Have a wonderful Thursday!

Recently I sent out a twitter request & email to our mailing list, asking for input on seven different questions. Thank you to everyone who sent in their replies!!

Here’s Question #3:

What is your favorite foliage to use in your floral designs? Why?

Recently, Jennie Love, of Love ‘n Fresh Flowers got me hooked on babtisia foliage. The tips add a nice shot of chartreuse to a design and the leaves are heavy enough visually to make a statement. My other favorite, without a doubt is Elaeagnus. It has the most beautiful drape, pretty little fruit and slightly silver backed leaves.
Sue of White Magnolia Designs, Maryland

Elaeagnus Foliage
(Bouquet by White Magnolia Designs)

Rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii)- easy to grow and even easier to work with. Grows in long trailing vines with beautiful heart shaped leaves. It is an evergreen succulent and lasts for days (weeks) out of water but can also be placed in water.
Christine de Beer Floral Lifestyle Design, British Columbia

String of Hearts, Rosary vine (Ceropegia woodii)

My personal favorite foliage lately has been variegated pitt. I like the fresh looking color and the plush shape rather than flat greenery.
Jennifer of Mancuso’s Florist, Michigan

Variegated Pittosporum

I’m guilty of using a lot of dusty miller but I’m having a torrid summer affair with snow mountain euphorbia these days. Even though I have to wear gloves to work with it to avoid the bad skin rash and my freelancers refuse to work with it… but I love it so bring on the rash.
Alexandra of Exquisite Designs, Illinois

Euphorbia marginata, or Snow-On-The-Mountain

My favorite foliage is nandina. It just makes all of my arrangements feel fresh out of the garden.
Sheri of Blumen Meisters, Texas

Nandina

Today my favorite foliage is….lambs ear. I can walk out into the gardens and select it. I use it in bouquets, boutonnieres and anything else that leaves the s studio.
Kris of KRISanthemums, Oregon

Lamb’s Ear

Salal. It’s the best non-tropical foliage that reminds people of a temperate climate. It looks like a basic leaf.
Gerry & Rebecca of Petal’s Edge Floral Design, LLP, Virginia

Salal, Lemon Leaf

Seeded eucalyptus. Its fine enough where it does not compete or overpower the blooms but gives a nice accent. Long lasting, fun texture and love how it drapes down.
Lora of Sophisticated Floral Designs, Oregon

Seeded Eucalyptus

I love to use real plants. My hope is that folks (along with my provided instructions) will go that extra step and repot and enjoy some green at home!
Tara of The Blissful Bloom, New York

Thank you to everyone that participated! Loved hearing which foliage is your favorite to design with!!

Soiree Floral, Nantucket, Massachusetts

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Your name: Dawn Clark and Mary Coombs
Your Business name: A Garden Party
Your Location: Elmer, NJ

How did you start your business?
We are two sisters with a passion for floral design and love working together spreading the flower love. Our business started with a business plan that Mary wrote up in college at Penn State. We started our business 6 weeks after her graduation in the summer of 2006. Like many florists, our business began with designing weddings for friends and family. Word spread, and before we knew it, we were designing over 100 weddings a year in the tri-state area (NJ, DE, PA).

How many years have you been in business?
7 years

What is your design aesthetic?
We pride ourselves on staying on trend. Our favorite way to design is taking a walk through the garden and creating gardeny, natural designs utilizing whatever we foraged that day. Our designs end up being unique and home grown.

How do you create your style and where do you draw your inspiration?
Nature inspires us, as well as many of our fellow Chapel Designers. We love seeing their creations, they are such a talented group. We also are avid Pinterest fans and encourage our brides to create boards to share their inspiration with us. We are lucky enough to be located in an area that is central enough that we get to design shore themed weddings (what florist doesn’t love spending their Saturday in Cape May, NJ!), weddings in the city (only 40 minutes from Philly!), and tons of rustic, farm themed weddings (we are located on a farm!).

