botanical brouhaha

Don’t you love those pods?

image via Flora Fauna

image via Tend

image via Sweet Pea Floral Design

image via Steven Bruce Design

image via April Flowers

image via Lauryl Lane and Sweet and Saucy

image via Jesi Haack Weddings and JL Designs

image via Honey of a Thousand Flowers

image via Bloomers Flowers

image via Bunch Studio and Lane Dittoe

image via Natalie Galasso Designs

image via Jessica’s Country Flowers and Raw Photo Design

Happy Tuesday!

More Wreaths

2012-01-23T03:59:00.001-08:00

…because my flower friends can never seem to get enough!

image via Saipua

image via Birch and Lisa Lefkowitz Photography

image via KG Designs and Mariee Ami and Arden Photography

image via Blooms by Martha Andrews

image via Blossom Sweet

image via Beautiful Blooms Events

image via Shea Hopely Flowers

image via Laura Miller Designs

image via Planet Flowers

image via Botanica and Ryan Joseph Photographs

image via Miss Pickering

image via Blush Floral Design

Happy Monday!

We All Break The Same

2012-01-22T15:26:00.001-08:00

I’m overwhelmed by the depth and magnitude of hurt I’ve heard about and witnessed in the last week. Several different people…in different situations…but the hurt is the same. And it’s deep. And it’s life altering. And I wonder…why aren’t we more open about our struggles? Why do we feel the need to keep our hurts and flaws under cover? Honestly, we all have hurts and by keeping them concealed we hurt ourselves and make others feel they are alone in their struggles. Pride, I guess. I don’t believe it’s God’s plan for us to handle our hurts alone…we need Him and we need other people who can help us when we’re too tired from the struggle to continue on. And it takes risk on all of our parts…the risk of being honest about our shortcomings, the risk of “getting involved” in someone’s struggle, the risk of experiencing the flood of pain that comes with the struggle, the risk of being seen differently by others once they know about our struggle…but, in the end, we all break the same…if we’re really honest.

Risk the ocean…there’s only grace…

Which Bouquet?

2012-01-20T04:24:00.001-08:00

The Dress…

…from Romona Keveza…

The Bouquets…

Bouquet #1 (Flourish Designs)

Bouquet #2 (Green and Bloom)

Bouquet #3 (Cori Cook Floral Design)

Bouquet #4 (Cori Cook Floral Design)

Bouquet #5 (Bride and Bloom Flowers)

Bouquet #6 (Francoise Weeks)

Had a hard time narrowing down the choices today!

Which would you choose?

Cascading Bouquets

2012-01-19T04:11:00.001-08:00

My jaw dropped when I saw this bouquet from Nadia Di Tullio…love it so much…

…so, I figured today is a good day to explore some cascading designs…

image via Flaurie and Shinn Photography

image via Krista Jon

image via Stephanie Grace

image via Cashmere Floral Design

image via Flowerwild

image via Love ‘n Fresh Flowers

image via Faith Flowers

image via Jessica Ruisan Photography and Chanele Rose

images via Jane Packer

image via Renae’s Bouquet

image via Karen Tran

image via Clementine Posy

image via Mondo Floral Design and Focus Films Photography

Ok, I realize some of these are more teardrop than cascade, but I love them all and wanted to share…

Thanks for the inspiration, Nadia!

Working Designer Wednesday: Valley Flower Company

2012-01-18T04:12:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I made a boo-boo…I credited a photo to the wrong designer…had the photo tagged correctly and then typed in the wrong name. I knew this was bound to happen eventually, but I hoped it wouldn’t! Anyway, Morgan from Valley Flower Company, left me a kind message letting me know this beautiful wreath was indeed her creation…

Thank goodness most floral designers are nice people…and Morgan was quick to forgive my mistake. You might remember this Valley Flower Company bouquet I featured just before Christmas…

Heck, as long as we’re on the subject, let me show you some of my other Valley Flower Company favorites…

Thank you, Morgan, for your kindness and inspiration…

Happy Wednesday, Flower Friends!

