Anticipation

I am not afraid of color. But....

2011-02-09T16:37:00.005-05:00

I have always been someone who prefers subtle or no color in all things-- clothes, wall color, Starbursts (I only like the green and yellow ones). But once I started working with flowers I had to experiment more and more with color. When I loaded this picture into iPhoto I started playing with the effects. The top photo is the original and the bottom is faded just a bit. Even though these ranunculus are a beautiful shade of burgundy, I think I like the faded photo best. What do you think?

Fall blooms.

2010-10-13T16:20:00.003-04:00

Beautiful begonia.

It is a different variety than the begonia from my last post, but I love this variety because it comes back from year-to-year and it has the most delicate blooms, with little yellow pom-pom centers.

Also blooming in my yard is a Japanese anemone. I planted the anemone a few years ago and this season it began to grow very leggy, putting up 3 super long stalks. Each stalk has about 7 buds-- and each is blooming at different intervals, so I get to enjoy the blossoms for weeks.

I love....

2010-09-30T09:41:00.003-04:00

....begonias. This little guy is called and eye-lash begonia because of the tiny lashes it grows on each leaf. Pretty amazing and beautiful, right?

Flowering Succulent

2010-09-19T14:59:00.005-04:00

I love fall. I spend as much time as possible in our backyard this time of year. My plants also love this cooler weather. I have a collection of succulents that are growing like crazy, and this guy, my current favorite, has sprouted some beautiful orange blooms.

Mums the Word

2010-09-01T15:23:00.003-04:00

Love these photos that I found in the archives. Makes me dream of winter.

Jeremy + Amanda

2010-08-20T15:44:00.002-04:00

In June Jeremy and I were married! You can see more pictures on the Brooklyn Bride blog here.

a club for us

2010-08-02T17:14:00.004-04:00

I recently started reading a book called, The Rockwells' New Complete Book of Flower Arrangement. In this book I've learned that there use to be "flower clubs" and New York City had their very own New York Florists' Club.

I was curious about this club so I Googled it and found two interesting pieces of information. The first is a sort of guide to the Club's records which are housed at Cornell University's Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections. The collection contains: minutes, correspondence, photographs, etc. I wish I could see some of those photos and read those minutes....I'm a sucker for history.

The second is an article from the Times back in 1896. The headline reads: "Flowers for the Poor; Florists' Club and Gardeners' Society Prize Show." You can read it here.

The Florists' Club no longer exists.....

but I'm thinking I just might start one here in Brooklyn.

The Woods.

2010-07-06T11:40:00.002-04:00

Here are some of my favorites from the time that J and I spent at a cabin after the wedding. It was quite and relaxing and just what we needed after the wedding celebration.

A lazy Sunday afternoon

2010-06-01T15:45:00.002-04:00

J and I took a Sunday stroll to snap photos of some of our favorite neighborhood sights. Of course I'm drawn to all the flowers, especially the astilbe (the flower in the second photo). In fact, I hope to carry a big bunch of the white astilbe for my wedding!

We has a good laugh at the "nasty neck face" painting on the van. We took a picture of the two crazy creatures so that we can photoshop our own faces on it! Ha!

I love the mural in the last photo, .....not sure what it is exactly that I love so much, but I do love the expression on his face and the way the child is looking up. I imagine he's looking toward something amazing.

Sedum & Succulents

2010-05-22T12:35:00.002-04:00

I took a walk to the Gowanus Nursery this week and found some beautiful sedum and succulents. I love these little plants! Ruth and I will be potting them in different planters and selling them at the Brooklyn Flea in June.

The silvery-green succulent in the third picture is going to be used in a brides' bouquet for a photo shoot on Monday.

2010-05-01T09:20:00.002-04:00

My business partner, Ruth, created a couple of colorful planters using plants with pink, purple and green tones. I love plants (just as much as a love flowers) and the great thing about these planters is that each plant can be taken out and re-planted in a window box or garden.

Hold on.

2010-04-12T18:09:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to share some of my favorite close-ups from the past couple of weeks.

Life is moving pretty fast, and I'm doing my best to hold on....

Portland's spring

2010-03-30T11:29:00.002-04:00

I traveled to Portland last week with my Mom to really begin planning the wedding. We got a lot accomplished. One of the items on our "to do" list was visit the ceremony site at the rose garden. All these photos are from our walk around the garden. Everything was blooming-- it was so beautiful! I can't wait to see it when all the roses are in bloom.

#3

2010-03-15T11:29:00.003-04:00

The weekend spent with both my sisters, was a fabulous one! Filled with amazing food, shopping and more shopping.

I think I might have found my wedding dress, it was the first one I tried on, but I'm a bit hesitant to make my final decision so quickly. One of my sisters found her bridesmaid dress-- it's a cute navy with white polka dot dress.

Thanks, #3 for coming to visit and a special shout out to your husband for getting you the best Christmas gift ever!

spring?

2010-03-09T08:20:00.003-05:00

I love everything about these tulips-- the color, the shape, the way they remind me that spring is nearly here!