Asya Photography

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
A Garden Party is based in a very agriculturally rich community so utilizing locally sourced product is something we love to share with our clients. It has become a popular request to use as many locally grown flowers as possible. Just last weekend, we designed an entire wedding using all locally grown flowers and foliage. It was a dream come true and we hope to do it again soon.

Are you a retail shop, studio/warehouse or home based?
We are a studio, located on Mary’s homestead in Elmer, NJ. We frequently get brides from the city, that can’t believe the endless fields that surround our studio, which is in a 100 year old barn.

Do you offer any services in addition to floral designs?
For our wedding clients we also offer linens and vintage prop rentals. A Garden Party also designs everyday and sympathy arrangements.

What tool in your toolbox can’t you live without?
Scissors (which, believe it or not, we have forgotten in the past).

What’s your favorite flower?
Mary loves anything she cuts from her garden. Dawn loves ferns (and about a million others).

Anything else you’d like to share with Flirty Fleurs followers?
A Garden Party is really just two normal sisters that run a business. We strive to treat our customers the way we want other businesses to treat us; timely correspondence, fair pricing, excellent customer service, and honest practices. We think of our clients as friends.

Asya Photography

Contact information:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGardenPartyFlorist
Website: http://www.agardenpartyllc.com/
Blog: http://www.agardenpartyllc.com/blog/
Instagram: Mary, http://instagram.com/mary_agardenparty#
Dawn, http://instagram.com/dawn_agardenparty#

Ohhh, do I have lovely images to share with you today from Nancy of Oak & The Owl, a Southern California Floral & Event designer. Nancy designed this Art Nouveau event at a gorgeous private estate in Palo Alto, California. She selected to design with bright whites, creamy spring yellows and bright greens for a fresh and romantic springtime feel. I particularly enjoyed the flowers she designed with – dogwood and cherry blossom branches, daffodils, tulips, narcissus, cyclamen, fritillaria, gardenias, geranium foliages, Easter lilies, muscari and Queen Anne’s Lace.

Looking at these photographs gives me goosebumps, I hope you feel the same way!

Good-bye Summer, Hello Autumn!
You know what that means — all new season for flowers, berries and foliages! I rounded up my top 20 favorites this week::

Blackberries – G. Page

Carnations – Mayesh

Castor Beans – Dutch Flower Line

Chestnut – Dutch Flower Line

Cranberry Viburnum – Florabundance

Curcuma – G Page

Curcuma Siam Citrone – Hilverda De Boer

Curcuma Siam Sunset – Hilverda De Boer

Cyrthantus – Dutch Flower Line

Diabolo Ninebark – Red Mountain Wholesale

Double Yellow Lily – Dutch Flower Line

Lipstick Pods – Mayesh

Pee Gee Hydrangeas – Oregon Coastal Flowers

Pieris Japonica – Mayesh

Privet Berries – Red Mountain Wholesale

Red Astilbe – Dutch Flower Line

Rose Hips – Florabundance

White Snowberries – Florabundance

Allium

I came across this one on Dandelion Ranch’s site. Surely you could ask your local wholesaler and they can get these for you!

Yes, I’m back with even more event styling + floral inspiration from Nancy Teasley of Oak & The Owl. Dang, this girl knows how to design an event!
Nancy conceptualized this “Art Deco” Shoot for the Contax 645 Camera Group, and handmade many of the styling details. The richness and the warmth of the black and gold palette is quite inviting and timeless.

Photographer: Josh Gruetzmacher & the Contax 645 Camera Group.

Oh, the colors of this floral design, those peonies, that begonia leaf … LOVE!
Oak & The Owl – Southern California

A few interesting things I’ve come across while surfing the net this week:

Have you ever wondered how many flowers you need to cover a foam sphere or ball? Flowers & Geometry by Mayesh

30 Brilliant Networking Conversation Starters by The Daily Muse

Curcuma is coming on strong in the North American Market. I’m seeing it posted more and more online from the various flower wholesalers and thought it would be fun to take a closer look at this flower. I surfed online for inspirational photos and found that it’s currently used mostly in Europe and South America as you’ll see below. I have a feeling that within a year we’ll be seeing this cool flower in more American & Canadian Floral Designs!

