Daffodils in Bloom

March 20, 2013

They have a short lifespan, so their nature is fleeting, but like all flowers, that's part of what makes them luxurious and covet-worthy. Daffodils come from ugly little bulbs, are harvested and sold while the flower is still completely contained in it's strange papery shell, and yet within a matter of a few hours with the right combination of water and light and warmth, the most exquisite blooms emerge. Every spring, I find myself in awe. Aren't they exceptional? And could they possibly be more cheerful? I think daffodils are truly the epitome of spring.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

The Greenest of Bouquets

March 13, 2013

I can't get enough of green these days. By "these days," I suppose I mean my life, since green has been my favorite color as long as I can remember. I won't deny that I'm obsessed with using foliage "these days," as well. All of my 2013 weddings will be foliage-heavy, and I'm having a blast choosing which types of foliage to use for different events. When I worked in a flower shop in my early floral design days, salal leaf (or "lemon leaf") was our main foliage staple. It wasn't until years later that I learned what a vast array of foliage was available to me. I mean, ferns alone come in over twelve thousand varieties. Wow.

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

Avocado Breakfast

March 7, 2013

We have had no shortage of avocados lately as our "neighborhood" avocado tree is producing more than we can possibly consume. But I still try to eat as many as possible, partially because I L-O-V-E avocados and partially because I don't want the neighborhood racoons and skunks to get them! Sliced avocado on toasted English muffins with poached eggs on top is one of the most simple and delicious breakfasts around.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Botanical Foraging

March 6, 2013

This is literally one of the best times of year for botanical foraging. If you live in a more suburban or remote area, it's likely that you'll have a lot more variety when you head out to forage for botanical elements-- but seeing as I'm in Los Angeles, the second most densely-populated city in the United States of America, I think these pictures are proof enough that botanical foraging can be highly successful even in the most urban of settings. A few blossoming branches, a handful of fresh lavender from the plants by my front door, some purple-hued foliage from a potted plant, and a few more bits of foliage from neighborhood bushes, and I have everything I need to create some sweet little super-springy arrangements for my home. Perhaps next week I'll venture further afield: I saw jasmine vine growing over a fence in a parking lot the other day, and there's masses of bougainvillea in the alley behind my housing complex. What have you found in your botanical-foraging expeditions???

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

The Romantic Antike

February 27, 2013

The ruffled petals of this romantic antike garden rose are almost too much to bear. The name couldn't be more perfect, and looking at these pictures reminds me why roses have been used throughout history as a way to declare love. They are beautiful, and sensual, and perfect, straight from nature- and what better way to tell a person you love that you think they are all of those things, than by giving them a flower that embodies the same qualities???

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

It's the Day of Love

February 14, 2013

Let's face it: having a day to celebrate love is pretty fun. It may be cheesy and over-commercialized, but I won't deny that I enjoy it. I like sending valentines to my friends, writing a sappy card to my husband, decorating our house with flowers and paper ephemera, and making heart shaped cookies. Oh! And since I like Valentine's Day so much, I made this pretty bouquet just for you. While I was taking a picture of it, I found this gorgeous pink bougainvillea blooming in the alley behind my house. That just seemed too serendipitous. Whether you are single or attached, think about the people in your life whom you love, and take some time today to check in with them and remind them how much they mean to you. You can even send them these pictures, if you want! Virtual Valentine's greetings to all!

Image | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

An Unconventional Valentine's Day Table

February 13, 2013

Every year when Valentine's Day rolls around, I try to come up with something new for my annual "Love Day Dinner at Home" with my husband. The frou-frou decor that gets passed around the internet really isn't my thing. I'm not a fan of pink, and my husband isn't a fan of "girly," so I try to avoid the cliches like red and pink color schemes or bouquets of roses, and instead imagine a darker, more mature, sexier version of Valentine's Day. This year, I decided to use modern graphic prints in the linens and china to set off my romantic, textural florals. I used tons of greenery, some ranunculus and anemones in a deep burgundy, green cymbidium orchids with burgundy throats, and gold-painted succulents and lotus pods for an extra pop of va-va-voom. Additional gold accents in the china, crystal, flatwear and candles added a bit of drama, and the gold chain on the napkin treatments added a subtle "masculine" element. This tablescape was 100% husband approved and appreciated. What do you think? Would you ever dare to go non-traditional for the holiday celebrating love???

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

Bouquet by Season | Winter

February 6, 2013

It's always sad when you come to the end of a project, and this is the last of the "seasonal bouquets" that I created over a year ago. For this "winter" themed bouquet, I imagined what I might do if I were re-designing my own bridal bouquet. I was married on Christmas Eve, and my colors were green, white and brown, but my bouquet didn't have the sort of texture that I am so obsessed with these days. In fact, I don't think the green eye garden rose was even around when I got married! I did have cedar in my bouquet, and seeded eucalyptus, but the lisianthus, dianthus, and fern fronds are new additions. Are there any other winter brides out there? Would you carry this bouquet?

Floral Design by Lauryl Lane. Images by Sara Hasstedt. Seasonal bouquet series | Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.

My Favorite Flower

February 1, 2013

I am often asked if I have a favorite flower. I change my answer nearly every time I'm asked, because my favorites change depending on the seasons, and what projects I'm working on, and my mood. But there are a few standards that I always come back to. I always love orchids. I always love tulips. And I definitely always love roses. Sometimes roses get a bad rap, and I understand that a dozen red roses, poorly arranged in a vase with filler is cliche and boring. But the rose itself is a stunning flower. And it has stood the test of time. Today, for me, roses win. What is YOUR favorite flower?

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

weekend wishes

January 12, 2013

Image | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

A Festive Dinner Party

December 20, 2012

I recently collaborated with an incredible team on a festive holiday photo shoot showcasing how much the right linens can enhance a dinner party table. I love the classic elegance we were able to evoke, with just a touch of va-voom with that gorgeous sparkly blush-colored tablecloth. And I have to point out that the choice of emerald green as an accent color was chosen long before Pantone announced the 2013 color of the year! Trend-setters much?

tropicals for the home

November 14, 2012

Lately I've been loving tropical flowers for use in homes. They are a little pricy and they definitely lend themselves to a more modern aesthetic, but they are long-lasting and have a very timeless quality. I see so many old photos of classic Hollywood homes filled with orchids, and while I've always loved orchids of every shape and size, I'm really starting to use them in more of my designs. They are also great for adding flowers to your home at the last minute since they can be artfully "propped" in a vase with little effort!

Floral Design | Styling | Images by Lauryl Lane.