Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Early Morning

Florist hours are EARLY, and the mornings these days are COLD. But getting home when the sky looks like this:


and getting to work designing flowers that are sure to bring beauty and smiles into the world make it so very worth while!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Custom Orders

I love doing custom orders!


Please let me know if you would like any holiday arrangements by THIS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21st!


For custom orders, please send an email to: emailbotanique@gmail.com

To order one of our gorgeous winter offerings, visit: http://botanique.bigcartel.com/

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Jewel Tones

Recently I have been tending towards a more pastel palette, but today the jewel tones struck.


Bold, vibrant and dramatic, there they be.


Check out that moss on the steps! Not officially part of the arrangement, but it certainly got the "Be bright! Be bold!" memo.


I typically let amaranth spill over the edges of the vase- I love the way it cascades downward, creating a strong sense of movement. In this arrangement, I also wove a strand of it through the middle of the arrangement (see above), and really liked this effect- like a little river of lime green beads swirling through the flowers.


Jewel tones, I like you. I think you're a keeper.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Lichen

Lichen-covered twigs are my new best friends: very pretty color; very unique texture; very, very, very my favorite thing to put in arrangements right now.



I love the blue-grey-sea foam color of the lichen against the ivory roses and privet berries... to me this is a very soothing color palette- it reminds me of the ocean.


Don't you think that lichen looks a little like seaweed???


I like the challenge of trying to arrange with seasonal elements in the winter, when there is little blooming, budding, or otherwise showing off in wild color.


I feel like it opens my eyes to less common elements, and these are so often what makes an arrangement really special.


Keeping my eyes peeled for unique winter treasures! Have you found any that you would like to share???

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Winter Offerings (Part 2: LOCAL, LOCAL, LOCAL!!!)

I am so thrilled to offer two winter arrangements/gifts using local, seasonal flowers, plants and materials! They can be purchased by clicking here.

The Enchanted Northwest Narcissus Forest:



A forest of blooming and budding paperwhites hover above an understory of evergreen branches, pine cones, pebbles, and mossy woodland twigs.


If you look really close, you might even see a little fairy dancing around in there...


And, the ever-so-sweet, Teacup Terrarium:


These little guys are so flippin' cute, I can barely stand it.

  





Well there you have it- Botanique's 2011 Winter Offerings. All can be purchased by clicking here, with delivery to Seattle available. If you would like something custom, please just ask! We would love to make you the arrangement of your wildest dreams!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Winter Offerings (Part 1)

Would you like gorgeous flowers for your holiday table? Two of Botanique's winter offerings are now available! You can purchase them here.

Winter Light Table Arrangement:



Winter Fire Table Arrangement:



The chickens were very curious about yesterday's photo shoot. Whooping and clucking away while I snapped photos of the flowers. And while I know we all come here for the nice, pretty flower photos, I had to throw this one up too.

Lulu the chicken, my most discerning critic, assesses my work:


I think she likes it :)

I am also creating an all-local arrangement that will be available later on this week- stay tuned.....

Friday, December 2, 2011

Announcing The Botanique Seasonal Subscription!

It is with great excitement that I announce the arrival of the Botanique Seasonal Subscription! For over a year now I have been tossing around the idea of starting a subscription service that provides gorgeous, weekly arrangements of locally-grown flowers-  it is finally here!

Summer Dahlias, Cosmos, Lambs Ear, Scabiosas, Snapdragons and Clematis Pods, all grown in Seattle in The Botanique Cutting Garden.
The subscription works like this:

1) You sign up for the 8-week season of your choice (spring, summer or autumn, or all three)

2) You select where you would like to pick up your subscription (current pick-up sites are on Capitol Hill and in Mt. Baker, Seattle)

3) During each week of your subscription, you go to your pick-up site, drop off last week's vase, and pick up a new, gorgeous arrangement of seasonal flowers to enjoy all week long!

I am so excited to be using EXCLUSIVELY LOCALLY GROWN FLOWERS for this subscription. All flowers will come directly from The Botanique Cutting Garden in Seattle, WA, and a few select farms in Washington state with a commitment to sustainable growing practices. Flowers that are grown locally, without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, smell better, look better, and feel better to have in your home. There is no flying them across the world, no jet fuel pollution, no chemicals to worry about.... just incredibly beautiful blooms to add vibrancy, sweet fragrances, and joy to your life!

Zinnias, Scaboisas, Heather, Sedum and Clematis pods from The Botanique Cutting Garden, Fiber Optic Grass from Jello Mold Farm, Mt. Vernon, WA.
A weekly arrangement of unique and gorgeous seasonal flowers, berries, branches, and more; knowing you are supporting local agriculture and sustainable growing practices; enjoying the beauty of fresh flowers all week long, every week, for eight weeks straight.... does it get any better than that?

You can read more about the subscription and each season's offerings here

You can sign up for the subscription here

You can tell someone you would like this as a holiday gift.

You can give this to someone you love as a holiday gift.

You can give this to yourself as a gift.

Tulips, Fritillaries, and Dicentra from Choice Bulb Farms, Mt. Vernon, WA, Euphorbia from The Botanique Cutting Garden.
Flower it up!

Monday, November 28, 2011

A few Thanksgiving favorites

Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, good wine... and flowers.


Antique Hydrangea, Ornamental Kale, Privet Berries and Chocolate Cosmos...


And the apples, oh the apples! (Thanks for the great tip Francoise!!!)






Helga Piaget Roses- they smell AMAZING!!!

 
There were many more, but in the flurry of making, the photo taking took a back seat. 

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Magnolia Branches

With their angular twists and fuzzy little buds......... I think they look a lot like reindeer antlers.


The corner of a muddy boot for good measure :)




Loving watching the very end of fall... loving how the austere elegance of branches emerge as leaves circle their trunks with the skirts of their summertime clothes.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

A burst of brightness

Count on anemones and garden roses to brighten up these first, stormy days of Seattle's rainy season!

 


This arrangement was made for a friend of a friend, with the intention of sending bright, inspiring and cheerful thoughts in her direction- although it is almost shocking to see such vibrant colors at this time of year, it makes me think of spring and new beginnings...
 




Here's to hoping that your day is bright!