Longtime friends, owners and partners, Stephen Wicks and Mark Welford of bbrooks member, Bloomsbury Flowers, London, UK, are featured in this December 2012 article from The Guardian.

Retired professional ballet dancers, Mark and Stephen share insights and anecdotes related to the  floral gift-giving customs of the Royal Ballet.

From their online gallery, bbrooks member Cebolla Fine Flowers in Dallas, TX, showcases a lush, textured all white arrangement in a unique white ceramic vase.  The use of hydrangea, amaryllis, star of bethlehem, tulips, artichokes, succlulents, roses and accents of magnolia leaves brings together a stunning winter-white display.

The West grows the most Christmas trees, but, it has also helped to spawn the artificial tree revolution.  One thing remains the same:  The choice of tree is an emotional decision.  Do  you seek robust A-line perfection, or does a forlorn Charlie Brown pine tug at your heart?  Perhaps this fascinating article in the December  2012 issue of Sunset magazine will help you to decide.

West Coast business owners, Tom Norby of Trout Creek Tree Farm in Corbett, OR, and Thoms Harman of Balsam Hill in Redwood City, CA, share insight into their real and artificial tree companies.

bbrooks membr Neil Leeson Decor

in Akron, OH, has been nominated for CBC Magazine’s

 Connectors Choice Award

“Floral Design Company

of the Year”!

 Cast Your Vote!

bbrooks member Centerpiece Napa Valley in Napa, CA invites all to join them on November 29th for a festive Holiday Workshop!

Participants will  learn to create three design elements- a wreath or swag, a centerpiece and a unique tree decoration.

The registration fee includes all supplies, as well as, expert instrucrion and assistance in crafting. To complement the evening, Venge Vineyards will feature two of their  fabulous wines.

For more information see Centerpiece Floral & Home Workshops.

Heather Pando of L.A. design studio, Little World Design, use botanicals in a whimsical fashion—a style translated to this wreath.  With her team—including Manuel Acosta, who put together this piece—she fashioned “blossoms” out of scallop shells and glued them to a manzanita frame that resembles driftwood. littleworlddesign.com

To get this wreath project kickstarted, Hank Jenkins of  SF Bay Area firm, Lushland, simply took a walk. “What’s here is what grabbed my attention in my own garden and on hikes.” Despite the fresh take on materials, he keeps the color palette traditional with green eucalyptus pods and red pincushions (leucospermum).

Zenaida Sengo of Flora Grubb Gardens and Susie Nadler of Cutting Garden in San Francisco, created this colorful holiday wreath of  kumquats, dried palm stems, red leucadendron, green citrus leaves.

As seen in December 2012 issue of Sunset magazine.

Long time bbrooks member Robin Wood Flowers in Cincinnati is hosting a series of ongoing floral classes,  featuring seasonal design, through December.

In these hands-on workshops, students will be introduced to each topic with a demonstration by Robin and her design staff, as she shares her signature approach to floral design.

Students will leave with their own flower arrangement at the end of the evening. The cost for each participant is $85.  Refreshments and light bites will be served.

Easy-care items like sedums, echeverias, crassulas, Scotch & Irish moss, are used to accent  unique Marina di Chioggia pumpkins in this lush and textured outdoor table centerpiece.  As seen in October issue of  Southern Living.

Exciting News!  bbrooks new website will be launched in the coming weeks!

Keep any eye out for our new look!

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year.  The ten days starting with Rosh Hashana and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days  of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance.  This is a time for serious  introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent  before Yom Kippur.

The presence of flowers is tradition on all Jewish holidays. These are used in table decorations, around homes and in Synagogues. Flowers displayed throughout the holiday are always extremely fine and beautiful. Whilst there are no specific flowers traditionally sent at Jewish New year, some members of the religion favour blooms mentioned in the Torah.  Apple Blossoms are also a popular choice; however these flowers are not as readily available as roses and other striking flora.
Judaism is symbolised by the colours blue, white and silver and these colours will often be interpreted into arrangements and bouquets during this festival. Ribbons of the traditional colours of the religion can be added to bouquets and arrangements and further complimented by candles.

Florals shown as designed by bbrooks member Greenwich Orchids in Connecticut.