Designed by Flor & Forma, Brazil

Designed by Flor & Forma, Brazil

Designed by France Fleurs

Designed by Quatre Coeur, NYC

Designed by Scotti Verde Design, Italy

I spoke with Susan of Hilverda De Boer about the Care and Handling of Curcuma and these are her instructions:
When the Curcuma arrive at your shop hydrate them in a solution of warm water and commercial floral preservative / floral food for two hours before storage or usage.
Curcuma are Chill sensitive, do not place in a cooler. Ideal storage temperature 55 to 70 F
Year Round Availability – Prime season April to September (Prices off season are expected to be higher).
Hilverda De Boer offers quite a few color varieties as you can see here:

Curcuma – Alismatifolia

Curcuma – Alismatifolia

Curcuma – Alismatifolia

Curcuma – Siam Citrone

Curcuma – Siam Citrone

Curcuma – Siam Scarlet

Curcuma – Siam Shadow

Curcuma – Siam Silk

Curcuma – Siam Silk

Curcuma – Siam Solo

Curcuma – Siam Sprinkle

Curcuma – Siam Sunrise

Curcuma – Siam Sunrise

Curcuma – Siam Sunset

Curcuma – Siam Sunset

Curcuma – Siam Sunset

Curcuma – Siam Snow White

Your name: Joseph Massie
Your Business name: Joseph Massie Creative
Your Location: Liverpool, England, UK

How did you start your business?
Even when I was in high school, I knew I wanted to run my own business. I’d been involved in an enterprise scheme during my education, and just knew that it was the right path for me. However, I also knew I didn’t want the responsibility of starting my own venture before I was 25 ~ as a young designer I knew I had a lot to learn, and I wanted to learn without the responsibility of a business at the same time. I decided to devote my teens and early twenties to education ~ learning from premier national and international designers, traveling the world, and competing in design competitions.

Little did I know, but when it came to start my business, Joseph Massie Creative, I’d already created a nice little platform for myself in the professional market. Honestly, without being aware of it, every time I was entering a competition, such as RHS Chelsea Flower Show, that was building my reputation, and over time I’d built up quite a competitive history. I’ve now won ten national competitions here in the UK, including five RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals, and finished top three in both the World Youth and European Youth championships. Its now a case of developing and building from that history.

How many years have you been in business?
Only 8 months and counting! I started the business in January 2013, and I absolutely LOVE it.

What is your design aesthetic?
My aesthetic is 100% contemporary ~ I love art, I love design and I wholeheartedly encourage pushing the boundaries. I like to create pieces that have an impact, that affect the space that they’re in. Our work is our couture; often bespoke, technically excellent, and visually resplendent.

It was a conscious decision earlier this year to mark a distinction between our art and design services ~ two from our eight primary services which we offer. I now create mixed media art works, installations and take part in exhibitions, right alongside our design services for commissions, corporate work and events. I find this balance keeps me in both business and creatively satisfied. It’s the right mix for right now.

How do you create your style and where do you draw your inspiration?
My style has definitely evolved over the years, moulded by the tutors I’ve learned from, but I’ve been able to take my education and channel it into my practice. I really took some time to create a vocabulary for my design work ~ what materials I like to use, what glassware we’ll incorporate, what scents and textures are a prerequisite ~ and that is so important as a young designer. You have to know what you stand for and what creates your signature piece. It’s about identity and about what you’re showing the world.
Inspiration is key to my work and our practice ~ often when I’m perplexed with a specific project or struggling with an unusual brief, I just need to find that one thing I can connect it to. You know ~ whether it’s a scrap of fabric, an old movie or cologne ~ it can be anything! But once I’ve found that key, the ideas flood, and the whole process is pretty effortless. I’ve never struggled for inspiration, and I’d always encourage others to look outside of their comfort zone. Look at fashion. Look at architecture. Head to a gallery. Go outside your comfort zone and push your boundaries.

