Scouting in Nor-Cal

How much do we love these vertical succulent beds?

Sweet & Simple Spring Bday Bash in Milk Glass

Photo Credit: hartnettstudio

Smithsonian Article on the Flower Trade

A Smithsonian article worth reading if you are at all interested in the flower trade, and where many flowers found in florists and supermarkets in the US come from. Makes you think ... This is why Sarah Worden Natural Design sources locally grown flowers whenever possible. When it isn't possible, we do our best to buy VeriFlora or other certified flowers.

The Secrets Behind Your Flowers by John McQuaid, February 2011, Smithsonian Magazine.

Political Event, Private Residence, Litchfield, CT

The hostess for this private fundraising dinner wanted bright colors - oranges and reds - to match her formal dining room. She also donated the gorgeous gold accented vessels that fit the look perfectly. A much more formal look than my usual "natural" style but super fun to mix lilies, parrot tulips, roses and more to create this elegant, sophisticated look in a classic, formal dining room. Photo Credit: Rob Hartnett, hartnettstudio.

'Going Green with Holiday Flowers' Class at UConn!

Very impressive results from SWND and First Bloom Farm's first flower class held last Saturday at UConn in Torrington. This is what some of the students came up with using all local materials (except the roses)! ...

SWND in LCT Monthly! ...

Read About SWND in Litchfield County Times Monthly's November 2010 Issue!

A Flower Child in Litchfield

Connecticut Classic

With its simple beauty and fresh, classic look, this wedding may not look like it took over a year to plan. It did! - and all the special touches came together to create a magical event with an utterly "Connecticut" feel. From the flaxen linens to the french country tables, this natural September wedding at a historic local home was a perfect culmination to SWND's summer season. Some of the special touches that brides and entertainers will want to take note of: mismatched glass in different shapes and heights, integrating family lace and linens as accents, investing in a professionally styled "lounge area" in the tent really helped bring the whole decor together, lighting carefully selected trees with spots and dangling glass jars with candles (for this wedding, a picture perfect apple tree framed the entrance to the tent!), and of course, utilizing local flowers wherever we could including fragrant herbs like basil, sage, and lavender.

Kent Wedding Summer Finale

Another hydrangea wedding - blues/greens to boot. Alas, still lovely and special in its very own way. Do we ever really get sick of hydrangeas?

Here are a few rustic photos from pre-wedding photo shoot with hartnettstudio ...

Flower Picking at First Bloom Farm!!

I had a chance to visit Maggie Saska's First Bloom Farm (www.firstbloomfarm.com) last week to pick some fabulous flowers for ourbooth at the Litchfield Farm Fresh Market last Saturday (www.litchfieldhillsfood.org). Beautiful sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, herbs, and more!!

Our booth at the Farmer's Market...

Hydrangea Happy July Wedding

It helps to have a wedding on Cape Cod in July if you want hydrangeas, particularly blue ones. We got lucky with this wedding as we were able to "harvest" many of the blue beauties from neighbors and friends of the bridge. Still, we think the variegated green/white hosta and euonymous leaves with the blue hydrangea makes a summery fresh combination.

The bride chose to use silver plate mint julep cups inside and vintage jelly jars on the patio for something more informal.

The bouttonieres and bridesmaid's bouquets feature echinops/globe thistle for a little something different.