From the Garden

Posted on May 21, 2012 by prettystreets

The peonies, iris and sage flowers are all from the pretty streets garden. I only grow enough of the peonies and iris for a few bouquets in late spring but I aspire to one day have fields of both. It is good practice cultivating them in my little brooklyn garden. I grow quite a bit of sage because it does not need that much room and blooms all season long.

I finally had a full day on Sunday to focus on the garden. It is funny because the garden is what started this whole business and now that I am busy I have not had a ton of time for it. I work on it for awhile and then check back a little each day to make sure everything is going ok. There is always work to be done but I know that I can let it go a little and come back to it. It felt so good to be out there working all day and I even snuck out there super early this morning to get some work done before the rain. Working in the garden right before a rain storm is actually one of my favorite all time things.

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Here Today

Posted on May 16, 2012 by prettystreets

Peony season has arrived in full force. Peonies never fail to impress. They really are spectacular with their lush petals and intricate insides. I always save a couple leftover peonies for home and leave them out until their petals fall out on the table, creating the prettiest mess. The one above does magic tricks, fading from coral pink to cream.

People tend to ask what my favorite flower is and I never really have an answer. While peonies definitely make the cut, it is too hard to name just one. Just when I am still feeling bewitched by spring branches (such as dogwoods) they fade away and another beauty comes along. The constant changing of the flowers and plants is all part of the charm.

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Happy Anniversary!!!

Posted on May 15, 2012 by prettystreets

Mother’s Day was Pretty Streets 1 year anniversary! YAY!

BIG THANK YOU’S to all the sweet people who have supported the business this past year. It has been so fun and we have learned a ton! We look forward to another great year and are getting all geared up for the flower stand season!

To celebrate our anniversary we made lots of beautiful mother’s day bouquets to sell at the Bedford Cheese Shop. We also teamed up with the lovely Marisa Wu of Salty Road sweets and  sold bouquets at the Brooklyn Flea. It was a good one and we topped it all off with white wine and an ice cream sundae at one of our favorite local restaurants Allswell.

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And More Lilacs

Posted on May 7, 2012 by prettystreets

The studio was filled with fragrant Lilacs and Peonies this weekend. Cut Lilacs can be a little tricky. I find cutting the stems at a sharp angle and making a one inch slit up the middle of the stem works pretty well to keep them fresh and happy.  It was a not a good year for Lilacs around here, the March/April heat waves with the later plummeting temps messed things up for the local Lilacs. These beauties came up from the South. I could not stop staring at the variegated petals on some of them. Outlines and checkerboards, it’s amazing what nature can do.

We also made Greek wedding crowns with Spirea, Ranunculus and Lily of the Valley. Trust me when I say the bride looked so lovely! I was running around touching up and getting everything together, so I did not have time to snap any photos of her loveliness. Hopefully,  we will be getting some soon that I can share with you.

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In the Shade

Posted on May 3, 2012 by prettystreets

Our lilac bush sits in the back of the yard. It smells intoxicatingly amazing right about now and is my favorite thing about the garden this time of year. It got knocked around by some fierce winds the other night but seems to be holding it’s own.  It was planted several years ago by a girl in the building  before she flew the coop for Mexico. It is planted in part shade and does just fine even though lilacs supposedly need full sun. Over the years I’ve surrounded it with heucheras, goat’s beard, tiarella and solomon’s seal. I might move it some day but for now I think it likes the magic of the shade.

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La-di-da

Posted on May 1, 2012 by prettystreets

Jackie (my gf and helper of many things Pretty Streets) says I am a tease on the blog. She says I start to reveal myself, but then pull back abruptly and talk about the la-di-da of pretty flowers. She is right. Truthfully, that is really how it goes these days. I start to feel overwhelmed and I want to complain about the uncertainty of it all. It’s not easy to start up your own business and put yourself out there. It’s scary and a lot of work. There is so much to do every moment of the day and I often put things aside that I really want to get to…such as the Garden Tips section of this site. How long can a page say Coming Soon…ugh!

At the same time, it is amazing to be doing something that I truly love and something that is mine. Also, flowers and gardens are pretty darn uplifting. So, even on those days I feel I can not handle it all, it ends up being pretty great. Not to say I don’t have enormous, dramatic, heartfelt meltdowns but for now I will save those for Jackie and keep the tease going on here.

The flowers above were for a delivery order of an all white bouquet. Lilacs and Lily of the Valley were requested. They are perfectly in season right now and smell oh so sweet!

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Leftovers

Posted on April 29, 2012 by prettystreets

Many things happened recently that left me wondering what my next plan of action should be.  I am one to live pretty much in the moment and forget that it is important to think about the future. Well, I am thinking about it now, but at the same time I’m not exactly sure what to think. In the meantime, I will just continue working passionately in the garden and enjoy all the pretty left over vines and branches in the studio.

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Rainy Day

Posted on April 22, 2012 by prettystreets

The garden was greatly in need of rain and I am happy it finally has what it needs. However, I can not help but feel a little bit resentful. I was on a role working in the garden and there is still so much to do. I am planting up my little backyard until it’s busting at the seams. I have several flats of generously gifted perennials that I still need to get into the ground, in addition to all the baby seedlings that need their place to grow. I have been feeling a little scattered lately and working in the garden somehow always helps to ground me. So I am anxiously awaiting clear skies, until then there is plenty to be working on indoors.

As well as fun videos to watch! This one is by my dear friend Alice Cohen. I have been a huge fan of her artwork for years and love watching her recent animations.

I John Singer Sergeant “Gone in a Second” from alice cohen on Vimeo.

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Good Morning

Posted on April 20, 2012 by prettystreets

It has been a pretty good morning. I worked in the garden a bit. Then, I dragged my tired self  to the flower district to pick up a few things for a small bouquet. While there choosing  from all the spring splendor, I bumped into Sarah from Saipua.  I took a flower class with her at Little Flower School.  If you have not already checked her out you should definitely do so.

See I told you….amazing.

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Window Box Gardens

Posted on April 18, 2012 by prettystreets

In the backyard garden we have been knee deep in dirt. Building, moving, digging and planting has us pretty much wiped out by the end of the day. So tending to these window box beauties has been a sweet retreat. The little plants and flowers are growing together nicely. The sweet pea tendrils are spiraling and the tough pansies are holding up in this summer like heat.

Before the sun comes up  I have been working on upcoming wedding flowers. Getting everything together and planning it all out. Excited for an upcoming event with lots of beautiful flowers and wedding crowns!

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