Melissa and Jeff

It's fairly rare that we take on a really small order for wedding flowers.... but occasionally the right people come along and we do! Melissa come to the studio with a very open perspective. I remember during our consultation saying, "It sounds like you would be happy with somewhat of a surprise," and she said yes, she would! She didn't want to pin down too much about her flowers, she wanted to leave the door open to our creativity and what really looked amazing the week of her wedding. The only strong request she had was nothing too tropical looking, and a slightly vintage feel. It was so fun to have so much freedom in creating this bouquet for her, weaving in ideas of what would really pop and also look at home in the landscape where she would be married, and also fit with her personality and the vibe of her wedding.

As usual, Jess Hunter took the most beautiful photographs of the couple, the bouquet, and the landscape.

Congrats Melissa and Jeff! Thanks for being so open-minded about your flowers!

Zinnias and Burlap

They go well together, no?

This week's subscription arrangements were made with:

• Scabiosa 'Dark Knight' and Zinnias from The Botanique Cutting Garden in Seattle, WA
  
• Zinnias from Dan's Dahlias in Oakville, WA
  
• Zinnias, Artemesia, and Gomphrena from Everyday Flowers in Stanwood, WA
• Scented Geranium Foliage, Sanguisorba, and Celosia Plumosa from Charles Little & Co, in Eugene, OR

For bright, vibrant color, nothing beats the berry tones of late summer. And the fragrance of scented geranium foliage? Just about as cheerful as these colors. I'd say its a good week...

Fall!

I know that summer still officially has a few more weeks to go, but I am really starting to feel fall creeping in. I LOVE FALL. I LOVE IT. I love how life starts to cool and slow down, the anticipation of feeling extremely cozy, and how everything outside starts to drip and drop: fruit, leaves, and yes, rain too. After a stretch going on 46 days and counting with no rain, I am not going to be complaining when the first drops fall.

Today was the first day of the Autumn Flower Subscription, and it is so fun to play with all the riotous colors that are out there this time of year. I love the pairing of really saturated bright colors with softer pastels, and the orange and coral of the dahlias and asclepias with the dusty miller really do it for me.

Despite the fact that the Cutting Garden is going strong, I just can't resist the urge to design with the amazing flowers available from other local growers! These arrangements used Dusty Miller from the Botanique Cutting Garden, but the rest of these treasures came from other local farms:

• Dahlias and Broom Corn from from Jello Mold Farm in Mount Vernon, WA
• Dahlias from Dan's Dahlias in Oakville, WA
  
• Lisianthus and Asters from Everyday Flowers in Stanwood, WA
• Asclepias and Salt Shrub from Charles Little & Co, in Eugene, OR
  

Here's a recent shot from the Cutting Garden: 'Queen Red Lime' and 'Green Envy' Zinnias, Orange Cosmos, and 'Awe Shucks' Dahlias in the background....

It just amazes me the size that flowers reach in just a few short months. They grow from seed into these giant plants so fast! Imagine if we grew that fast...... or maybe don't, that thought is a little bit frightening......

In any case, I'm enjoying this change of seasons, and I hope you are too!

Fall Festival Marketplace!

Botanique will be set up at the Washington C.A.S.H. Fall Festival Marketplace this Sunday, October 16th! We will be selling small arrangements and hand-tied bouquets, and also taking pre-orders for holiday centerpieces. The flowers are so gorgeous right now, beautiful shades of burnt orange, cream, burgundy, toasty amber, and more. Come say hello and check out autumn's incredible bounty!