Something Borrowed, Something Blooms
Hello!
I love waking up to the sound of summer rain. It’s steady, embracing, shushing and calming. Plus the added bonus of knowing I won’t have to water today. So luxurious. I just roll over and listen. Until I think of all the weeds enjoying it too…
I suppose technically it’s not summer for another week or so. But for my own internal calendar, June, July and August are summer. This is absolutely my favorite time of the year. After two dry summers, the sound of the rain is all the sweeter. It is filling gutters and ditches, topping up our well and replenishing water tables. This is how June should be in Canaan Valley: beautiful and lush.
Farmers market season began last Friday in Davis. There was a great turnout. It was so good to see so many familiar faces. I did my best to bring as much as possible. But, as there is only so much I can get into my car, I am taking orders, too. If there is something specific you want, please let me know by email or when you next see me. That way, I can be sure to set it aside, bring extra or make a special bouquet for you.
This time last week my mind was mostly on wedding flowers. We did it! A Canaan Valley Flower Company wedding – bouquets, boutonnieres, aisle planters and a floral arch, in creams, greens, foliage and some splashes of purple. I leaned into the “meadow’s edge” vibe, as the event was outdoors. I could not have done it without help from Karley, who you may recognize from the Stumptown taproom. She is a true plant whisperer with a talent for florals. Good thing, too, because the floral arch was a bit of a beast. Our floral mechanics involved chicken wire, a produce crate, zip ties and a fair bit of ingenuity. Peonies may be wonderfully fragrant, but their blooms are heavy, and I know better than to underestimate a mountain breeze. To my relief, the vines, foliage and flowers kept their beauty, withstood the wind, and the rain held off. In fact, the bride told me later that the sun came out as they said their vows.
This week’s market flowers are leaning cottage-y: delphiniums, foxgloves, phlox, lupine, love in the mist. Many of these bouquet classics are familiar, romantic, and informal – “voluptuous” and “haphazard” according to the Royal Horticultural Society. Think relaxed and charming. A perfect bouquet for a rainy day.
Let there be flowers!
Lizz
PS – Here's where to buy flowers and herbs this week:
• Fridays – Sundays, mornings, bud vases at Blackwater Galley in Thomas (also delicious breakfasts and baked goods, check it out!)
• Fridays, 4:30-7pm, Davis Farmers and Artisans Market, next to Davis Riverside Park, across from Shop’n’Save supermarket
• Sundays - pop-up, 2:30-5pm, in Canaan Valley by the Canaan Valley Garage on Rt 32/Appalachian Highway
• For custom orders, quantities, convenience or just because – contact me! hello@canaanvalleyflowerco.com