I thought I knew flowers.
I order them. They are delivered. I ask Mom if they were nice. She says yes. I don't think much about flowers until the next holiday.
OR
I pick them up from Whole Foods/Trader Joe's/Vons. I put them out. I enjoy them on the counter. I don't think about flowers again until the next event.
Here's my flower relationship now:
I talk to Cindy at English Garden Florist. We discuss the effect I want to create in my home. We look at colors and textures. She gives me thoughtful ideas. I get excited about the transformation. I order flowers from Cindy. I think about when the flowers will be delivered. I stare at flowers every time I walk by them. I take pictures of flowers. I move flower arrangement around my house so I can enjoy them from different angles. I stop at the counter to gaze at the flowers. I talk about the arrangement with others.
I have a problem. When did this start?
I received one of English Garden's creative bouquets for my birthday and I never forgot the way the bouquets made me feel. The arrangement and flowers themselves were energetic in a way most arrangements only promise to be. I decided to stop by and talk to them as I was pricing flowers for an event I was hosting. I had contacted three florists by phone and had plans to meet with each.
I spoke with Cindy from English Garden at length and she took the time to walk me through the various flowers and options for arrangements. I had an idea of what I wanted, but no clear creative vision of how to get there. I told her I wanted tropical flowers. Approximately 8 large table arrangements, and 2 man-made "trees". She said she would design mock-ups for me to review. I felt so confident Cindy and was so impressed with the unique and beautiful arrangements I saw in the cases in the store that I never spoke to another florist. I never did any price comparisons or saw anyone else's vision of the flowers for my event. I was satisfied that this business understood what I was looking for and could deliver. After organizing the mock-ups, I added some loose flowers and a very cake topper of tropical flowers to my order because I planned to use flowers to decorate a cake for the event.
I returned with in a week to see flower arrangements that truly took my breath away. I expected the flowers to be 'arranged' nicely. But I was not prepared for the artistry and consideration that was given to both the "trees" and the horizontal arrangements. She had taken my rough sketches and picture compilations and created arrangements that were exquisite. There was incredible attention given to the balance of color and texture and the scale of both pieces.
The night of the event, most people commented on the flowers. People were shocked that they were real. I saw people touching the arrangements all night. They were that captivating. They were luscious, colorful, filled with texture and energy and movement. They were stunning.
I have retuned to place two more orders with English Florist. And I keep going back to Cindy--she is the perfect representation of this business. She is kind and creative and cares not only about the creativity that goes into making a beautiful arrangement, but also that the customer is thrilled with the purchase.
While I have dealt primarily with Cindy, all of the employees I have interacted with have been patient, professional, and interested.
My recent Thanksgiving display was more rustic and earthy as per my request. It was beautiful. And I am excited to see what they put together for my Christmas display.
And that's part of what sets them apart. I have complete trust that with a few shared details from me, Cindy will execute an arrangement that defies my expectations. I am not accustomed to florists working that way. With English Garden, I am not restricted to antiquated designs or clichéd presentations. There really is no limit to what their creative minds can do with plants.
I have had to rethink the idea of flowers in my home. Not only the types of flowers I want to see, but also the way they are presented. The work they do at English Garden is unparalleled in this town. Their work is detailed, thoughtful, dramatic, and thought provoking. It is exquisite.