Wreath Love

2012-01-17T04:08:00.001-08:00

image via Florali

image via Krista Jon

image via JL Designs

image via Ashley Fox Designs

image via KG Designs and Mariee Ami

image via Stoneblossom

image via La Fleur Weddings and Mindy Rice

image via Stoneblossom

image via Floral Occasions

image via Pacific Coast Evergreen and SF Flower Mart

image via Flowers on Chestnut

image via Stoneblossom

image via Amy Merrick

image via Valley Flower Company

Happy Tuesday!

Ranunculus

2012-01-16T05:12:00.001-08:00

Love…

image via Holly Stewart Photography

image via Designs in Bloom

image via Imbue Weddings

image via Handmaker of Things

image via Bella Fiori

image via Sweet Pea Floral Design

image via Amy Merrick

image via Ashley Fox Designs

image via Lauryl Lane and Sweet and Saucy

image via Jesi Haack Weddings

image via Soiree Floral

image via Pollen Floral Art

image via Flowerwild

Welcome to a brand new week!

Which Bouquet?

2012-01-13T05:10:00.001-08:00

The Dress…

…from Modern Trousseau…

The Bouquets…

Bouquet #1 (Honey and Poppies)

Bouquet #2 (Arrangements)

Bouquet #3 (Fleurology)

Which would you choose?

Have a great weekend!

Color Inspiration: Grape

2012-01-12T04:14:00.001-08:00

image via Just Bloomed

image via Into the Woods

image via The Flower Studio and Melissa Jill Photography

image via Beautiful Blooms Events

image via Color My World

image via Lani Elizabeth

image via Amy Burke Designs and Caroline Tran Photography

image via Botanique

image via Panacea Flowers

image via Bella Fiori

image via Flourish Designs

image via Ovando

Happy Thursday!

Sweet Stock

2012-01-11T04:08:00.001-08:00

I love the sweet clove fragrance and ruffled petals. Ever notice that stock usually plays a supporting role rather than being the star? I was excited to see Beautiful Blooms Events let stock be the star for a day…

I love the color variety… carmine, purple, butter, peach, white…see if you can spot the stock in these arrangements…

image via The Flower House

image via Just Bloomed

image via Birch Blooms

image via Redsole Events and Nine Photography

image via McKenzie Powell

image via The Flower House

image via Entwined Design

image via Brandon Kidd Photography

image via Tricia Fountaine Design

image via Blossom Sweet

What’s your favorite color of stock?

Happy Wednesday…oh my gosh…it’s Working Designer Wednesday and this is the first time it crossed my mind! Oh well, guess we’ll get back to it next week.

I’m still thinking about yesterday’s post…thanks for your comment, Lisa!! I was hoping I wasn’t alone. You made my day!

Confessions Of A Passionate Vacationer

2012-01-10T04:16:00.001-08:00

Time to take another break from flowers…seems these days are coming a little more often. It’s taken me a full week of emotional recovery and regrounding to come to a place where I can write a post about our Christmas trip. I’m warning you…it’s a touchy subject and I’m going to lay it out honestly. I’m anxious to know if I have even one kindred spirit in the amazing bunch of artists that read Botanical Brouhaha.

We took a two week vacation at Christmas this year…just the four of us…the first time we’ve ever taken two weeks. We had some amazing time together talking and laughing and enjoying time together without distractions. We spent the first week in Orlando at Universal Studios where the guys finally got to spend some time at “Harry Potter World”, as I call it. I must confess that I haven’t read a single HP book or seen a single movie. Consequently, I enjoyed Dr. Seuss Land much more….which left my guys shaking their heads!

So, here’s where the vacation took a beautiful, emotional, heart wrenching turn for me…and it always happens this way. The second week, we made our way to, what I consider, the perfect town…in the world…Rosemary Beach, Florida. The anticipation built as we drove and my heart got lighter and lighter as we approached Rosemary. When we finally drove into the little beach town, I wanted to burst into tears and shout, “I’m home, y’all!!” Instead I kept quiet and took in every sight, sound and smell.

Every time we go to RM Beach, the experience is the same. I spend the entire time torn between total elation and total frustration. No one in my family really gets the reaction…and, I have to confess that I don’t totally understand it myself. Do you have a place like this? A place that makes you feel so alive and so inspired, it hurts? I wake up early and roam the streets and the beach soaking up every ounce of the experience because I know it will soon be over and I’ll not return for months or years. I want to remember the feelings, the contemplation, the inspiration…I want to take it all home and live a passionate life. I want to feel these same raw emotions in my daily life…instead of marching through my days checking off a “to do” list and taking care of chores. At Rosemary, I think and DREAM about life.