My younger sister is coming from South Dakota to visit me and my older sister this week. It isn't very often that all three of us sisters get to be together, so I'm really, really looking forward to our time. And we get to go wedding dress shopping! I'm not looking for a white, traditional dress, I want something that I can wear again. I have an appointment at Saja and with Miranda at The Banquet in hopes of finding the dress!

pin cushion

2010-03-03T18:16:00.003-05:00

A pin cushion protea was one of the first flowers JB ever gave me. That was way back before I was in the flower world, but I find I am still drawn to these funky looking flowers-- especially the yellow ones.

prospect park = joy

2010-02-23T11:19:00.004-05:00

This past weekend was sunny and warm. Along with hundreds of other New Yorkers, I spent a lot of time in Prospect Park, enjoying the warm sun. A weekend like this one makes it hard to believe it is still February.

Little plants.

2010-02-18T16:26:00.006-05:00

I love succulents and I have a number plants in all different shapes and sizes. I brought most of my plants home from the farmers market in Union Square and have managed to keep them alive for months with a little bit of water and lots of sun.

I potted these succulents together weeks ago and now each individual plant is starting to get accustom to the pot and one another. I like how they look together, and I really like the texture and size of the pot (I found it on Etsy).

I want to use succulents as part of my wedding decor....and I have an idea of how to do so....now to put that plan into action.

blackberries

2010-02-15T09:45:00.002-05:00

Last week I failed to mention one very exciting and important event from my weekend. JB asked me to marry him! I was totally shocked and surprised.....and of course I said yes.

I'm not a traditional sort of girl, and what we really want is to have a big party with our families and closest friends. I'm trying not to get caught up in all the details, but after working on the flower side of so many weddings it is hard not to!

milestones

2010-02-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Two of my dear friends were married at city hall this weekend. I was honored to be a part of the ceremony and excited to create a bouquet for the lovely bride! Congratulations P & S!

I also celebrated my 29th birthday on Saturday with a small gathering of friends. It was one of the best birthdays I've ever had.

inspired.

2010-02-01T13:49:00.001-05:00

For some time now I have enjoyed reading the blog of a florist in Spain. They call themselvesBornay. I have been inspired by their work-- it is so different than what I see in America-- and I like that.

My above creation was mainly influenced by the photos on this Sea Carpets post. But, I hope that you will take some time and enjoy all of their photos for they are truly dreamy.

Prince.

2010-01-29T15:20:00.001-05:00

I met an interesting young man today as I waited in the customer service line at the bank. His name was Prince. He said 3 things that I could agree with:

1. "If the world was a more organized place we would all be better off."

2. "If you hustle, good things will happen."

3. "I can see it written all over your face...you are going to have a good weekend."

Thanks, Prince. You made my day.

tiny wonders.

2010-01-26T17:14:00.001-05:00

I could look at ranunculus all day. They are another thing about winter (and spring!) that makes me smile. I guess most of the time winter isn't so bad after all.

Oh, and I saw someone semi-famous today-- Glenn Fitzgerald. It's not so uncommon living in NYC, but it is always a bit exciting to see an actor in person.

vitamin d.

2010-01-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

I think I have a bit of the winter blues. I'm tired of putting on my heavy coat every time I go outside. This time of year I crave sunshine, color and warmth. This time of year is when I cross the street from the shade-side to the sun-side to stay warm and get my vitamin D.

Thankfully on Saturday the sun was warm and I spent a good part of the day enjoying the sunshine. Oh, and I took these pictures of lemons....which also made me smile because I love yellow and all things sour.

Moving on.

2010-01-19T18:18:00.000-05:00

I'm working my last day at Seaport Flowers this week. I have mixed emotions about my decision to move on-- I'm excited to see what's going to happen next, but I'm also going to really miss the immersion in flowers and of course the ladies and gentlemen that I worked with.

Seaport is where I jumped in feet first to the flower world. I've been lucky to be surrounded by talented, and creative designers who where willing to share their valuable knowledge with me. Over the last few years I've learned an incredible amount about the business and about myself.

To the Seaport Crew: Thank you for all the laughs, creative guidance and encouragement. I'm going to miss you all! xoxo, amanda

p.s. to my small readership: I will continue to update my blog. Please keep on reading.

Transformers.

2010-01-12T09:07:00.000-05:00

Sometimes there is a flower that is just down right fascinating. This leucadendron is one of them. I have had these leucas since before Christmas and now they are transforming from the flower on the right, in the above picture, to the flower on the left. It is simple enough-- over time they are drying and changing into the pine cone looking flower, but I think it is just wonderful.

Favorite.

2010-01-11T08:47:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite arrangements from this week: cymbidium, agapanthus, ranunculus, hyacinth, hydrangea, geranium, privet berry and dusty miller.

Color.

2010-01-07T21:29:00.000-05:00

Two different arrangements made for delivery.

This week we all have been like kids in a candy store-- not knowing which flower to use first. It is wonderful to have a variety of colors back-- December is a month full of red, white and green. We now have none of those and all of the above.

