California Flower Farm & Design Retreat
Have you ever been part of something that you know you feel deeply about but don’t realize how imbedded it is in your soul?
That’s what happened with my trip to California with a group of like minded florists and flower farmers, including a dear friend of mine Annie with Red Door Flowers in Louisville, Colorado.
We were all learning from Kelly Shore at The Floral Source. I have used The Floral Source the last few years to source American flowers. When I source flowers, I usually connect directly with the flower farm, because I love to know my people. They help me with a portion of my mission “connect to create”. The Floral Source is helpful when I am looking at order from multiple flower farms and Kelly provides the ground work to make it happen.
Tuscan Rose Ranch in Santa Paula, CA is a wedding venue. This was our headquarters for learning and designing with american grown flowers from up and down the coast. On the last day we designed for a photoshoot for the venue. Can’t wait to see the professional photos from the day to share with you!
We visited 4 flower farms. Above is Joseph & Sons in Santa Paula, CA. I have never seen snapdragons so tall! And the delphiniums were incredible.
We learned about struggles with weather and environment. Giving us the perspective we need to understand the growing aspect on a larger scale in the United States. This also gave us the opportunity to ask them questions to help us better work with them when sourcing flowers. Plus being in the presence of these glorious flowers was amazing!
It’s no surprise that Dani at Rose Story Farm in Carpinteria, CA was one of my favorite experiences of the trip. The love and passion she has for roses and hearing about how many times she was kicked down and didn’t give up so inspiring. She said if you love something with a passion you keep going. This is so true and I live by this every day.
To feel and smell her garden roses while still on the plant was something I will take with me forever. You will definitely be seeing her roses in our flower designs from here on out.
Two other greenhouses we toured Ocean Breeze and Myraid Flowers . It was fun to hear the history of the families that started together and then split but kept growing was super cool.
The gerberas alone were too fun! Honestly I have never seen spray roses grow.
Most of their plants are grown hydroponically which in my head they all just sat in water. Nope, they’re planted in an organic material with drip lines. Once the organic material is saturated the water drips down to a trough, filtered and recirculated into the irrigation system. So cool!
The last day was a dinner and showcasing our designs for a photoshoot. The night was perfection in weather and company.
All in all this experience opened my eyes to the process of these flower farmers and connecting with others across the world that want to prioritize locally grown flowers in their designs.
My new glass headed, recommended by the ultimate, Sue McLeary, has been a staple in design ever since I got her.
The dried flowers are from Charles Little & Co located in Oregon and the cotton is from Pajarosa in California.
Til the next flowering adventure ~
Take care of yourself,
Steph
