It’s bittersweet isn’t it- gone are our bike rides to Green Lake for an afternoon dip, our sun tans, flip flops and lazy hazy summer dayzees.  At the height of summer, Seattle boasts afternoons that last til 9pm- it’s preposterous. I love long sweaty days, summer dresses and summer drinks on the patio in the shade. This year a neighbor noted that our family had “nice grilling game”.  Who in their right mind cooks inside in the summer?!? Welp, there’s no turning time around but just when I’m about to dive deep into seasonal mourning mode nature delivers the perfect consolation prize. Beautiful Fall.  And with Fall, some of my favorite flowers and details with which to design. Here’s a short list: 

When should you send bereavement flowers? What kind of flowers should you send to express your condolences?

Should I Send Bereavement Flowers?

I get a lot of calls asking if sending bereavement flowers are a good idea.  Well of course they are, but you’re asking a woman who sleeps, eats and breathes flowers.  I love them- and sometimes when I’m not feeling well or my spirits are down, a beautiful bloom, more than anything, will make me feel better. Sympathy flowers don’t fix anything or bring back our loved ones, but they can send a thoughtful and heartfelt message to someone who needs it.  

One thing I love about floral design: It requires me to exercise my “let it go” muscle.  Despite my fully developed frontal lobe and submission to practical shoes, I still secretly pine over the image of myself tenaciously typing out the final chapter of my great American novel. Or, I hold a teeny, ittybitty torch for the canvas I’ll never turn into a moody portrait using paints with names like ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow and hookers green. I admit it, I have always wanted to be an artist- to live a wild, untamed existence where art reigns supreme and I am but a vessel! Ehem. Ok, maybe the torch is not so teeny.

You’re asking a florist but, but since you did, one of the most key elements to a beautiful day and a fabulous wedding are the flowers.  When do flowers matter more? Uh, never is the correct answer. Even if you choose extraordinarily modest florals, they will still take front seat and mark the bride and groom, the day, the affair.  Another couple may have all the bells and whistles arranged for their big day, but flowers will still steal that show too.  They set the mood, they set the style and they set a wedding aside from any other gathering. Think about your flowers, the color palette, the style, the quantity and the size- they will speak volumes regardless of whether you’ve got 15 or 500 people in attendance. Here are a few thoughts on the shape of your bouquet relative to the shape of your dress.

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In the last 6-7 years, indoor plants have really become a huge part of our zeitgeist. Designers, influencers, and hip singles are having a plant heyday.  This green rush has shifted flower shops like mine into flower/plant shops and I’m always on the lookout for cool new varieties in addition to the hearty classic plant that I may have found in my mother’s living room.