I walked the beach every day…many times without another person around. I thought about my family and my dreams for my children and my friend who went to be with Jesus this fall…

I watched my family play…and thanked God they are healthy…

I saw Tracery’s fabulous holiday burlap curtains in person…instead of from afar via their blog like last year…

I went inside Tracery and met Kristina…so sweet and beautiful…

…and wandered through Tracery’s beautiful shop…

I spent the afternoons meandering through the streets of RM admiring the architecture and attention to detail…

I marveled at how good my ugly feet looked in the white sand…

I watched the sunset as each day slipped past…

And…I allowed myself to go to that dangerous place. The place where I tried desperately to figure out why some live in this heavenly place and I must return to my “real” life. The place where I questioned God’s plan for me. The place where I allowed myself to see an opportunity everywhere I looked for a way to move to RM…they don’t have a flower shop! Heck, I thought about how content I would be to sell hot dogs or work in the little bookstore or haul beach chairs for vacationing families just to live in this place…and feel this depth of inspiration each day.

In the end, I tried to capture the days on film and in my mind until I can return. And I prayed as we drove away…that God would reassure me that what I’m doing with my life is in His plan…and that it matters. And I thanked him for awakening my soul again.

Until me meet again, Rosemary…

Obviously, God knows just what I need…we returned home on New Year’s Eve to a house full of people…our three amazing college students and one of their families…and I KNEW (again) that this is where God has planted me for now. I am so blessed….and so human…

For The Succulent Lovers…

2012-01-09T03:58:00.001-08:00

image via Kris Kan and Tic Tock Couture Florals

image via Florali

image via Bows and Arrows

image via Poppies and Posies

image via Krista Jon and Bobby Brown Photography

image via JL Designs and Sweet and Saucy

image via Krista Jon

image via Ashley Fox Designs

image via Elly B Events

image via Avant Garden

image via Seed Floral

image via Flowers by Denise

Happy Monday!

Which Dress?

2012-01-06T04:18:00.001-08:00

You read that right! This week a reader, Katie, emailed to ask if we could help her with bridesmaid dress ideas. You see, the bride, who happens to be Katie’s sister, chose her favorite flowers first. We love that, don’t we? So, let’s have your opinion! The wedding will be a daytime wedding at a RI country club in July…

The Bouquet…

…designed by Carissa at JL Designs…

The Dresses…

Dress #1 (Mod Cloth)

Dress #2 (Nordstrom)

Dress #3 (Aria)

Dress #4 (BHLDN)

Dress #5 (BHLDN)

Dress #6 (Anthropologie)

Which would you choose for Katie?

Thanks for the challenge, Katie!

P.S. One other (less predictable) option……an ombre pencil skirt, a cream cardigan and coral flats…

Have a great weekend, everyone…

Flowers + Ghost Chairs

2012-01-05T04:08:00.001-08:00

image via La Martine

image via Bella Flora

image via Samuel Lippke Photography and Floral Art

image via Jose Villa Photography

image via Floral Art and Samuel Lippke Photography

image via Planet Flowers

image via Lucky and Lovely and Elly B Events

image via Mod Wedding

image via Flora Fauna

image via La Martine

image via Saipua

image via Tic Tock Couture Florals

image via La Belle Vie

Happy Thursday!

Working Designer Wednesday: Kudos To Our Flower Friends

2012-01-04T04:17:00.001-08:00

Two of my favorite “flower girls” have accomplished giant feats recently and I’m so excited for them…so I have to share!

Holly of Holly Heider Chapple Flowers has one of her bouquets featured on the cover of Southern Living Weddings!

If you don’t know Holly, you need to follow her blog. You can also follow her on Facebook or Twitter. You will be amazed by this woman! She juggles her thriving floral design studio (with an amazing team of designers), her family of 9 (soon to be 10 because she will be MOG soon), and her love of mentoring other designers with such precision that I’m often left scratching my head and wondering how she does it all. Above all, Holly cares. She cares deeply for her family, of course. But, she also cares deeply about her profession and maintaining a standard of excellence when dealing with clients. Holly is a rarity (even though she would have no idea what I’m talking about because she assumes everyone cares the way she does). She’s a rarity because she cares enough to reach out to other designers and encourage them…and build relationships with them…without feeling threatened by their success. She’s an awesome cheerleader with a hilarious sense of humor. So…I’m tickled pink every time I see her work published because she is so deserving, yet so humble and approachable. I’m blessed to know and love this woman! Congrats on the cover, Holly!

