Posts Categorized: Uncategorized

Flower Workshop at Christianson’s Nursery

08/26/2019

Flower workshops are one of my favorite activities. And you can’t find a more inspiring location to host a workshop than at Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon, WA.  When I want to feel transported to another world for awhile, I go here. Held in their 100+ year-old school house that sits amongst their English rose garden, we were surrounded by beauty and charm. This workshop was held in the summer, when the bounty of my gardens was at it fullest.  I chose the color peach as my starting point. Flowers included dahlias, garden roses, zinnias, phlox, snapdragons, foxglove, and cosmos. Greenery included hydrangea leaves, asparagus, mint, sweet pea vines, oregano and cherry tomatoes. Though garden roses are my favorite flowers, I think the cherry tomatoes were the star of this design! Check out our Workshops for upcoming group events. Or schedule a private lesson with me, to focus on theRead More

Spa Day Birthday Party

02/10/2017

Birthday parties are some of my favorite celebrations to design for.  Our recent spa day party, created with Jenny Cookies, topped the charts! Celebrating Jenny’s daughters 11th birthday, the styling started with the Minted birthday announcement Ally chose featuring a swan.  The color palette fell into place from there: white, blush and black. Creating a focal point with the dessert table really sets the tone for the party.  Trying something new, Jenny purchased a pin board from Minted to use as the backdrop.  The beauty of this idea is that the board can be used after the party in Ally’s room.  Attaching flowers and vines directly to the board, I created a soft and flowing floral design to accent the gorgeous desserts provided by Jenny Cookies Bake Shop. The cake was the show stopper.  A naked cake with dripping frosting, I topped it with roses, anemone and eucalyptus. Such a softRead More

How to Make an Evergreen Wreath

11/30/2016

The smell of fresh evergreens always reminds me of Christmas.  I make evergreen wreaths every year to decorate my home for the holidays.  A simple DIY project to do, with just a few supplies needed from the craft store and greens from your yard. Gather some friends to make wreaths with you, just like Jenny Cookies did for her Wreath Making Ladies Lunch held at her home in the Seattle area. Here are the supplies you will need to get started: wire clippers pruners/garden shears paddle wire, 22 gauge wire wreath frame evergreen clippings garden gloves (optional, helps keep the sap off your hands)   For the evergreens, I clipped an assortment from my yard.  Many of the “foundation” plants used in landscaping are evergreen bushes and trees, so you probably have some in your yard as well.  I chose: cedar, juniper, spruce, pine and holly. When clipping your evergreens, makeRead More

Color Inspiration – Pears

11/16/2016

This morning, I was making breakfast for my girls.  A common task, one that I can do without really thinking about it.  My mind was wandering and my eyes settled on two pears sitting in a bowl.  Their color struck me as being really beautiful, the blush that is developing as they ripen.  The thought struck me: “What a great color palette for a wedding!” I am inspired by nature all the time. Some of my best ideas come from observing elements in my garden: a flower bobbing in the breeze, how a branch is bending, etc. I bring these observations to my floral designs, creating weddings that are garden-inspired and romantic in their look and feel. This time, inspiration came from two little pears. Pears have a lovely shade of yellow-green as their base color, a color found many times in new leaf growth.  It also happens to be a shadeRead More

Kiwi Harvest

11/07/2016

Visiting a garden in Seattle many years ago, I saw my first kiwi plant. It had climbed over the top of a pergola and made a lovely roof to sit under. The leaves were broad and vibrant green, very tropical looking to me. The vine was blooming and the smell was intoxicating.  I had to have one! Coming home with 4 plants that day, my adventure with fuzzy kiwi’s began. When people hear I grow kiwi’s, they can’t believe it.  First of all, they think they are tropical and couldn’t possibly grown in the Seattle area.  But they are originally from China and grow beautifully in our climate. Secondly, they know how they grow.  They look around my yard at my trees, thinking they grow like apples.  Nope, they grow on vines. And not just any vine, but vigorous monster vines that consume anything in their path.  I’ve had to move them twiceRead More