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
Here in the UK, we’re having a resurgence of fabulous “just picked”, loose, natural designs that are cropping up in magazines, in the blogs and on television. I think it’s a great response to the recent and current economic climate – theres really this revolution into crafting, knowing where things are sourced from and making your own from what you know; really counting on what you can feel rather than what you’ve been told. As a designer you have to know what trends are popular, but also know how to incorporate them neatly into your work. You should never sacrifice your aesthetic for a trend ~ it’s a poor trade off.

Are you a retail shop, studio/warehouse or home based?
We’re currently studio based, in a cool brick building, right in the heart of Liverpool city centre.

Do you offer any services in addition to floral designs?
At JMC, we offer eight primary services: Flowers + Art, Design, Corporate, Events, Lifestyle, Education, Literature and Styling & Visual Merchandising. Due to my successful competition platform in the UK and Europe, I started out hosting a lot of educational events – demonstrations, workshops and seminars – which I love presenting, alongside writing and of course my art and design work.

Now, due to demand we’re branching out into corporate work, event design, lifestyle and styling and visual merchandising too. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work too, but I like having a varied schedule ~ one week can see me competing at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, followed by a high profile design commission, before flying out to China for a tour of educational events, full of workshops and seminars. It really is that varied!

What tool in your toolbox can’t you live without?
I love working with Japanese secatuers ~ they’re just exceptional.

What’s your favorite flower?
I’m afraid I don’t have one specific flower I love ~ it really does change from season to season. I’m generally more fond of quite unusual blooms ~ the rarer or more exquisite the better. At the moment, it’s the incredible Cafe au Lait dahlias.

Anything else you’d like to share with Flirty Fleurs followers?
We’ve actually just relaunched our new website (www.josephmassiecreative.com) so be sure to check out our work. Also, in 2014, we’ve got a few international tours in the pipeline, so if we’re presenting any educational events in a country or city near you, you’ll hear about it first through our newsletter (which you can subscribe to on our site) or at our blog ~ the Notebook.

Your contact information:
W: www.josephmassiecreative.com
We’re also on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosephMassieCreative
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JosephMassie/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Joseph_Creative

Recently I sent out a twitter request & email to our mailing list, asking for input on five different questions. Thank you to everyone who sent in their replies!!

Here’s Question #2:
If you were not a florist what would you be?

A Cake designer/decorator. I love to bake and decorating seems right up my alley. Very fun and detailed work.
Lora Losinger of Sophisticated Floral Designs, Oregon

If I weren’t a florist I would be…A children’s book author. All of the hours I spent on the floor reading with my boys, acting out stories, using silly accents were magical. It would be so cool to be a part of providing that time for other families (plus there is no breakdown/strike at the end of the night).
Sue of White Magnolia Designs, Maryland

A designer and crafter of bamboo umbrellas and parasols.
Christine of My Creative Workbook/ Floral Lifestyle Design, Vancouver, Canada

I would still have followed a career in design. My husband and I have purchased a couple homes and while the process is crazy, I really enjoy tearing it down and building from the bottom again. I think something in my DNA loves seeing a concept come into fruition. Some people are born to see problems and solutions but my brain is built to see ideas that aren’t even there.
Marci of Entwined Design, California

Definitely something related to the design field. My background is in architecture and graphic design, and I’ve been able to draw on these areas for my floral design work, which tends to be sculptural and, well, graphic! I’ve always thought being a product designer would be pretty amazing ~ hopefully I would be able to incorporate my floral experience into that.
Ellen of Gingerleaf Floral, California

If I were not a florist, I would be a flower farmer, but I am sorta a flower farmer, though on a very small scale!
Laurie of Fleurie, California

I would be, and was before I had a family, a crisis counselor. I worked as a counselor for domestic violence and sexual assault victims
evenings after working at the floral shop. The skills learned and honed while doing so certainly prepped me for both management as well as dealing
with brides and their families or sympathy clients. It was challenging and rewarding, like floral design!
Kimberlee of Locker’s Floral, Wisconsin

