples include retro dresses from Wildcat Vintage Clothing, mismatched silver service gathered from family and friends, La Saison's amazing Orange Scented Olive Oil Cake (deliciously fragrant with seasonal California ingredients), and a bridal bouquet of locally grown flowers (which, cut short and placed in a low ceramic vase, doubled as the head table centerpiece).

Luke Snyder, who heads up the talented team of photographers at Luke Snyder Studio, is inspiring not only for his ability to capture emotion, light, and the shyest subject's inner extrovert, but also his dedication to living simply. His studio is a certified Bay Area Green Business, formal recognition of the careful attention he pays to how his actions affect the environment and community.

Luke was kind enough to share these gorgeous photos. Thank you, Luke, for the beauty!

All photos in this post copyright Luke Snyder Studio.

To Brighten Her Day

2011-06-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

A Sunny Spring Wedding

2011-06-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

A week ago today, it was raining just about as steadily as it is today (which is unseasonably steadily), and I was feeling more than a little nervous for J&D, whose wedding was on Sunday. I needn't have worried- the clouds parted and the sun transformed the Napa Valley into a perfect Spring day, totally fitting this wonderfully warm couple.

The flower arrangements were like botanical portraits of late May in California, incorporating peonies from Fremont, roses and passion vine from Petaluma, freesia and Icelandic poppy buds from Pacifica, and cottoneaster, oak, and buckeye from Napa. I hope that around this time every year, the hillsides and gardens will remind J&D of their wedding day.

J&D's flowers to wear (above) and hold (below) both incorporated gardenias from Half Moon Bay.

I designed a wild crown for the flower girl (below), including roses from Petaluma, and ivy, lambs ear, cottoneaster, oak, and jasmine from Napa.

The chuppah (above and below) was constructed from local materials as well - Petaluma barn wood and eucalyptus saplings.

Carnations Done Like I Like Them

2011-06-03T19:28:00.000-07:00

I put together this arrangement including local carnations (from Neve Roses of Petaluma) way back in April in preparation for Mother's Day. Did you know carnations were once so in demand for Mother's Day that in 1917 American florists united in a national campaign to encourage consumers to consider other flowers, such as "her favorite" on the second Sunday in May? Mass importation, freakish artificial dyes, and contrived designs (both retro and contemporary) continued to batter the poor dianthus through the century, contributing to it's current reviled status. And I don't think that ugly, unspeakable abbreviation so common in the industry helped, either. Tear.

While the craziness that was May interfered with me actually posting these photos in time for Mother's Day, they've already proved useful in converting quite a few carnation haters; once people see these pretty flowers designed in a natural, gardeny way that flatters their feminimely ruffled petals, and are informed of their divinely spicy sweet scent (maybe I am spoiled on this count- I can get carnations locally and they may be more fragrant as a result), they love them almost as much as I do. : )

And An Elevated Vase . . .

2011-06-02T21:01:00.000-07:00

. . . Filled with a few (almost criminally random) flowers I had in the studio. This vase is in the running to serve in a wedding at the end of the summer (so still plenty of time to find the perfect one). The reflection from the blue tabletop made the glass look tinted; the last photo shows its color (or lack thereof) more truly.

Just A Little Budvase . . .

2011-06-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

. . . And a couple special flowers, put together here as a test run for a gardeny and sophisticated wedding celebration coming up later this month.

Napa Farmer's Market, Rain or Shine!

2011-05-31T06:11:00.000-07:00

The dust is still settling from this week's (or month's, really) events, but before I share some of what came to pass I just wanted to say that I'll be at the Downtown Napa Farmer's Market this morning, from 7:30 to 12, rain or shine (currently rain, once again). Due to the floral flurry that was this weekend I won't have many fresh wares, but I will have cards (ask-they'll be staying dry in the car), acorn ornaments and earrings, and a ready smile! Come say hi and make my soggy presence and the inevitable 700 calories I will consume in baked goods all worth it. : )

Natives

2011-05-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

I drive slowly, but I know where the turnouts are and I always use them. That's what I was doing when, among an unremarkable clump of a member of my studio's namesake genus (Sticky Monkey Flower, or mimulus aurantiacus), above and below left, I caught sight of a little splash of yellow that I knew was special. Do you see it? Take a closer look, below right, etc. . . .