And maybe a sugar high.

2010.

2010-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I love the thought that with a the new year comes a fresh new start. Good-bye 2009. Hello 2010. Time to regroup, organize and jump out of the gate at full speed.

Resolutions

2009-12-29T19:03:00.000-05:00

I can't believe 2009 is coming to a close. Thanks to everyone for reading!
It has been a great year-- and I still need to sit down and reflect on what happened these last 365 days, but you see how that silver brunia has tons of little off-shoots going in all directions? That is my brain right now.

Now if I was one to make new year's resolutions, perhaps I would resolve to organized my thoughts and vow to think positively about every last one of them. But, I've never been very good at keeping resolutions, so instead I think I will just start a really long to-do list. Do you make new year resolutions?

Swag

2009-12-22T20:38:00.000-05:00

I made a few swags this week. The one above and another really big one. I used magnolia, white, pine, noble fir and ilex berries. I like swags, except for getting all that sap on my hands.

Two more days till we get to rest. I think I've said this before-- but I can't wait.

snowflakes

2009-12-21T08:18:00.000-05:00

Beautiful snow in Brooklyn on Saturday night. We braved the storm to go get some noodles at our new favorite restaurant, ZuZu Ramen. Their noodles and dumplings are totally worth the snow blowing in my face for 8 blocks!

Wheat snowflakes are the only holiday decoration that I have had time to put up. After Christmas I have a 5 day break-- and I can't wait.

10 days and counting

2009-12-15T17:39:00.000-05:00

I looked at a calendar today realized that Christmas is 10 days away. How did it sneak up on me like this? The last 3 weeks have been a whirl-wind at work-- and somehow just because others are decorating for the holiday, it doesn't sink in that I should participate in this holiday too.

The bonsai tree in the above photo is from a fall trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.....which seems like yesterday, but in reality was a least 4 or 5 weeks ago.

morning light

2009-12-07T10:29:00.001-05:00

I was trying to snap a few photos in the morning light, but Jackson was curious and wanted to help. Then we both got distracted-- him with the birds out side the window and me with the way the light played on his fur. I think I took about 20 pictures of Jackson, instead of the flowers.

paperwhites

2009-12-02T08:30:00.000-05:00

Mmmmmmmm, paperwhites.
I think having these bulbs around can verify the beginning of a new "flower season". The time for pine, boxwood, and magnolia is now.

Top 3

2009-11-30T09:12:00.000-05:00

I hope that everyone had a restful Thanksgiving weekend. I had 2 days off to eat, drink, take naps and long walks. It was splendid. I'm thankful for those 2 days of complete relaxation.
My cat, Jackson, is thankful for:
1. Q-tips
2. toilet paper rolls
3. paper balls
These are a few of his favorite toys. He loves to play fetch with 1 and 3, and 2 is a recent addition, so we will have to see how long it stays on his top 3 toy list.

November tree

2009-11-23T08:16:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it is almost December! And I haven't even had to break out the extra warm puffy coat yet!
Sorry for the lack of flower pictures, I have been organizing Christmas merchandise (along with the prep for Thanksgiving) for a week and now there will be a full 4 weeks of holiday decorating, flower arranging, wreath making and bulb planting. I will do my best to update here, but this next month going to be a busy one.

holiday

2009-11-16T08:42:00.000-05:00

It has been a week of holiday preparation. Thanksgiving is near, and Christmas will be with us all December long. I wish I could say that I loved this time of year-- but I've never been big on holidays.

The succulents above are from my "personal collection." I love the texture, color and shape of their leaves.

little party

2009-11-09T17:19:00.000-05:00

Pictures from a little party we did last week. The big piece is in the customers vase...I used cymid heads, vanda orchids, mums, ilex berry, oak leaves and my favorite of the season, sandersonia. Whenever I get the chance to make a big piece like this I'm reminded of how much I still have to learn. Luckily I work with ladies who are willing to let me learn by doing.

Sandersonia is the yellow/orange bell-like flower in the first two pictures. The bud vases were for her small tables. And best of all I delivered the flowers to her home, so I was able to see them in the space and see her reaction.

man's best friend

2009-11-06T07:39:00.000-05:00

You know how at the bank they have a little cup full of suckers on the counter? Well at my bank they not only have suckers, but they have little dog biscuits too. My bank is trying to be both kid and dog friendly.
Yesterday I was impatiently standing in line at this kid/dog friendly bank and a gentleman walked up to get a snack, but instead of grabbing a sucker he took a handful of dog biscuits. A handful of dog biscuits isn't unusual, but he didn't have a dog with him, so I thought to myself, "maybe he has a dog at home."
But boy was I wrong. As he was walking back to his place in line he took a giant bite out of one of the biscuits! And he processed to eat the entire handful of biscuits.
This little scene made my wait in line just a little more tolerable.

botanicals

2009-11-04T08:01:00.000-05:00

Visited the Brooklyn Botanical Garden yesterday. Found lots of interesting pods, seeds and a few roses.

