Episode 404: Seed to Bloom to Vase with Stacey Denton of Oregon’s Flora Farm & Design Studio and Our State Focus: Massachusetts

Well, it's the first episode of June and that means we're kicking it off with this week's unveiling of the American Flowers Week Botanical Couture Collection, which you can see in the pages of Florists' Review's June issue! I'm so excited to share this beautiful body of work -- nine floral fashion looks -- which have been created by talented members around the U.S.

Our participation is at the highest ever, with designer-flower farmer teams from Alaska, California, Florida, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington. Click here to find links to free, downloadable social media badges of all the botanical couture looks for your promotion as you celebrate American Flowers Week, coming up on June 28-through-July 4.

And . . . this might be of interest, for the fourth year, we've produced the American Flowers Week bouquet label. Get in on this program and order labels for your bouquets and other promotions. Labels are available at an affordable price to active Slow Flowers members. We'll be fulfilling your orders until June 21st to don't put it off! Find more details here.

Stacey Denton of Floral Farm & Design Studio. This photo is part of the Southern Oregon Flower Farmer series (c) Ann Nguyen of idyllwildstudio.com

Speaking of American Flowers Week, today's guest has something brilliant planned for her corner of the country -- and you'll learn all about in our conversation. I'm excited to welcome Stacey Denton of Flora Farm and Design Studio in Williams, Oregon.

Stacey harvested locally-grown manzanita foliage for this beautiful arrangement (c) Ann Nguyen of idyllwildstudio.com

Stacey

is, and always has been, a generalist.  That’s why her job title "Farmer-Florist"

is hyphenated.  She would be bored if she wasn’t always trying new things

(combining unique colors, implementing new floral design techniques,

incorporating unusual design elements, using uncommon foliage in arrangements)

and doing multiple tasks (growing the ‘Double Click’ cosmos for both blooms and

seed, harvesting amaranth flowers from the compost pile, and undersowing the

September flower beds with cover crop seed) at the same time.  

Stacey's unique floral design elements range from orchard fruit to feathers, live oak foliage and acorns (c) lilysandhorns.com

Stacey has spent her adult life committed to organic agriculture, first as a home gardener, then as a farm apprentice, farm worker, small CSA farm manager, and currently as a seed grower, flower farmer, and floral designer.  This breadth of experience has led her recently to advise on current and future flower seed offerings at Siskiyou Seeds.

A lovely fern-festooned wedding by Stacey Denton of Flora Farm & Design Studio (c) gypsyjanephotography.com

Stacey likes to be busy, and likes to feel like her life

is purposeful.  She is inspired by beauty, committed to good follow

through and clear communication.  She is motivated by meaningful work and

an opportunity to dance.  Stacey loves supporting Southern Oregon

weddings. When she’s not in the field, making arrangements or on the dance

floor, Stacey is spinning wool and experimenting with natural dyes.

An image of Stacey Denton on her farm, part of the Southern Oregon Flower Farmer Series (c) Ann Nguyen of idyllwildstudio.com

At Flora, Stacey's purpose and passion is growing exceptional quality cut flowers and flower seeds. She selects highly desirable cultivars that are prized by brides and wedding designers; she harvests cut flowers at their peak beauty an...