Growing up, we called these "fairy lanterns", and I watched for them every spring in the same shady wooded patch a little ways from my house. In recent years that little colony has waned, so I felt very lucky to find these.

In looking up the latin name (Calochortus pulchellus), I discovered another reason to feel lucky . . . check out this crazy isolated distribution! If you come visit in the Spring, drop me a line. I'll show you where the fairies are hiding these days. : )

Worth the Wait

2011-05-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Any way you look at it, I've been waiting for the chance to design with these roses for a long time- since winter, yes, but over 10 years if you start counting from when I first visited Garden Valley Ranch in Petaluma (it's located just near my godmother's). So you'll please excuse my extreme documentation of these chaps- I was a little overjoyed to have them in my studio!

Old News

2011-05-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Two bits of old news from way back on Easter weekend: 1) Grandma's garden is looking awesome and 2) the man I have long referred to as my brother-in-law (for ease and accuracy of describing the relationship) proposed to my sister (shown below looking out over the Napa River during our reconnaissance of some studio space). Our families have been like family for years, but I'm still pretty friggin' excited to make it official. Congratulations again, L&C! I can't wait to start planning the flowers, so pick a date already! : )

And Then, Mother's Day

2011-05-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

The rest of the arrangements went out before I could snap photos, but here are some I made for the mothers in my life. They featured lots of flowers from the garden (both ours and that of the aforementioned friend of the bride's family, who very kindly let me snip a few sweet peas and white avalanche roses for my own purposes : ), as well as some "show ready" tulips that opened too white to be included in the colors-only wedding. After deliveries I spent the afternoon at my grandparents' house, feeling all the world like the luckiest little floral designer in the world and celebrating my grandfather's birthday, Mother's Day, and Cinco De Mayo all in one glorious fell swoop.

A Home Grown Wedding

2011-05-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to even begin to describe the joy that was designing the flowers for F&N's beautiful wedding; I was just totally blown away by the kindness and positive energy of everyone involved. A close friend of the bride's family lovingly grew the majority of the flowers for the celebration in her hillside garden overlooking the Valley (above), which I supplemented with some locally grown delphinium, peonies, ranunculus, and tulips. The result was a happy explosion of color, just as F&N wanted. :)

Have Woodland Meadow, Will Travel

2011-05-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Silverado Vineyards hosted one of the four "distinctive, multi-vintner, multi-course dinners", to mark the beginning of the Stags Leap District's V2V Weekend. Prepared by Chef Sarah Scott, co-author with Connie Green of The Wild Table: Seasonal Foraged Foods and Recipes, the meal featured foraged Napa ingredients such as elderflowers, chanterelles, fennel and black walnuts. (It smelled amazing . . . I suspect butter was also involved.)

I had the pleasure of designing appropriately wild centerpieces to match, which incorporated calla lilies, maidenhair fern, thistle, and oak from Napa, foxgloves and passion vine from Petaluma, lilac from Stockton, and Icelandic poppies and sweet peas from Half Moon Bay. Right. Up. My. Alley.

Here's trusty Buck, packed to the gills with flowers- a veritable woodland meadow on wheels.

It Rained the Other Day . . .

2011-04-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

. . . but it was a warm, misty rain. Slowly but surely summer is closing in.

Get Ye to the Stanly Lane Nursery!

2011-04-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, folks. If you are on a quest for mad hott tomato selection in the Bay Area, look no further. Remember Brad of Wild Boar Farms and lilac fame? He's partnered up with D&S Produce to bring you scores of unique varieties of vigorous little seedlings at Stanly Lane Nursery, each with their own mouth-watering descriptions and photographs, for your procuring pleasure. I should have posted this weeks ago, because the sale only goes through May (see hours below), so get to it quick! You don't want to miss this : ).

Not My Flower, Not My House

2011-04-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

As the title of the post announces, this is not my flower and not my house (not my cat, either, for that matter). But Jane's Flowers in the House Monday caught me off guard, so here it is. The story, at least, is partially mine : ).