Currently I am a nana to four wonderful little ones, we have a greenhouse where we raise city hanging baskets, we own Bennett Botanical Gardens where we host events and KRISanthemums…of course nana would be my first choice and the other three kind of mesh together.
Kris of KRISanthemums, Oregon

Designed by Gingerleaf Floral, Oakland, California

If you are planning a trip to visit the Mendocino Coast in Northern California I would highly suggest visiting Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens located between Ft. Bragg and the quaint town of Mendocino.
I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I grew up in Mendocino County and had never visited this Botanic Garden until a few weeks ago! My mother and I enjoyed a few peaceful hours exploring the grounds of this 47 Acre Botanic Garden, trails through various gardens and with the Prize attraction towards the back of the land – the annual Dahlia Festival! Dahlias… the Dahlias – so many Dahlias. Not surprisingly, it was the Dahlias that inspired me to visit the Botanic Gardens, a few people had told me that I *must* go see them in all their blooming glory. I hadn’t been prepared for just how glorious the entire Botanic Gardens would be and to top it off they offer a retail nursery full of unique plants. I came home with a Purple Bell Vine (see picture below).
I had a hard time narrowing down the photos to include in this post as I had taken so many! Enjoy

Purple Bell Vine

The Gardens are right on the Coastline just south of Ft. Bragg, California.

They have the coolest Heather Garden, rolling heather in various colors.

Lovely floral centerpiece by Janet of Floral Verde

Recently I sent out a twitter request & email to our mailing list, asking for input on five different questions. Thank you to everyone who sent in their replies!!

Question 4:
Here comes the Autumn Season! What’s your favorite flower or foliage to design with? Please send in photos of your creations!

I love Agonis. Not a fall foliage, but its brown and works well in fall color palettes.
Lora of Sophisticated Floral Designs, Oregon

Designed by Sophisticated Floral Designs

Designed by Sophisticated Floral Designs

Raspberry leaf from our farm – so vibrant and last forever! In this design, paired with the cafe au lait dahlias, fennel and chocolate cosmos.
Clare Day Flowers, British Columbia

Designed by Clare Day Flowers

Since we are talking about Cafe Au Lait Dahlias … let’s look at a few more!

My ALL TIME favorite fall flower is Cafe’ Au Lait Dahlias. Here are a few my wonderful local grower, LynnVale Studios had available for me for this wedding. (My gift to the bride because she just needed them. Ha!)
Jane Guerin, flowers, Virginia

Designed by Jane Guerin, Flowers

My favorite fall flower? CAFE AU LAIT DAHLIA- everyone is going to say that. But how can you resist? Here are a few bridal bouquets I have designed with the queen of all dahlias.
Shannon of Flourish Designs, California

Designed by Shannon of Flourish Designs

Designed by Shannon of Flourish Designs

Designed by Shannon of Flourish Designs

Fall is the best time to design with wonderful rich colors. My favorites are the autumn leaves, fruit and berries. Clients are always surprised to see figs, rose hips, persimmon, crabapples…They add a great new dimension a design, and it is always fun to surprise clients!
Sue of White Magnolia Designs, Maryland

Designed by White Magnolia Designs

My favorite autumn elements to use are our berries! Locally grown bittersweet and beauty berry are two of my favorite varieties. Last year, I also began experimenting with dried corn husks in arrangements for a different texture. I also love using anything I can forage from the woods or side of the road such as pinecones and dried seed pods.
Carling of Local Color Flowers, Maryland

Designed by Local Color Flowers

I really enjoy fall when the leaves start to turn and the days start getting cooler. I love working with all the traditional fall flowers such as sunflowers, but I like to add elements that might be unexpected. I like to include seed pods, cotton balls and other textures.
Dianna of Wild Iris, Oklahoma

Designed by Wild Iris

Has to be the purple coneflower…especially with the tinge of orange on the centers
Kris of KRISanthemums, Oregon