Here’s one of my favorite pictures of Holly presenting a beautiful bouquet to a beautiful bride…

The other kudos goes to Erin at Floret Flowers. Erin is not only an amazing designer, but also a flower grower…and her blog posts will take your breath away! Day after day, I read her posts and drool over the photos of her flower farm (her photography skills are right up there with her designing skills). Erin is also a mother and you can feel her passion for her family and her flowers in every post. Above all, Erin brings an honesty to her blog posts that I adore. She features “real” glimpses into life on her farm alongside beautifully photographed bouquets. Check out one of my favorite posts here…and you’ll see what I mean!

So why am I congratulating Erin? Because she is featured in Victoria Magazine this month! I love this issue of Victoria and look forward to it every year…the Entrepreneur Special Issue showcasing women who are turning their passions into businesses. Hope you’ll grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed. Congrats, Erin…from all of us who are inspired by your passion!

Hope you have a great Wednesday!

Live inspired…

Beautiful Bouquet Handles

2012-01-03T03:59:00.001-08:00

image via Sara Gray Photography

image via Flora Fauna

image via Blossom Sweet

image via Green and Bloom

image via Ashley Fox Designs

image via The Flower House

image via Natalie Galasso Designs

image via Garden Party Flowers

image via Hazelnut Photography

image via Designs by Hemingway

image via Cori Cook Floral Design

image via Aileen Tran

image via Bluebird Photography and Far Hills Florist

image via Art With Nature

Happy Tuesday!

Color Inspiration: Cheerful Yellow

2012-01-02T04:25:00.001-08:00

I adore this picture of the ladies of Bastian + Skoog…

…in fact, I love it so much that I decided to start the new year off with a post of sunny yellow inspiration…hope it makes you smile…

image via Heather Bullard

image via Floral Occasions

image via Nine Photography

image via La Partie Events

image via Planet Flowers

image via Cori Cook Floral Design and Dreamtime Images

image via Krista Jon and Studio EMP

image via Nest Floral Studio

image via Bloomers Flowers

image via The Sweetest Occasion

image via Tantawan Bloom

image via Avant Garden

image via Botanica and Style Unveiled

Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year’s Day! I’m looking forward to sharing flowers and thoughts with you in 2012. So grateful for each one of you…

And, before I close for today, I have to wish my best friend (who happens to be my husband) a Happy Anniversary….we’ve been married 24 years today! This year we celebrated Christmas Eve on the beach in my favorite place on Earth…stay tuned for more on that later in the week…

photo credit goes to our 12 yr. old son…kudos, buddy!

Happy Monday!

Which Bouquet?

2011-12-30T05:56:00.001-08:00

The Dress…

…from Elie Saab…you’ve got to see the back of this dress…here…

The Bouquets…

Bouquet #1 (Kate Hill Flowers)

Bouquet #2 (Holly Heider Chapple Flowers)

Bouquet #3 (Imbue Weddings)

Which would you choose?

Have a great weekend…see you back here with lots more flowers in 2012!

Amazing Cakes

2011-12-29T04:52:00.001-08:00

Some with fresh flowers…some without…

image via Sweet and Saucy

image Simply Bloom Photography

image via DFW Events and The Garden Gate

image via Andrea Polito Photography

image via Jen Kroll Photography

image via Beautiful Blooms Events

image via Simply Bloom Photography

image via BMQ Desserts and Karen Wise Photography

image via Jamie Delaine Photography

image via Erica OBrien Cake Design

image via Jen Rodriguez Photography and April Flowers

image via Jessicakes and La Fleur Weddings

image via Pollen Floral Art

image via Art With Nature

image via Pygmalian Design and Robert Norman Photography

See a favorite?

Happy Thursday!

