Creative Passion
My flower obsession blossomed as a little girl when the most exquisite orange sherbet flower enchanted me. It stopped me in my tracks. I believed it to be so magical that it should be fit for a fairy. I immediately ran home to share its majestic powers with my mom, to which she simply replied, “oh, it’s just a weed.” But I was already captivated and innately knew that one person’s weed is another’s wildflower. I still see and appreciate ethereal beauty everywhere, and I have discovered it to come in all amazing shapes, sizes, and movements. While some may discard a weed, I welcome it and thank the ground from which it came. Nothing is off-limits within my bespoke designs, unless it is toxic, harmful, or causes a rash. I strive to curate a rush of genuine happiness from my creations.
Seasonally Aware
Every season brings with it an awe-inspiring, whimsical bloom to captivate its watching admirers. When spring has sprung, I flock to my favorite Lichen laden branches. The summer season beckons with spires of mullein, a prolific weed that even my goats reject but that truly charms with its elegant, architectural bursting stalks of color. The crisp fall season is bursting with dahlias, both soft and romantic, yet strong and vibrant. Finally, the winter season is a time for pause and acts as a resting period for flower production. Still, even in the dead chill of winter, there is much to admire. Earthy tones, bold red berries, grey pinecones, lush greenery, and dormant twigs can easily be constructed into a creative arrangement, highlighting their natural rustic beauty.
Locally Mindful
When I began my farming journey, I decided to adopt an earth-friendly, no-till farming method to avoid disturbing the land, animals, and life forms that use it as their home. I literally built my flower beds from the ground up to give my flowers the most promising start to transform into one-of-a-kind blooms. I utilize our 8-acre land (of which half are old vine zinfandel grapes) as a playground for whimsical artisanal floral inventions. Our local newspaper, the Sonoma Sun, generously gave me never-ending stacks of outdated newspapers, which I used as the fundamental base for all my flower beds. As an homage to them, I lovingly wrap every single one of my farm-fresh bouquets in a sheet of their pages, enveloping them with a bit of local Sonoma love.
Honoring Joy
The true beauty of farming and curating my own flower arrangements allows me the freedom to escape to my garden to forage and gain inspiration from a single flower or a vibrant color. In these moments, I discover the missing element needed to complete a bouquet (and my vision) with romantic, complementary colors and textures. Inspired by nature and varying hues, I admittedly have a petal crush that evokes a passion for florals that I love to share with others.
My early mornings spent in the garden are both countlessly rewarding and exhausting hours. I reap the rewards by proudly presenting beautiful florals to my customers. I never tire of the smiles flowers generate and the feelings they evoke. I hope to create this experience for you! Please contact me today and let’s start designing this palpable beauty! Until then, live life in full bloom!
Brenda Horne Petalmusesonoma@gmail.com