2009-11-02T09:11:00.000-05:00

Had a super weekend-- cheered for thousands as they ran the NYC marathon, hungout with my sis, enjoyed a yummy brunch, and witnesses hundreds of children on a sugar high.

up high, down low

2009-10-29T08:21:00.001-04:00

Yesterday a customer gave me a high-five. Guess he was glad that the rain had finally stopped.

hello lovely

2009-10-26T11:13:00.000-04:00

We had extra beautiful flowers in the shop last week-- the loveliness of the flowers was key in off-setting all the crazy customers we had to deal with. Above are: tree peony, garden roses, mini cymbid heads, sandersonia, and ilex.

the little things

2009-10-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Most of the time I am the designated maker of the corsages and boutonnieres for weddings. I love the detail and smallness of these pieces and the above corsage is one of my favorites so far. I used bits of dutch hydrangea, dendrobium orchid heads, muscari and berried ivy.

an apple a day

2009-10-21T08:07:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was a perfect, beautiful fall day. I wandered around south Park Slope enjoying the sunshine and a yummy croissant from Colson Patisserie.
On my train ride home I sat next to a woman who was eating an apple in an odd way. First of all, I think eating on the train is a bit gross. The smell and sound in such an enclosed space usually bother me. Second and more importantly, she didn't want to eat the peel of the apple so she would take a bite, chew for a moment and then spit out the skin in her hand. I love apples and eat them often-- but not so much today.

last of the season?

2009-10-19T07:54:00.000-04:00

With the cold and rainy spell that we have had here in Brooklyn, I'm sure that dahlia will be finished for the season. I made the above arrangement a few weeks ago and took the photos outside on the sidewalk to get some natural light. (Sorry about the van tire in the background....for some reason I kindof like it there and didn't want to crop it out!) I also used hydrangea, vanda orchids, tulips, dot mums, and the small green puffs are a carnation.

west coast style

2009-10-16T08:09:00.000-04:00

Lately, I have been fascinated with the way that gardens and indoor plants are used on the west coast. They seem to have the sustainability factor always going for them. Here is one example via Flora Grubb Gardens Blog that I really like. They used air plants to create this vertical wall garden.

*image via Flora Grubb Gardens Blog.

Begonias.

2009-10-12T10:22:00.000-04:00

Begonias have become one of my favorite plants. I love the different texture, color and shape of their leaves. Their blooms are petite and perfect with a yellow pom-pom. For some reason I am drawn to plants that prefer the shade-- ferns and begonias are at the top of my list. Above are three variates that I have discovered this last season.

Dahlia

2009-10-08T08:29:00.001-04:00

Just something pretty for a Thursday. And maybe the fall colors can remind all those readers in WY and SD that it is still in fact fall and not winter.....despite the snow!

New Blog

2009-10-05T11:23:00.000-04:00

This past week at the flower shop was insanely busy. We had 3 weddings, a bar mitzvah and a funeral. I didn't have a free moment to spare to snap any photos of my work, so I want to take this opportunity to introduce one of my new favorite blogs. It is written by the energetic, Alicia, who recently was married to a farmer and is making the transition from city life to country life. She is a childhood friend of J.B.'s and whenever we are in Portland we love to hang out with her and her husband. So without further adieu: High heels in the Barnyard.

image via High Heels in the Barnyard

fall flowers

2009-09-28T09:43:00.000-04:00

I love fall flowers and all the textures that this season brings. Above we have dahlia, kale, mini cymbid heads, leucadendron, amaranthus, leycesteria (the dark colored pod dangling out of the vase) and one of my personal favorites, kangaroo paw.

Flowers in magazine!

2009-09-22T12:11:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I had the privilege to create the above flower arrangement for Seaport Flowers to be featured in the Fall/Winter 2009 Brides New York. This is my first piece that has been in print! Very exciting! I've been buying copies for the whole family!!!

west coast

2009-09-15T09:09:00.000-04:00

A few more pictures from my trip west: beautiful plantscape at the Ace Hotel in Portland, huge starfish and the beach.

some from wyoming, and a few flowers

2009-09-14T08:46:00.000-04:00

End of summer, beginning of fall flower arrangement, Wyoming sunflower field and sunrise, and a smiling goat.

passion vine

2009-09-11T07:47:00.000-04:00

I'm back from vacation and trying to get into the routine of things. My trip to Wyoming and Portland, OR was wonderful and I will post more pictures in the upcoming week. But, I couldn't wait to share this photo of the beautiful passion vine that I spotted in the backyard of a pub where JB and I were enjoying a sunny-fall-like-Portland-afternoon.

Grandma's dahlias

2009-08-31T13:01:00.000-04:00

I picked these beautiful dahlia from my Grandma's garden. I didn't know that dahlia would grow in Wyoming, but these are just lovely.

summer joy

2009-08-21T07:32:00.000-04:00

For me there is always a point during the summer that this city gets too dirty, hot, noisy, rude, and entitled. I reached this point about a week ago. And now it is time to take a break. The flower shop is closing for the annual end-of-summer vacation and I'm headed home to enjoy a week of Wyoming quite. After that I'm headed further west to Portland for a few more days of fresh air. I hope everyone enjoys the end of summer!