My sister and I have a good friend back in Cambridge who LOVES flowers. Her endearingly high strung little kitty Violet, however, loves to DESTROY them. Methodically. With a decisive chop to the stem. Especially tulips.

So when we decided to get some flowers for our friend, we knew we had to send along a sacrificial bloom for Violet as well. Even during the Easter Floral Madness, the wonderful folks at our favorite local shop, Bow Street Flowers, were kind enough to help us out. Thank you!

Our friend sent photos of Violet's merciless floral treatment. I had the mug shot on file. She looks innocent enough, doesn't she?

Daffodilies

2011-04-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

Ahh, one last glimpse of one of my very favorite flowers, which have just made a graceful exit from the garden landscape. If, like me, you are still hungry for more narcissus, keep an eye on the visual bounty that is the Floret Flower Farm blog. This post here is exactly what I am talking about. Yum yum.

Messing Around

2011-04-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

Before sending these adorable (and very short) little ranunculus buds off to the all-consuming compost, I couldn't help but make them into something.

Ribbons and Bows

2011-04-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

Another test run for an upcoming wedding (can't wait!!)- this time it's the silk ribbon treatment up for review. I used whatever flowers I had on hand, and as a result learned that dogwood holds up worse than I'd thought it would, and viburnum better. I wouldn't trust either for an event, but they did the trick for this purpose.

I also provided the couple with some actual samples of the ribbon, because you can never be sure of color on the computer monitor. Another thing photos don't do justice is the amazing feel of this stuff. The more I work with natural silk, the more I love it. Definitely it is not as forgiving or inexpensive as polyester, but its pretty drape and softness is so worth it! And as I've said before, I love how I can sweep all my trimmings right into the compost : ).

The Lilac's Fate Part 3 of 3: Cake

2011-04-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

Just for fun, I used Ben's new little ramekins to make a (many layered) tall and skinny carrot cake, sugared some of those lilac blossoms, and went all Martha on it. Not too practical, but pretty and delicious. That's the whole point, right? : )

News Flash

2011-04-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

We interrupt our normal "Fate of the Lilac" coverage for this breaking news: Mom's tree peony, which this year set an unprecedented TWO BUDS, is now in full bloom. That's a combined diameter of 17 inches of fluffy pink goodness, folks.

The Lilac's Fate Part 2 of 3: For Oma

2011-04-12T08:48:00.000-07:00

This story probably constitutes the most wonderful flower delivery experience of my life.

My sister and I practically grew up with four other siblings, the children of our parents' friends. We've kept in contact over the years, though they're now on different sides of the country with work and study.

When I saw the four of them this Christmas, they arranged for flowers to be sent to their grandmother here in Napa on a random but ongoing basis throughout the year, whenever something awesome came into bloom. Lilac was an obvious candidate.

When Oma opened her door, she looked at the lilac and exclaimed "Oh, [German word] ! My favorite!". And then something to extent of "Those children . . . " with a quiet, contented smile. I was all warm and fuzzy the rest of the day, and still feel happy thinking back on it.

The Lilac's Fate Part 1 of 3: A Party

2011-04-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my lack of restraint, these ten centerpieces for a happy couple celebrating their engagement at Silverado Vineyards this weekend featured not one, not two, but THREE varieties of local lilac- the aforementioned double dark from Stockton, and the double lavender and classic single from one of Wild Boar Farms' Napa growing grounds. Combine those with sweet peas from Half Moon Bay, ranunculus from Petaluma, viburnum from Stockton, bearded iris from Napa (look for them in the last couple of photographs), and snapdragons from Salinas and you've got a happy little springtime explosion.

Here are five of ten, packed up in Buck for transport; I had a couple other deliveries and errands in Napa the same morning, so I made two trips. In these photos you can see the dark blue bearded iris, which I almost forgot to add. Good thing their patch in the garden is right by the driveway!

Resistance is Futile!!!

2011-04-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like two buckets brimming with gloriously plump local lilac to blur the line between "want" and "need".

We'll get back to the personal implications of that reality momentarily. But first, let me tell you a tiny bit about Brad of Wild Boar Farms.