Designed by KRISanthemums

I love the botanical elements that are available during the fall season. They lend a unique and local New England look to our designs. Here’s a boutonniere featuring acorns gathered from just outside our shop.
Kristin of Ideas In Bloom, New Hampshire

Designed by Ideas In Bloom & Tyra Bleek Photography

Bells-of-Ireland are available year-round, and their versatility make them great for arrangements anytime of the year. The spring green color is perfect for spring and summer designs, but since green is a neutral color, they can also be used with other materials that have more of a fall feel. Plus, they can be used tall or short!
Ellen of Gingerleaf Floral, California

Designed by Gingerleaf Floral

Designed by Gingerleaf Floral

I really love burgundy dahlia’s and these antique hydrangeas.
Lauren of Garden Gate Florals, North Carolina

Designed by Garden Gate Florals

I love working with Rosemary in the fall. The fragrance really adds a warm and inviting scent to bouquets and boutonnieres. I also love to work with orange ranunculus and orange “Babe” spray roses, and the “moon” series; deep purples and burgundy; carnations.
Lauren of Garden Gate Florals, North Carolina

Designed by Garden Gate Florals

Designed by Garden Gate Florals

I love picking up baskets full of autumn leaves and twigs to use in designs that dry well so that we can enjoy the beauty of autumn for as long as possible. All an autumn leaf or twig armature need is a fresh flower or a few pumpkins that can be replaced on an as needed basis.
Christine of My Creative Workbook/ Floral Lifestyle Design, British Columbia, Canada

Designed by Christine de Beer

Designed by Christine de Beer

A modern twist on fall sunflowers.
Marci of Entwined Designs, California

Designed by Entwined Designs

My favorite fall filler item is celosia, amaranthus or Sorghum, or is it cotton? Can’t decide!
Laurie of Fleurie Flowers, California

Designed by Laurie of Fleurie

Designed by Laurie of Fleurie

Thank you, ladies, for your submissions – loved seeing what you’ll be working with this Fall Season!

Want to contribute to future articles on Flirty Fleurs? Sign up for our newsletter – top right corner of this page!

Looking for something different for your floral designs, some flair, something not everyone else is using? Check out these offerings by Hilverda De Boer – Ornamental Diplocyclos & Cucumis.

Cucumis Care and Handling
Keep in dry, well ventilated containers. May be cool stored to extend shelf life, however not to be stored below 40 degrees.
If storing for an extended amount of time, rotate fruits to avoid rotting on one side.

Design Ideas
Wirewrap and place in bouquets and arrangements.
Place in and upon potted plants.
Line the interior of a large glass vase with cucumis with a smaller glass inner vase for fresh.
Edge a design with a cucumis collar.
Lovely in a bowl or vintage dish just asking to be touched !
Limited only by your imagination !!

To order these call Susan Adams at 888-220-7248 or visit their website
or visit them on facebook – Hilverda De Boer USA – www.facebook.com/hdbusa

Recently I sent out a twitter request & email to our mailing list, asking for input on five different questions. Thank you to everyone who sent in their replies!!

Question 3:
Flower Crowns, Wreaths & Halos are HOT right now! Send us a picture of one that you created!

Designed by Sherry of Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio

Designed by Sherry of Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio

Designed by Hanayuishi Takaya

Designed by Lora of Sophisticated Floral Designs

Designed by Alicia, Bella Fiori & Flirty Fleurs — Yes, I got in on this flower crown action, creating for the sake of creating. Princess dress up is made complete for my niece with a crown of Clematis vine and Zinnias.