Working Designer Wednesday: Fresh Looks For Your Square Glass Vases

2011-12-28T05:56:00.001-08:00

Wrap them, line them, tie them up! Be inspired…

images via Jayson Home and Garden

image via White Lilac Inc.

image via Eddie Zaratsian

image via Floral Art

images via Empty Vase

images via Fleurology

image via Kate Hill Flowers

image via Pam Scott Photography and Aileen Tran

image via Royal Bloom

Happy Wednesday!

Pink Peonies

2011-12-27T06:39:00.001-08:00

image via April Flowers

image via Krista Jon

image via Floral Occasions

image via Just Bloomed

image via Michael George

image via Panacea Flowers

image via Laura Miller Design

image via Floral Verde

image via Ashley Fox Designs

image via Our Labor of Love by Heidi

image via Renae’s Bouquet

image via Cori Cook Floral Design (created for the wedding of Kate @ Floret Cadet)

image via Bloomers Flowers

image via Bows and Arrows and Nine Photography

image via Blush Floral Design

image via Yvonne Design

Happy Tuesday!

Flowers & Prints

2011-12-26T07:37:00.001-08:00

image via Awkward Family Photos

We’ve come a long way, baby…

image via Krista Jon

image via Garden Party Flowers

image via Blush Floral Design

image via Lucky and Lovely and Scobey Photography

image via Green and Bloom

image via Bloomers Flowers and Nick Adams Photography

image via Florarama Modern Design

image via Mondo Floral Design

image via Beautiful Blooms Events

image via Honey of a Thousand Flowers

image via Brown Paper Design

image via Lila B

image via Punch

Hope you had a great Christmas! Sorry for posting late today. Apparently, I’m still on holiday time! Meet you back here tomorrow…

Which Bouquet?

2011-12-23T03:18:00.001-08:00

The Dress…

…the Bianca from Ava Madison…featuring a soft V neckline, covered button detailing and a classic A- line silhouette…

The Bouquets…

Bouquet #1 (Ariel Dearie Flowers)

Bouquet #2 (Kat Flower)

Bouquet #3 (Saipua)

Which would you choose?

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

High Contrast Flowers

2011-12-22T04:50:00.001-08:00

I fell hard for this room…

image via Brooke Giannetti

When I started contemplating why I’m so drawn to the room, I noticed the contrast between the light walls and dark trim. I started wondering how the same look might translate into a floral arrangement and if it would be as appealing when using flowers as the medium…

image via Fleurish

image via Laura Dowling

image via Valley Flower Company

image via Flowers by Carolyn

image via Bella Fiori

image via Soulflower

image via Bastian + Skoog

image via Chestnuts in the Tuileries

image via Veranda

image via SMS Photography and Merveille Floral & Design Atelier

image via Honey of a Thousand Flowers

image via Sweet and Saucy

image via Krista Jon

What do you think?

Working Designer Wednesday: Face Behind the Design

2011-12-21T04:53:00.001-08:00

It’s been a while since we’ve looked at some of the beautiful designers behind the designs I feature each day…love to put a face with a name!

Leslie @ Pixie’s Petals

Sarah @ Honey of a Thousand Flowers

Laura & Victoria @ Faith Flowers

Meredith @ Belle Fleur

Erin @ Floret Flowers

Yumiko and her team @ Hana Floral Design

Isha @ Isha Foss Events

Kate @ Floret Cadet

Do you love seeing the designers that create these amazing arrangements as much as I do? I’m constantly impressed by these women and I’m honored to feature their work. Do you have a favorite designer that I haven’t featured? Maybe I don’t know about them…please share!

Have a great Wednesday…

Boots & Flowers, Y’all!

2011-12-20T03:11:00.001-08:00

image via Our Labor of Love by Heidi

image via Dellables

image via Millie Holloman Photography

image via Bret Cole Photography

image via Matthew Morgan Photography

image Interiors Magazine

image via Birch Blooms

image via Bloomers Flowers and Gideon Photography

image via Sweet Pea Floral Design

image via Birch Blooms

Happy Tuesday!

More Flowers For Purple Bridesmaids’ Dresses

2011-12-19T04:33:00.001-08:00

image via Blush Floral Design

image via Beautiful Blooms Events

image via Blush Floral Design

image via Solomon Bloemen

image via Amy Burke Designs and Janae Shields Photography

image The Flower House

image via Just Bloomed