Remember what happened when Oprah said years ago you should never use fake flowers? I remember … and I bet Oprah does, too!
Now, before I get dozens of angry comments, let me say that there are some very attractive faux flower arrangements. Many high quality arrangements, such as those from NDI, are practically indistinguishable from “the real deal.” Some of my clients swear by them – after a nasty bug infestation caused by badly dried flowers, the Groovy Mom won’t do anything but silk – and that is totally fine with me. I’m not going to argue with someone who has lived through a bug situation! Not to mention the fact that faux flowers really are the best answer in certain situations – home staging, allergies, and so on. Of course, my motto is always - if you love it, that’s really all that matters.
But silk flowers just aren’t my personal choice … yet, unlike Oprah, I can’t fill my house with fresh flowers every week. So what’s the answer when you don’t want to use artificial flowers, but you can’t afford to replace real flowers as often as they would need to be replaced? My answer is beautifully dried arrangements from Botanica!
I discovered Botanica a year or so ago when I saw a beautiful arrangement that Bryan McRae, the owner, had donated to a local March of Dimes silent auction fundraiser. I didn’t purchase that particular item, but I kept his contact information for future reference … because I especially appreciate those who do good work and care about the community! And the preserved arrangements crafted by Bryan McRae and his staff aren’t just good – they’re stunning.
Take a look at a couple that I’ve commissioned recently. Here are dried green hydrangeas in an inexpensive container, which was originally purchased as part of a fresh hydrangea arrangement from A Place for Flowers.
This arrangement consists of dried red roses, surrounded by moss, in a petite Waterford vase that was received as a gift.
Intrigued? Botanica is located on W. Morehead Street, right past Panthers Stadium. It’s tucked away immediately after an overpass, so be careful or you’ll miss it! Bryan has a number of arrangements in the showroom ready for purchase; I’m particularly in love with the topiaries that I saw the last time I was in his shop. Of course, as I did with these two arrangements, you can always commission something specific. I prefer to use only flowers, no leaves or other miscellaneous greenery, and I appreciate having arrangements made in containers that I selected using only the flowers that I choose. Most importantly, I love the difference that flowers make in a room … even if they have been preserved. So go visit Bryan, and tell him Traci sent you!
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