To Brighten Her Day

A Sunny Spring Wedding

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

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. : )