Farmers Market Flowers

2009-08-17T09:29:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I got up early on a Saturday morning and went to the Union Square Farmers Market. I found some wonderful flowers and grasses some of which I used in the little bouquet above.

Bright, hot white

2009-08-12T07:57:00.000-04:00

The bright white flower in the above pictures is called a eucharis lily-- it is flower that we don't often get in the flower shop because of the price. Also, the eucharis is a flower that naturally has a graceful long neck which the flower hangs on, and because of the way that the bloom hangs, to many people it might look not too healthy. (At this point I wish I had a shot of just the lily.... sorry!) In the above arrangement I tucked the eucharis between other flowers to support the bloom.

Thank you Vermont

2009-08-07T08:24:00.000-04:00

We had some beautiful clematis from Vermont in the shop this week. It was so viney and perfect. We also had some watermelon peony-- which sadly I didn't snap a picture of. Both of these flowers are truly a treat to have in the hot month of August. Kindof like having ice cream on a hot summer afternoon....

Where I Stand Sunday....remix

2009-08-03T14:20:00.000-04:00

I almost stepped on this beautiful, giant, bright green caterpillar this afternoon......so glad I didn't. He was moving across the sidewalk at a fairly fast pace and had made it safely to someone's front patio by the time I was finished taking the pictures.

**Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life "standing".
Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on.
The ground we tread on has its own stories to tell.

Vacation photos

2009-07-31T21:48:00.000-04:00

JB and I had a lovely time in the Adirondacks. I wish we could have stayed for another week. We hiked, swan, ate yummy food, took naps, and mostly enjoyed the complete and utter silence that only the mountains can offer.

Adirondacks

2009-07-26T08:57:00.000-04:00

I'm headed to the Adirondacks for a few days of quite and relaxation. I love the mountains and can't wait to spend all my time outdoors. I hope the rain stays away.....

You are here.....where I stand Sunday

2009-07-20T13:40:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, JB and I hopped on the G train and headed to Williamsburg. I don't really go to Williamsburg all that much-- it is still a part of the city that is being built up-- there are a lot of old industrial building that are in the process of being converted into condos. It is a neighborhood full of artists which is evident by all the very cool graffiti.

**I was recently introduced, by a good friend's Mom, to this new idea for a blog post on Sundays. So, this post also represents the following:
Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life "standing".
Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on.
The ground we tread on has its own stories to tell.

new flower

2009-07-15T21:21:00.000-04:00

We had a flower in the shop this week that I had never seen before. (Which in reality isn't that surprising for a couple of reasons: 1) I was raised on the prairie where not much grew except what was planted as crops and 2) After only 2 year in the flower industry my flower knowledge is still a bit limited). With that being said, let me introduce Haemanthus. It is the bright orange flower in the pictures above. After some basic research I believe it is a member of the amaryllis family, it sprouts from a bulb and it grows in South Africa.

300 callas

2009-07-13T09:26:00.000-04:00

We had a wedding at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens this weekend. Above are some of the arrangements packed up and ready to go. It's difficult to tell, but there are 12 vases full of about 25 calla lilies each.

back in the saddle

2009-07-09T08:18:00.001-04:00

The shop re-opened yesterday after being closed for the 4th of July holiday. My break was lovely, but it was good to be back amongst the flowers. After being away from work for about 10 days my hands had gotten "soft" and almost back to normal. Because my hands weren't their usual leathery, calloused selves, I was constantly pricking/cutting them with thorns and sharp leaves. Hopefully they will toughen up over the next few days. And thank goodness the wedding we have this weekend is using mainly calla lilies and orchids (no thorns)!

the loveliness of summer

2009-07-02T17:46:00.000-04:00

I like to plan. It's just my nature. I like to have a plan, make plans, and occasionally break plans. Sometimes my need to plan gets in the way of enjoying the present moment. In an effort to "live in the now" I try not to over-plan. But, try as I might, my mind wanders to the future and wants to sort, plan and organize.

Here's an example: The other day I moved a piece of furniture really close to the radiator, and I mentioned to JB that it can't be that close in the winter when the heat is on. He just sighed, looked at me and said, "winter is a long ways away, and we can do something about it then." He went on to ask my why I was even thinking about winter when it is the middle of summer. I had no logical excuse, other than my innate desire to plan.

To my credit, I realized that I might be thinking of winter because I'm reading Willa Cather's, My Antonia and she does a brilliant job of describing the hardships of winter on the Nebraska prairie. I particularly love these sentences about winter:
"This is reality, whether you like it or not. All those frivolities of summer, the light and shadow, the living mask of green that trembled over everything, they were lies, and this is what was underneath. This is the truth. It was as if we were being punished for loving the loveliness of summer."

So I've set a goal for myself this summer-- I'm going to do my best to enjoy "the living mask of green" and the "light and shadow" that comes alive in Brooklyn this season.

