Summer Bouquet Class

Summer Bouquet Class: By Carling A.W. Elder

Friday morning, I got to do something really fun. I got to go to my work, and not work at all! Yesterday morning, I was lucky enough to attend a Summer Bouquet class at Local Color Flowers taught by my talented boss Ellen Frost where I got to sit back, play with some beautiful local flowers, and revel in being a student again.

I’m always quick to tell anyone who asks that one of the best things about designing with local flowers is the ever changing variety and availability of the flowers. Each week, there are different colors, textures, shapes, and scents to examine and explore, and it keeps floral design from ever becoming boring or static. I love the challenge of working with new materials each week, and I always feel it’s my responsibility to the growers to make their flowers shine in each design.

For the class this week, there was basil, celosia, mountain mint, lisianthus, gomphrena, zinnias, sunflowers, and marigolds to choose from. The mint and basil smelled fresh and sweet, and the multicolored zinnias lit up the studio table with their brilliance. We each got a silver or white, low footed bowl to use as a vase, and quickly filled it with a ball of chicken wire to create an eco friendly support structure for our arrangements.

As Ellen explained the basics of floral design, we passed a golden marigold around the design table and stuck our faces into it, delighting in its earthy scent. I watched the excitement on the faces of my classmates as they learned how to cut stems on an angle, the importance of foliage and texture, and the benefits of buying local flowers. As I choose green and orange flowers for my design, I watched others gravitate towards their favorite colors of purple, red, and yellow. Once we had chosen our flowers, we each grabbed a pair of clippers and, as Ellen likes to say,  “Dove in!”

 

My friend Julie accompanied me to the class. When we got home, she asked me “Was it useful for you?” wondering if I found the class helpful since I’ve been doing floral design for a few years. I answered with a resounding “YES!” At yesterday’s class, Ellen’s teaching, summer’s  fresh flowers, and the basic elements of floral design, gave me a deliciously strong shot of inspiration. While creating our summer bouquets, I saw my classmates awaken to the joys of floral design, and I thought about the many reasons I love floral design so much.

At yesterday’s design class, I realized that no matter how good a designer I ever become, my goal is to always approach floral design with a beginners eyes:  with enthusiasm, with curiosity, and with a desire to learn. 

In other words, I will forever strive to be a student of my favorite artform, floral design.

Weekly Flower CSA at Local Color Flowers

Get in on the fun! Local Color Flowers is offering an awesome, local flower CSA this summer!

Here’s how it works. You’ll sign up for our Flower CSA online or by phone at 410-262-1494 and make a onetime payment of $200. Then on ten different Wednesday evenings throughout the summer and early fall (dates listed below) you’ll stop by our studio from 4:30-7 PM and pickup a gorgeous, seasonal bouquet . The flowers and foliage in your bouquet will always be locally grown and we’ll even tell you which farms each flower came from so you know you that you really are supporting your local community.

Your bouquet will be wrapped up in pretty paper, but we won’t be supplying vases.  If you’d like to keep your flowers hydrated on the ride home, you’re welcome to bring your own vase or bucket. If you forget, mason jars will be available for $2.

Since we know you’re busy, we will send you an email reminder every other week so you don’t forget to pickup your flowers. Because you will have already paid for your CSA flowers at the beginning of the season, your pickups will be quick and easy. In no time at all, you’ll be cruising with your local blooms and a smile on your face. You’ll probably even get home in time to catch the O’s game.

What’s not to love?

Local Color Flowers 2013 CSA Dates:

June 5^th

June 19^th

July 3^rd

July 17^th

August 7^th

August 21^st

September 4^th

September 18^th

October 2^nd

October 13^th

Spring Design Class at Local Color Flowers

On Sunday, we hosted our first design class in our new space! It was so much fun to have folks in the shop getting their hands on flowers!

We started out with snacks picked up from the Sunday market including pastries from Chez G and Infused Spreads, treats from the Mallow Bar and the most wonderful salted caramel brownies EVER- from Charm City Cook.

After snacks, I gave a brief over view of some design techniques that we use here at LoCoFlo. We usually start with a base-branches, foliage, herbs etc. Then we go to our focal flowers-our WOW flowers. Then finally-all the other bits and pieces the help an arrangement move. We talked a little about color palettes, orientation and scale. Then-I introduced the flowers. This week we had crabapple, sand cherry, wild mustard, red bud, lilies, tulips (in all different shapes and sizes), daffodils, anemones, gerbers, ranunculus and curly willow.

