Using local flowers for a stunning color palette
Here in Seattle, we are extremely fortunate to have such a great climate for grow flowers, the season is long and relatively mild. This has led to an amazing group of local growers, some of which sell their blooms, branches, and foliage at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market. I feel lucky every time I go to this market because the product is so beautiful, fresh, and is unlike the flowers I could get elsewhere!
Because these local blooms are unique, it can really make a color palette special and different. One of my favorite palettes is a combination of muted peach, pink, mauve, and dusty rose — so that was exactly what I was going for on one of my trips to the market. Let’s take a look at some of these beautiful blooms!
Meadowsweet from Free Range Flowers. This meadowsweet added beautiful lines and shape to my designs.
Cosmos from Free Range Flowers. Cosmos add a whimsical and airy touch to bouquets and arrangements.
Most of the flowers I picked up at the market came from a local farm, Free Range Flowers, but I also used some items from my garden. Sweet peas tend to be more delicate and have a shorter vase life, so it’s really nice that I can grow them in my backyard and cut them whenever I need to. Here I used a mix of Mollie Rilstone and Clotted Cream sweet peas.
Sweet Peas from my own garden. I love using sweet peas to add more movement and an incredible scent to designs.
Yarrow from Free Range Flowers. I love using yarrow to add a different texture and cover any mechanics.
Distant Drums Roses from Free Range Flowers. I love these roses because they have different colors starting from the inner center to the outer petals and act as a natural bridge element between different colors in a palette.
These specific ingredients allowed me to design in a way that has all the elements I love: texture, whim, romance, wild.
An arrangement using local blooms.
A petite bridal bouquet using flowers from the market and my garden.