Parents visit continued...

2009-06-30T13:02:00.000-04:00

I didn't take many pictures while my parents were visiting, but my mom was kind enough to send me her photos of the trip.....this way I have a few to share with you from their visit 2 weeks ago.
I know I mentioned that I took my parents to the NYC flower market. I had a great time showing them all the amazing flowers and greens the market has to offer. Above is a picture of U.S. Evergreen-- that place is always packed full of branches and various other greens-- there is just a small path to enter and exit.

Here we are at the Mets game. Sitting out the rain delay and then enjoying the sunshine. I'm so glad my parents made the trip out to visit! We had a great time.

Schools out for the summer

2009-06-26T08:35:00.000-04:00

I used some beautiful white peony in the arrangement above, but I think that most peony are finished for the season-- and I have to admit that I'm a bit sad about not having a big, fluffy flower to arrange with. Summer flowers are still beautiful, but summer is not my favorite season. I don't like the heat and neither do most flowers.

Today is the last day of work before a 10 day vacation. The shop closes for the holiday and we all get a much needed break from work. Ruth put it best when she said it feels like the last day of school.

pretty in pink

2009-06-23T12:50:00.000-04:00

My weekend with the parents was a success. My sister (who also lives in NYC), JB and I kept them busy, over-stimulated, and as well-fed as possible.

We visited the Met where we saw the new American Wing, the Impressionists and the Armor and Weapon exhibit (this was my Dad's pick). On Father's Day we went to a Mets game where we were some of the few die-hard fans who sat out a 7th inning rain delay. Thanks goodness for giant plastic ponchos! We also walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and wandered around the Lower East Side, skirted Chinatown and took a stroll down Mulberry street for some cannolis.

My favorite part of their trip was taking them to the NYC flower market. We went a bit late on Saturday morning-- but I was still able to show them some amazing flowers.

**The pictures above are of an arrangement that I made for a 60th birthday party. I used gorgeous peony, garden roses, calla lilies, green hydrangea, and chocolate cosmos.

Yes, please

2009-06-18T21:43:00.000-04:00

I'm excited for my parents to come and visit the big city this weekend. This will be their first real visit to Brooklyn and the flower shop where I work. Besides spending some quality time with my mom and dad, there are two items that my parents are going to somehow pack in their suitcases that I'm really looking forward to having: 1) fresh rhubarb from my mom's garden (I love a good rhubarb torte) and 2) steak, and not just any steak, but steak that was raised by my Dad with no antibiotics or any of that bad stuff.

I'm sure there will be many memorable moments this weekend-- and maybe my parents and I can squeeze in a brainstorming session about topics for "Farm Talk".

Farm Talk 101

2009-06-14T11:53:00.000-04:00

I have a tendency to lose my clipper all the time at work, so about a month or so ago I bought this handy accessory from Felco to help me keep track of it. This holster has been a catalyst for many conversations and something very exciting which we all call "farm talk". Farm talk starts everyday around 6pm and I try to pick a topic which will interest, but not gross-out my city-slicker co-workers.

For example, the other day my, Brooklyn-born-and-raised co-worker, Ruth, said that we were acting like sows, because we had consumed a large amount of cookies and chocolate to help us power through a long day. I decided this was a perfect topic for farm talk. I started the conversation by saying that female pigs are also called sows, but only if they have had babies. I gently told Ruth, that in fact she is the only "sow" among us because she is the only female who has had a baby. Female pigs who have not birthed babies are know as gilts..... so that would be the category all the rest of us fall under.

The ladies found this information fascinating and I continued their education by telling them next about the 2 types of male pigs. Boar = fully intact male (with all the necessary baby-making parts). Barrow = castrated male pig. I also tried to explain that on most farms you don't keep a lot of intact males. At that point the ladies had a few questions and I did best to answer them.
Q: "Have you seen baby pigs being born?"
A: Yes, many times.
Q: What about baby lambs?
A: Nope, my dad wouldn't let us have sheep-- he said they were trouble, that they get out of the corral/pasture too easily. We stuck with pigs, horses and cows.

It went on like this for about 20 minutes and then we got distracted by the end-of-day clean up. However, the next day around the same time the ladies wanted to hear more about life on the farm. So, I pulled another story/farm fact from my memory and everyone was fascinated yet again.

There have been many topics covered (artificial insemination, goose jerky, why I dislike chickens, rattle snakes) and when we touch on a really interesting topic, I will do my best to write about it.

Welcome to Farm Talk!

Grace Court Alley Wedding

2009-06-14T10:48:00.000-04:00

This weekend we had 3 weddings. One was right down the street on Grace Court Alley-- which I think is by far the most beautiful street in New York City. The alley is a dead-end and is lined with amazing carriage houses. Now days people use the ground floor of their carriage house as a garage, but back in the 1800's the ground level was a barn for their horses. I was lucky enough to take a tour of one house where they still have original horse stalls in place.