Designed by Blum Floral Design

Designed by Blum Floral Design

Designed by Entwined Designs

Designed by Laurie of Fleurie Flowers

Designed by Flourish Designs

Designed by Hudson Floral & Events

Designed by Hudson Floral & Events

Designed by Hudson Floral & Events

Designed by Ideas In Bloom

Designed by Ideas In Bloom

Designed by KRISanthemums

Designed by Local Color Flowers

Designed by Locker’s Floral

Designed by Murson Designs

Designed by Murson Designs

Designed by Susan of Passionflower

Designed by Lora of Sophisticated Floral Designs

Designed by Susan of Passionflower

Designed by Annalisa Style Flowers

Designed by Bare Root Flora
Laura Murray Photography

A note from Nancy of Destiny Hill Flower Farm:
In the summer we hire college students at the farm. They are back in the classroom now and we are missing them. Before they left we 4 florists of Destiny Hill Farm Floral & Design Team created floral headwear for our young beauties. Here are a few from our fun play/practice day at the farm. All flowers were grown at the farm.
(I’m ending today’s post with a good one .. get ready for giggle!!)

Designed by Destiny Hill Farm

Designed by Destiny Hill Farm

Designed by Destiny Hill Farm

Designed by Destiny Hill Farm

ONLINE MARKETING CLASS FOR FLORAL DESIGNERS

I’m excited to announce our First ever class specifically for Floral Designers looking to increase the online presence of their Floral Design Business.
This e-course will be held online via a private, password protected forum. Class assignments will be posted weekly with hints, tricks and feedback from myself and other class participants. The class lasts for 4 weeks, and the forum will remain active for an additional 4 weeks should you need to access any of the information while working on your newly implemented marketing plans and to connect with other class participants.
Class Starts: October 21, 2013
Class Ends: November 15, 2013
Investment: $100
Enroll Here

What we will cover in class:
*Critique of current website and blog with suggestions on how to improve
*Instruction and suggestions on how to blog efficiently for your floral design business
*Set-up of Social Media accounts with instruction and suggestions on how to use these tools effectively to market your floral design business
*Set-up of your floral design business on various marketing websites for increased exposure

FAQs:
*There will be no refunds or transfers once you have registered & paid for this class.
*Information from this class will not be shared with others outside of this class. Immediate cancelation of your membership will be enforced if you are caught distributing information.
*As the saying goes “what you put into it, is what you get out of it”, full participation is the best way to gain the most success possible.

Questions?? Email Me!

Designed by Bella Fiori

Your name: Nicole G. D’Agata
Your Business name: The Painted Tulip Floral and Event Design
Your Location: Waterbury Center, VT

How did you start your business?
In 2002 I spent the summer in Germany, Netherlands, France and Switzerland painting the landscape. I went to as many Museums as possible to study paintings by my favorite landscape painters Millet, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. When I was there I was inspired by the open air Markets and the constant appreciation of flowers and gardening. When I came back to Vermont I started a 20 x20 ft plot of tulips, that turned into another 40 x 50 ft plot of Annuals the following summer. I was accepted into a few small farmers markets and had a wholesale account and a little farm stand. I did do one small wedding that September. The following spring I ended up buying a house with two acres and over the years The Painted Tulip continued to grow in size and varieties of flowers to what we are now: 2 greenhouses, and 2 acres of: perennials, woody orientmentals, and annuals.

How many years have you been in business?
11 years

What is your design aesthetic?
I would say I lead towards an organic and whimsical look. Letting the flowers guide me, being inspired by seasonally available flowers and foliage. I absolutely love texture. I welcome all kinds of styles from modern chic to contemporary massed blooms designs. It’s wonderful to design all different styles, it keeps me inspired.

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
People in Vermont love the Rustic elegance look and the bright “wildflower” style. Right now everyone is in love with the plush look of peonies which I have at least 300 plants.

Do you offer any services in addition to floral designs?
We go to farmers Markets year round: selling flower bouquets and by the stem. We have a Bouquet CSA. I Specialize in full scale high end weddings. We have a bucketed flower pick up for DIY weddings or other events. Providing wholesale Bouquets to Local grocery stores, wholesale to florist. We sell bedding plants in Spring and Christmas wreaths seasonally. People can always stop by the farm to pick up flowers during our growing season May – November.

