floral design & botanical blog
I was fortunate to partner with Elizabeth Thacker Photography on a portrait shoot on the edge of the cliffs on Possum Kingdom Lake in north Texas. We were blessed with clear and cool weather after what seemed like endless days of rain. Mirroring the dried grasses and subdued tones of a Texas fall, I worked with native flora and soft pinks to create pieces with drama and movement.
Read MoreNorth of Dallas in the suburb of Plano there has been an explosion of corporate development known as Legacy. Mid-rise office buildings and company headquarters relocation has led to massive construction projects. Toyota's $350 million US headquarters project is not an exception. The buildings are designed by Dallas-based firm Corgan and the grounds are designed by the Office of James Burnett, the same mastermind behind the highly-lauded Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas.
Read MoreSarah loves wildflowers and wanted this reflected in her wedding flowers. She made specific color requests and I matched this style with the best blooms that are in season in the heat of summer. This was a slight challenge, but I believe the result was well worth it. The bride and I shared a vision and saw it to fruition, with beautiful results!
Read MoreThis past fall, I was lucky enough to collaborate with my talented friend, Elizabeth Thacker, an accomplished wedding photographer in East Texas, in creating a styled shoot featuring moody tones and lush looks. Under the beams of a new barn frame, Elizabeth draped the setting in shear fabric and smilax from the woods on the property.
Read MoreI am so fortunate to be able to offer these in-home parties for very enthusiastic hosts and their guests. The idea is that you invite your friends over, they bring a pumpkin, and I help you fill it with succulents, flora, and other elements from nature.
Read MoreOver the July 4th holiday, I visited Chicago and its Garfield Park Conservatory. The conservatory was established in the 1880s with the structure pictured below constructed in 1907, and designed by famous Chicago landscape architect Jens Jensen. The shape of the greenhouses was meant to emulate the haystacks of the Midwest. The interior specimens were planted in forms that relate to each other naturally and create "landscapes under glass", a style that was revolutionary at the time of construction. The conservatory is one of the largest in the US at 4.5 acres, 2 of which is under glass. It is known for its extensive collection of rare palms and its popular Desert House.
Read MoreBig Bend National Park is probably my favorite place to be outside. The contrasts of the Chihuahuan Desert is continually impressive to me. Luckily, my dear friends also share this love for the park and I was fortunate enough to design and construct the florals for their wedding. In October, we explored possible ceremony sites along easily-accessible trails so family and friends of all abilities could attend.
We decided on the open space below the pour-off of Burro Mesa. The walls rise from the desert wash some 60 plus feet into the air, creating a natural, 3-sided room. Even in late April, this area can get quite hot, but we lucked out with overcast skies and even intermittent sprinkles. Because of National Park Service regulations, you can not have organic plant material on the trail. This created a challenge in designing the body wear for the grooms and party. I instead made boutonnieres and bouquets out of paper and copper wire, playing off of the colors of the desert.
Read MoreI was honored when my friends, Matt and Scott, asked me to create arrangements for their wedding day. This was the largest event I had done and the venue was expansive. West of Austin is Star Hill Ranch, a replica Old West town complete with a chapel, schoolhouse, barn, dance hall, saloon, and Sears, Roebuck & Co. homes.
I dragged my mother, a former florist and shop owner herself, along for the ride. I look to her for direction. We transported most of the florals and supplies from Dallas to Austin. Two hotels, a few flower runs, and many hours later, it all came together just in time. And not without the help of my good friend, photographer, and florist, Elizabeth Thacker, who came through in the clutch.
Read MoreA dear friend of mine was having a bridal brunch at a local eatery and I offered to make a couple of centerpieces for the tables. This space is in an old warehouse and the interior is designed in a sort of butcher shop motif with acrylic paintings of quartered farm animals and large hooks and ropes hanging from the ceiling.
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