Of course we talked about the awesome local farms that contributed flowers to our class that day (Farmhouse Flowers, Plant Masters, Lynn Vale Studios, Locust Point Flowers, Belvedere Farm and the brand new Castillo Flower Farm).

Once everyone picked their flowers-the creative magic began! Everyone made gorgeous spring arrangements in a variety of color palettes.  The arrangements turned out so beautiful!

Here are a couple examples!

Carling even took a little video!

We’re definitely looking forward to more classes in the future! Keep an eye out for a schedule of upcoming classes and events.  We hope to see you soon!

Just Like I Imagined

For years, I imagined LoCoFlo having a home of it’s own where we could have plenty of fabulous space to work. I day dreamed about space to have consultations and pop-up markets and open houses and design classes.

Well, this weekend, it was just like I imagined. Friday, Carling, Irene, Laura Beth and I worked on a variety of fun projects including 2 weddings, arrangements for Kale A Rama, Lululemon, Apothecary Wellness and…the BGE guy (yes-the bge guy came to read the meter and ordered flowers to take home at the end of the day!).

(thanks to our friends at Balance Photography for photos of our kale arrangements!)

Saturday, we opened up the garage door while the Waverly Market was in full swing and sold herb and succulent gardens.

We also chit chatted with lots of friends and neighbors who stopped by to see what was inside “that green striped building”.

Finally today, we hosted our first design class in our new space! It was so much fun welcoming folks in to try their hand at floral design.

All of the arrangements turned out so beautifully! Here’s one example of a finished arrangement.

Spending the weekend working is pretty awesome when this is the kind of work you get to do!

Buy Local This Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! Be sure to pass by those grocery store roses and choose a beautiful  floral arrangement filled with locally grown flowers that your Valentine will love!

Choose from a $40 or a $70 arrangement filled with locally grown tulips, foliage and pussy willows. Each of these arrangements can be made in a mason jar, milk glass vase, garden vase or birch vase.

Maybe you want to give you sweetheart a little more local love this year. Choose our All Local Gift Basket for $100 which includes our $40 floral arrangement together with some of our favorite local treats!

Finally, for the gift that keeps on giving, you can choose a Local Color Flowers flower subscription which will provide a seasonal, monthly or weekly arrangement to your Valentine. This is a great way to experience the best our region has to offer throughout the year. Contact us for more information.

We’ll be delivering on Valentine’s Day in the Baltimore City area or you can pick up your arrangement at our studio in Charles Village between 11am and 6pm.

To place an order (earlier is better!) use our online order form or call (410-262-1494) or email (ellen@locoflo.com) us!

Locavore Weddings!

I’m so excited that Local Color Flowers is featured in Flavor Magazine’s article on Locavore Weddings. When I actually saw the magazine recently I was even more thrilled! It’s beautiful, inspiring and a real celebration of the wonderful offerings of Maryland and Virginia.

Buying local for weddings and events is not a trend. It’s not a fad. It’s actually part of an overall lifestyle that celebrates home cooking, pride in your hometown, real relationships with farmers and small businesses and a desire to incorporate that commitment into all aspects of your life, including your wedding.

I loved reading about some of my friends from Wollam Gardens as well as learning about other great vendors that focus on providing local products and services for weddings and events. And while I’m not trying to make it all about ME-I was happy there was a focus on flowers in the article. Often times, flowers seem to take a back seat to produce, meat and wine. I’m glad the folks a Flavor highlighted so many great growers/designers using local flowers.

Here’s what they wrote about flowers!

“Local flowers can diminish your environmental impact even further. At Local Color Flowers in Baltimore, owner Ellen Frost works only with Maryland and Virginia growers to assemble her arrangements. Inspired by Amy Stewart’s book “Flower Confidential,” which uncovers the complex and environmentally grueling international flower trade, Frost instead supports local growers, eliminating weeks between the moment a flower is pulled from the earth and the moment it touches a bride’s hands. Because Frost visits so many local growers each week, she’s able to provide significant variety. Even winter produces interesting textures of greenery, branches, and berries. She also provides couples with flowers in bulk and hosts DIY flower parties to teach attendants how to make their own bouquets.

Centerpieces can outlive the wedding weekend: “One of my couples did a lot of flowering bulbs, potted herbs, and succulents on the tables,” Frost says. “When the wedding was over, they took them home and planted a wedding garden in their yard.” If your flowers are cut, ask your florist to help you donate them to a local hospital or senior center.”

In addition to the article, Flavor has created a Locavore Wedding Resource Guide. This is a great place to find vendors and businesses for your upcoming wedding or event. Check it out!

Thanks Flavor Magazine!