Brad knows tomatoes. Loves tomatoes. Appears to eat, sleep, and breathe tomatoes, to the fullest, 10 months of the year. Unfortunately, said tomatoes only generate income for a portion of those 10 months. So to support his tomato habit through the lean Spring, Brad started dealing in lilacs (which he also appears to love). For some years, he "chased the lilac trail" with strategically placed growing grounds all the way up to Lake Tahoe. Apparently that was less romantic than it sounds, so now he roams closer to home, with enough varieties at different elevations and micro regions to extend his season over a few months. Which gets him into tomato time.

I hope to introduce Brad, his farm, and new Napa nursery at greater length in the coming weeks. But in the meantime, back to those two brimming buckets. Even though I had already purchased "enough" nice double dark lilac from Stockton (seen dwarfed in the background, below) to fill my orders, I couldn't resist buying just about everything Brad, fearing rain, had harvested from one of his small lilac patches in Napa the evening before our first meeting.

Don't worry, it went to good use.

Leftovers

2011-04-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Another tiny little bouquet made from flowers leftover from a larger installation last week, using entirely local blooms: lilac from St. Helena, ranunculus from Petaluma, lavender, olive, and hellebores from Napa, scabiosa from Watsonville, and tulips from Arcata. This crop of ranunculus had a rough time with it; I think that persistent, heavy rains we had here in North Bay, followed by an unseasonably hot spell, made for some pretty weak, bloated and botrytis-prone stems. Anyone ever had a similar experience?

. . . And, I'm Back

2011-04-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well, now, what just happened?? Last thing I remember I was scheduling a Flowers in the House post, and now here I am, a busy week+ later, not even sure what to share first. But I'll begin with these centerpieces for a celebration at Silverado Vineyards, which feature roses and ranunculus from Petaluma, varigated geranium from Half Moon Bay, tulips from Arcata, and olive and spirea from Napa. Now I'm off to catch up on all the happy happenings in blogland! I've missed you!

Flowers in the House

2011-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

The ever-hospitable Jane over at Small But Charming is throwing another flower house party.

I'll be on the go all Monday, so I'm scheduling this post to air in the morning, just a quick shot of a tenacious little geranium I cut from a friend's garden earlier this winter. After a few months in an old milk jug on our eastern facing bedroom window, it feebly burst forth with a tiny cluster of colorful little flowers.

Can't wait to get home to see everyone's houses and flower : ).

Liz Plots the Course and Takes the Helm

2011-03-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

When Liz is not working on tugboats, she is in school at Pacific Maritime Institute. The night I arrived in Seattle she diligently pored over her rolls of sea charts, plotting her course in preparation for a solo navigation of the Shetland Islands in a tugboat simulator, which concluded the term. After rocking that task the next day, Liz put on her flowers to wear and took the helm of her trusty land boat Land Cruiser (which doubles as a mobile home base and storage unit during her nomadic stints on shore), and drove us home to California.

Small is Beautiful

2011-03-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying a reread of "Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered" by E. F. Schumacher.

While the book occasionally verges on hippityflistic, on the whole I'm a big fan; it is very refreshing to hear a classically trained economist say things like, " . . . since consumption is merely a means to human well-being, the aim should be to obtain the maximum of well-being with the minimum of consumption". Word.

With that sentiment in mind, I put together a tiny bouquet from backyard weeds and flowers. Small really is beautiful.

The Clash

2011-03-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Liz has noted that the blog's new header clashes with most posts. Of course she is right, so I have rendered it in sepia. Is that better?

Home Again

2011-03-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it was a fantastic trip to Seattle. Liz did not hesitate a moment before putting on her ridiculously large floral headdress, I wandered around downtown for about six hours taking in all the sights and stores (so many awesome letterpress operations!), and it didn't rain/snow too hard on our drive home. But it's going to take me a while to get the photos off my camera and a proper write-up composed, so for now I give you a little bouquet of sweet pea, hellebore, banks rose, hyacinth, narcissus, feverfew, and pieris I designed before leaving home.

I Want to Put That on My Head

2011-03-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure that is more or less what Liz will say when she sees this photo of a ridiculously large floral headdress I made last night from leftover snippets of jasmine, pieris, rabbit foot fern, ranunculus buds, and hellobores. Which is why I am bringing it with me to go visit her in Seattle. More on the trip in a few days!