Easter Bonnet Extra-ordinaire

In case you were wondering what to do with yourself this weekend.  Might we suggest working on your Easter Bonnet?  Come in showing off your finery between now and Easter and enter to win $100 gift certificate.

photo lifted from Google images, we believe taken at the New York City Easter Parade

Easter Flower Arrangement at Passionflower

You know you have it bad when you'll drive to Portland to get poppies, when you don't really care how much those big, fat ranunculus cost, they're just so gorgeous you gotta have them, when you find yourself stalking the neighbor in the hopes that you can casually ask them to pick some andromeda from their overflowing bushes.....add some quince, dusty miller, and an esperance rose or two and there's Sarah up at our new lightbox taking this gorgeous photo of some spring flowers she just made.
Would love these for Easter Brunch!

It's that time of year again........you know the one you've all been waiting for.  Time for the annual Easter Bonnet Contest (remember Easter is my favorite holiday)......So WE'RE HAVING A PARTY - it's next Friday April 6th.....and everyone is encouraged to put on their finery and don their bonnet.....because the best bonnet WINS $100 GIFT CERTIFICATE.......can't make the party?  No worries (except you're missing a great party - think live music and pink drinks)- come in between now and Easter with your bonnet and we'll take your photo and throw it into the mix.

And just for a little inspiration - Remember this guy with his flower filled bonnet?  Click here for some other Easter Bonnet ideas.

Some Ways to Celebrate Easter

                              Full disclosure.......Easter is my favorite holiday of the whole year.  It's so low pressure.  Should you choose, a beautiful brunch is all that's called for.  But should you choose, you can go a little crazy, dye easter eggs, have an egg hunt, plan your Easter Bonnet, put on your springtime finery and take it from there.

                So I'm going to sprinkle the blog with a few photos to put you in the mood.
 



And we've even redone our velvet pumpkins in a spring palette!  Lots of great goodies for your Easter Basket chez Passionflower.
final photo in this trio courtesy our pumpkin friends at Hot Skwash!

Ideas for a Festive Wedding

                                    

The next time you have a bride who says she wants a really festive, fun wedding, you might suggest a parade.  We came upon this fun procession in downtown Oaxaca....the bride and groom left the church followed by a marching band, two gigantic puppets representing them, a balloon with their names on it, women in native dress carrying baskets of flowers on their heads, followed by all the guests as they walked from the church to the reception.  Perfect strangers from all walks of life, lined the streets wishing omar and olga congratulations. Seems there are a few things we might learn about life and celebrations from the Mexican people.  As for me, it seems I still have Mexico on my mind!

On Springtime, Earthquakes, and the Love of Home

Back in Eugene.    Left Oaxaca yesterday just hours before the earthquake (el tremblor).  Thankfully, all reports are that all is well.  Woke up this morning to inches of snow on the ground.  What an interesting way to celebrate the first day of spring!  Needless to say I'm a little confused and suffering some culture/climate shock.  But always happy to be home.

Irish Blessing for St Patrick's Day

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Just Because

I thought you might enjoy this.....the shadow of joy......I like that idea.

Wedding Flowers on My Mind

We're actually starting to think, seriously think, about weddings around here.....My favorite wedding we've booked so far this year: a destination woodland wedding at Eagle Rock Lodge.  We're lining the aisle with alder and birch branches and making it look like a path through a woodland forest. Just call us your favorite trailblazing florist.  

New Faces at the Store

Dudettes, I don't believe I've introduced you.....meet Sarah Hamilton Blasi, our new floral designer....Here's Sarah in some gingham hamming it up with Becky....Sarah brings a deep love of flowers and all things beautiful to her work at the store....Check out her uber fabulous and uber inspiring blog the Green Dandelion by clicking here.http://thegreendandelion.blogspot.com/  Plus Sarah has been rocking some really fun terrariums.  Come in and check it out and meet Sarah.

 I forgot to show you this big yummy sherberty  flower fabulousness.....

Smells good too!

Gypsy

                           
Looking for a little color to spice things up?  Finally got my Gypsy bracelets.  Handmade in Istanbul .   They're one of a kind and when they're gone, they're gone.  So consider yourself warned.  No whining about how you really loved them and should have bought them when you first saw them and why can't I get more.

Pendleton Blankets at Passionflower

Can we say locally made?  iconic? classic?  romantic cowgirl?  How can so many good things be rolled into one?  We couldn't be more pleased to be offering Pendleton blankets at Passionflower. 

Hand Fashioned Porcelain at Passionflower

 Katie's bringing her fabulousness to the store once again.....Join us First Friday for a short two day "mini show" of Katy Swenson's fabulous porcelain pieces. 

Because Easter is just around the corner....click here to see more of Katie work and click here to go to her website.

Why I love ABC Kitchen

                                                    

1.  On my recent trip to NY I was lucky enough to meet up with Pam Zori from Ink and Peat and her lovely assistant Heather.  We indulged in a little meal at ABC Kitchen where I snapped this anemone in a wine bottle...ABC Kitchen is my go to place for a good meal in Manhattan right now...Why?  Well first, they have a teasel for their logo (gotta love that), they put fresh flowers on the table, they grow their micro-greens up on a roof in NYC, all the wait staff wear plaid cowboy shirts of various denominations, they're committed to slow food , everything's a little mismatched but artisan made, and the food is spectacularly good.