Why did you begin flower farming:
I fell in love with Northern Vermont and moved here after obtaining a masters degree in fine art. Constantly inspired to paint the landscape here. After about 3 years of trying to make a living teaching and selling my art, which is difficult in an area like this. I did want to paint the Picture that galleries were interested in selling. Once I started gardening I was painting the flowers in my garden after my trip to Europe the flower farm kind of took over my life. After a rocky road in the Art world. Selling flowers was easy. Every one loved them and bought them.

What flowers and foliages do you grow?
Ageratum
Agrostemma
Alchemilla
Allium
Amaranthus
Ammi
Anemone
Aster
Astilbe
Bittersweet
Branches: Pussy willow, Winter berry
~ Flowering
~ Foliage
Broom corn
Bupleurum
Butterfly bush
Campanula
Celosia
Clematis
Columbine
Cosmos
Craspedia/drumstick
Crocosmia
Daffodil
Dahlia
Delphinium
Dianthus
Echinops
Euphorbia/Snow/mtn
Feverfew
Forsythia
Gladiolus
Gomphrena
Grasses & Grains
Herbs
Hydrangea
Iris
Kale
Larkspur
Lavender
Lilac
Lisianthus
Loosestrife
Lunaria
Lupine
Nigella
Ornithogalum
Peony
Poppy
Ranunculus
Rudbeckia
Scabiosa
Sented Geranum Foliage
Snapdragon
Spirea
Stock
Sunflower
Sweet pea
Tulip
Tweedia
Veronica
Viola
Willow
Yarrow
Zinnia
Dried and Preserved

Where do you sell your flowers?
The Burlington Farmers Market: in City Hall Park May thru end of October: Saturdays 8:30 AM-2 PM
Waterbury Farmers Market: Mid May to mid Oct @ Rusty Parker Memorial Park, Thursday 3-7:30 pm. City Market Burlington Vermont, Healthy Living Market S. Burlington VT

Do you ship your flowers?
not yet

Your contact information:
Nicole D’Agata
The Painted Tulip
353 Kneeland Flats
Waterbury Center, VT 05677
Phone: (802) 279-4371
pinterest: http://pinterest.com/paintedtulip/
website: http://paintedtulipvt.com/

Being creative for the sake of being creative is so good for the soul, let’s us floral designers push ourselves in our artistic endeavors. Today I am excited to share a project created by Emily Carter Floral Designs!

I like to think of flowers in various ways. Tools to make a painting come to life. Tools to sculpt with. Tools of nature. All of these ways that flowers can be used inspire me.
For years I have wanted to make a dress out of flowers. I believe this comes from seeing many a many wedding dresses, as we all have working in the industry. It took years to make it come to life for many reasons: seasons of flowers not lining up for what I ideally wanted to use, expense, mechanics of the design, and time to do it. Finally, I found myself thinking of it in the middle of the night and enough was enough. With peony season around the corner I set aside my days of work to create my lovely other child. 150 glue sticks, 2 glue guns, over 24 hours of labor with the flowers, 2 designers, 2 days of constructing the underlining, 8 yds of hardware cloth, over 150 peonies, 500 carnations, 300 roses, 120 astilbe, chocolate ty leafs, fiddleheads, etc.. it is complete. Many thanks to the lovely Sharyn Peavey for shooting this dream and the lovely Rosie (model) for wearing the over 40 lbs of dress for hours on end. Truly like having another child.

Contact Information:
Emily Carter Floral Designs
{ring}207-865-4021
http://www.emilycarterflowers.com
http://www.facebook.com/EmilyCarterFlowers

I’ve been out perusing the wholesalers sites to see what interesting flowers, foliages and textures they have in at the moment! So many great options now that we are deep into fall, how is it November already?!

Chestnut Branches – Red Mountain Wholesale

Fringed Double Tulips – Dutch Flower Line

Ilex Berries – Oregon Coastal Flowers

Coral Charm Peony – Mayesh Wholesale

Pomegranates – Florabundance

Rose Hips – Torchio Nursery

Scabiosa – Torchio Nursery

Black Beauty – G Page Wholesale

Silver and Red Brunia – Torchio Nursery

Viburnum Berries – Dutch Flower Line