The couple who was getting married just finished a renovation of one of the carriage houses on the alley so the wedding took place outside on the street under strands of little lights.....it was so lovely.

I was given the privilege of making the brides maid bouquet and all the boutonnieres for the wedding party. The bride and groom like a lot of texture and funky flowers, so this was a fun one to put together. I used vanda orchids, a spray garden rose, lisianthus, scabiosa pods, lysimachia, leucadendron, and a fuzzy flower that I don't know the name of. I also used the fuzzy flower for the boutonnieres along with some blueberry and leucadendrom.

globe master

2009-06-10T08:39:00.000-04:00

Last night I had dinner with a friend near Columbus Circle. I was suprised and excited to see all the allium-- some of which are called globe-master. Typically they are a purple flower, but these are past their prime and have lost most of their petals....however, they are still wonderful.

farmers market

2009-06-09T09:16:00.000-04:00

I unexpectedly had Saturday off from work. It was a beautiful day and JB and I took a walk up to the Prospect Park green market. I love the farmers market......it takes me back to my childhood and all the fresh summer vegetables that would come from my mom's garden. I'm glad it is just the beginning of summer and there are many, many more market trips to come!

TV on the Radio

2009-06-06T10:48:00.000-04:00

Last night we went to the TV on the Radio concert in Central Park....in the pouring rain. In spite of the weather, it was surprisingly a great time.....as you can tell from JB's excitement in the above picture.

2009-06-04T09:01:00.000-04:00

There is some beautiful white astrantia in the shop this week. I combined it with peony, artichoke, allim, blue trachelium, and clematis.

Bunny tails.

2009-06-01T15:03:00.000-04:00

We had this wonderful fuzzy grass in the shop this week. We were calling them bunny tails, because we don't know their correct name.....but I think bunny tails is appropriate, and probably more fun than the real name. Also, pictured above are local New Jersey peony and scented geranium.

So fresh and so clean....

2009-05-29T08:34:00.000-04:00

I really like the crisp feel of the bright green, fuchsia and white combo. In this simple arrangement, I used peony, trachelium, geranium and scabiosa flowers.

2009-05-24T10:14:00.000-04:00

We have had a very busy month at Seaport. (Which is why I have been horrible at updating this blog!) This week we had 4 parties-- 3 weddings and one 50th wedding anniversary. Above is the groom's boutonniere for a wedding at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. I have to say that this is my favorite boutonniere of all time. I used tiny succulents and some silver leucadendron.

2009-05-17T11:41:00.000-04:00

This weekend all the ladies at Seaport had the rare treat to attend a wedding for which we created the flower arrangements. The bride is a co-worker and she had collected over 120 milk-glass vases which we filled with fluffy yellow and white flowers. The party was spectacular-- a Buddy Holly band, an outdoor ceremony, good friends and food. We danced until our feet hurt and ended the night by tossing popcorn at the bride and groom as they made their exit. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Rico!

2009-05-11T14:55:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day is really a 3 day event-- Friday was all the folks buying flowers because they were going out of town for the weekend to visit Mom, Saturday consisted of people who plan ahead or pre-order and Sunday was full of last-minute customers. There were a couple of times on Sunday when I looked up from madly creating a bouquet to see a line of people to the door. And by the time Sunday rolled around, my hands had lost most of their dexterity and my professionalism was at an all time low.

On top of all of this craziness we had a wedding to put together for today! So on Saturday night we created the centerpieces and on Sunday evening after super cleaning the shop we made 17 boutonnieres, 2 corsages and 3 posies. For the most part the holiday went smoothly and I enjoyed helping customers, however, Sunday started and finished with difficult customers who tested my patience.

Amidst all the hurry and rush of the holiday I didn't take any pictures, but here are some photos of my favorite tree-- dogwood.

Lady-slipper

2009-05-04T17:24:00.000-04:00

This week we had the rare treat of having lady-slipper orchids in our shop. They are an expensive flower, but are so perfect. They get their name from their shape. I wish my slippers looked more like delicate flowers and less like furry creatures.
This arrangement also has callas, red peony, viburnum, and fritillaia.

2009-04-29T21:29:00.000-04:00

Mother's Day, which is by far the biggest flower holiday, is next week. We spent most of the day cleaning/restocking/organizing the shop for the onslaught of flowers and customers. Don't forget to do something nice for your mom next week.

Spring party

2009-04-24T21:53:00.000-04:00

I Made this arrangement for a spring party. Everyone is having a party-- warm weather makes people want to socialize again. On my walk home from work the air was buzzing with excitement. Enjoy the weekend!

Lucky me

2009-04-21T17:14:00.000-04:00

JB and I took a day trip to Cold Spring, NY this past weekend. It is a lovely little town full of antiques and restaurants. We wandered around and admired the forsythia, the Hudson, and the oddities of small town life.
JB even found a 4-leaf clover. (Actually he found 2 of them.....but I lost one. I guess as far as luck goes I'm doomed.)

Go Green.

