Thankful

 (the farm mid-summer blooming with flowers)

As the season at Larkspur farm winds down, we are in a reflective mood. Over the past Thanksgiving weekend while walking the grounds of our fertile land in Buchanan, Michigan, we filled the bird feeders, gathered leaves for mulch and took long walks with our dogs Clyde and Ruby.  As we listened to the crisp sounds of the fallen leaves and frosted grass under our feet we give thanks for the earth's bounties that nurture us year after year.  This winter will be filled with days gazing at heirloom seed catalogs and going over our notes as we plan our next year's plantings of beautiful, unusual varieties of flowers, herbs and foliage.  

(We find Larkspur Farm to be just as breathtaking in winter slumber as it is all dressed up in summer)

 

Bridal bouquets: Part II

This bouquet of hydrangea and peonies was created for Heather for her wedding at The Enchanted Estate 

outside of Chicago, the bouquet was wrapped with a piece of vintage fabric from her grandmother's wedding dress

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The arrangements for the tables were made up of purple lisianthus, dahlias, chocolate Queen Ann's lace, curly willow branches, hydrangea, and yarrow

delicate clusters of arrangements filled vintage mercury glass and milk glass containers that were interspersed with tea light candles in order to create a romantic ambiance

Bridal bouquets: Part 1

We had a very busy summer and fall wedding season that is just now winding down!

We will be highlighting some of the designs from weddings we were able to be a part of in 2012 in this next series of posts.

 (close up of the bouquet created for our client Ashley)

This elegant mostly white bouquet consisting of peonies, ranunculus, and striped lily grass was created for a spring wedding which took place in one of the historic ballrooms at Germania Place.

The Black Petals

(The Black Petals 2009, Mixed Media on Paper, 10.5 x 7.5 inches)

In Tony Fitzpatrick's book entitled "The Train:  An Artist's Journal" he writes about this work, called The Black Petals

which was inspired by the leaves of a calathea plant he purchased from Larkspur.  A passage from his book recalls:

"There is a lovely flower store across the street from my studio called Larkspur.  My friend, Beth Barnett, owns it.  Sometimes when it is gray and shitty in Chicago, which is about eight months a year, I go over there and marvel at the color and smell of her daily inventory of flowers and plants . . . it is one of those pleasures that I live for."

We love the work that Tony makes and we are so very excited that he created a mural based on The Black Petals, directly across the street on the outer fence belonging to Red Door restaurant.

Be sure to check out the mural on Damen Avenue if you are in the Bucktown area!