2009-04-18T08:50:00.000-04:00

We had some beautiful ranunculus in the shop this week- I created this simple arrangement of cream and green ranunculus for one of our weekly clients. Sadly, from here forward I think that these beautiful ranunculus are only going to get smaller-- their season is coming to an end-- along with tulips. But that is good news for peony lovers-- we are getting some from California next week!

2009-04-17T08:16:00.000-04:00

You never know who you are going to meet or where your flowers are going to end up when you work in a retail flower shop in New York City. The possibilities are endless, so it is always our goal to make the flowers the most beautiful they can be! (But just so you know, the secret to Seaport Flowers beautiful work is that we make everything as if it were going to our mothers.)

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to help a gentleman choose an arrangement for the launch party of this book, The Perfect Baby Handbook. Dale was kind enough to post a picture of the flowers on his book's website. You can see the image here and check out his book here.

**Just a little reminder for my mom (who might be the only one who consistently reads this blog)....click on the different colored and/or underlined words and it will link you to the picture you want to see.

2009-04-13T09:25:00.000-04:00

It was a busy week-- Passover, Easter and a wedding all wrapped in 7 days. And this is just the beginning of the wedding season. May will bring many, many more.

Here are a few pictures of an Easter centerpiece that I made-- it includes ranunculus, a spray garden rose, tulips, and viburnum.

Super-size

2009-04-07T09:38:00.000-04:00

We had this beautiful super-sized ornithogalum in the shop last week. In this purple and white arrangement I mixed it with lisianthus, scilla, dot mums and fiddlehead ferns.

In this arrangement for a customer with a new baby, I used the ornithogalum with ranunculus, lisianthus, hydrangea and artichokes.

Orange Crush

2009-04-02T15:12:00.000-04:00

I really like these orange ranunculus-- and I really like the fact that spring is finally here for real!

Garden fresh

2009-03-31T08:23:00.000-04:00

I have been feeling a bit under the weather these past few days, but hopefully I on the tail-end of this silly cold.

This arrangement is from last week. Someone requested a loose, just-picked-from-the-garden-style. I used lilic, tulips, lisianthus, dot mums, queen anne's lace, geranium (the leaf) and a vine flower called clematis.

2009-03-26T09:04:00.000-04:00

We have been surprisingly busy in the shop this week. Lots of flowers for lots of orders. Yesterday we got some of the most beautiful, big ranunculus. Below I combined them with garden roses and sweet pea.

Outdoor plants

2009-03-23T14:05:00.000-04:00

I visited a local garden shop this weekend and was happy to see a few outdoor plants (mainly pansies) for sale. But, it seems like the spring warm-up will never get here.....it was 29 degrees this morning!
I like pansies, they are a hearty flower that will grow in fairly harsh conditions-- even Wyoming. I especially like the yellow ones.

Something new.

2009-03-21T08:38:00.000-04:00

I don't often get a chance to make arrangements like the one below.... but this was fun to make. I used cymbidium orchids, french tulips, horse's tail and the tall branch is buckeye.

Tips

2009-03-18T07:44:00.001-04:00

We only have one delivery man at the flower shop and on occasion the need arises for one of us "floral designers" to make a delivery. These deliveries are usually close to the shop, so we can just walk the flowers to the recipient.

Yesterday, I walked a delivery of green flowers for St. Patty's Day. I have delivered my fair share of flowers, and I have learned that there is about a 1 in 10 chance of getting a tip for such a service. I'm not upset about such odds, because most of the time our flowers are a surprise, and I just love seeing the expression on their face when they realize the flower are for them. However, yesterday was different. Yesterday, when I delivered the green flowers to an elderly lady she asked me to wait just a minute....and of course this is code for "let me rummage through my purse and find a few singles." Don't get me wrong, I am always grateful for a few extra dollars to buy another cup of coffee, sometimes it is just a bit awkward to wait for a tip, and I didn't want to be rude. So I stood there and waited and listened to the Irish music that was streaming out of her open door. It was what happened next that I was unprepared for.

As she handed me $2 she also handed me a piece of bread, and she explained that it was Irish rye bread and to top it off, it was buttered! I was a bit shocked and not sure how to respond to such an offer after all the childhood lessons of don't take food from a stranger and for the simple fact that this is New York and most people cannot be trusted, but to be polite I accepted the bread and money with a thank you and walked away. I have never received food for delivering flowers. This was a first.

Okay, so I have a bit of a dramatic train of thought. (I know this, but usually I still let my mind wander to the most extreme of these thoughts). When I got back in the shop I was still carrying the bread and wondered aloud to my co-worker, "do you think this bread is okay to eat, maybe it is poisoned." She laughed at me and then calmly asked if I thought there was any reason someone might want to poison me. I thought for a moment, and replied no. That settled it then, we cut the bread in half and enjoyed my tip.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

2009-03-17T08:22:00.000-04:00

Peace.

2009-03-14T09:38:00.000-04:00

We had so many beautiful flowers in the shop this week, lots of soft, spring-like colors. I haven't always liked these pastel tones, but I must admit they are growing on me....they are so peaceful.