LoCoFlo Blog
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February 29 2024
Flower Club: Bloom Battle!
Tags: At LoCoFlo, Flower ClubWe’re so excited to announce Bloom Battle: LoCoFlo’s annual amateur floral design competition! If you’ve ever taken a class at Local Color Flowers or you love dabbling in design at home, this is the perfect opportunity to show off your skills and creativity.
How it Works!
Bloom Battle is a two day event:
- Apr 12 2024 - Design and Instagram Famous voting
- Apr 13 2024 - Public display, public voting, celebrity judging and glory
How to Participate
- Be a contestant. Registration is required.
- Be an online fan: Enter your Likes among the three Instagram Famous finalists April 12 2024 from 10:30PM to April 13 2024 11:30AM.
- Be a fan in person: View all arrangements at our studio on April 13 2024 8:00AM - 12:00PM and vote for your favorite. Most votes wins People’s Choice prize. Stick around for the announcement of winners.
Prizes
- Instagram Famous: LoCoFlo staff will select three centerpieces for online voting! Online voting is open between 10:30PM on Apr 12 2024 and 11:30AM on Apr 13 2024. Most likes wins.
- People’s Choice: The centerpiece that receives the most votes by visitors to the studio (three votes per visitor) on Saturday Apr 13 2024 8:00AM-12:00PM wins!
- Judges Selections Celebrity judges will evaluate entries based on vessel choice, use of color, texture and composition. 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
- All contestants take home their arrangements at the end of the event. (everyone wins!)
The Rules
- All centerpieces must be created at Local Color Flowers’ Studio on Friday night, April 12 2024 between 7:00PM and 9:00PM.
- All centerpieces must be created using the flowers/foliage/branches provided by Local Color Flowers. The use of other flowers gathered from outside the studio whether forged or bought is not permitted.
- The use of floral foam or Oasis is prohibited.
- No wagering.
- Amateurs only! No professional or former professional designers permitted.
- Only registered contestants will be permitted in the studio for Friday night’s design night.
- Vase opening may not be larger than five inches in diameter. Contestants are encouraged to use their own vases, Vases are available for purchase. All vases must be approved for entry.
The Celebrity Judges
- Ian Tressult - dad, zaddy, designer, owner of Ian Tresselt Design.
- Chris Vaeth - T. Rowe by day, aspiring floral designer, culinary explorer & creator.
- Dave Dowling - Flower OG. Seed slinger for Ball Seed Company.
- Jen Majewski - English Teacher, sewist, owner of Wondermore Floral Design
February 25 2024
Sat@LoCoFlo: Your Weekend Routine
Tags: Sat@LoCoFlo, At LoCoFloNote: We will be closed Sat June 29.
Saturdays at LoCoFlo has become our favorite event. It's the bomb. We get to talk about flowers, show off our weekly local display from the farms and our dope shop, hang out with friends, meet new people, have kid and animal visitors.
What is it?
Sat@LoCoFlo is our weekly flower hang out. Bring your Blacksauce. Build a bouquet. Design an arrangement. Pick up your order. Sat@LoCoFlo is scheduled 8:00AM-12:00PM.
How it Works
Just drop in. We're only a half-block from the farmers market. We display all of our flowers to you to pick out by the stem. We'll also have some pre-mades. Use our order form and we will have your flowers ready to pick up (give us a couple of days notice). Chat with our knowledgeable team about the varieties, the farms and design. It's the place to be.
Hope to see you there!
Tweet CommentsJanuary 13 2024
Open Studio Pop Ups
Tags: At LoCoFlo, Open StudioDrop-in. Design. Do it.
These events are scheduled sporadically. Make sure we're open! Stay up to date with us by subscribing to Ellen's newsletter.
What is it?
Open Studio is a self-directed flower design event. It’s super casual. Bring a vase or buy one from us. We have the flowers, the corkscrew, and everything else you need for a magical afternoon of floral enchantment.
Come solo for some alone time with flowers, or bring friends for a unique social outing. Please give us a heads up for groups of four or more so we can save a table for you. If you have eight or more, give us a call or email for a private class/flower party.
How it works
Just drop in. We sell flowers by the stem. You pick them out. Stay and design your arrangement or wrap them up to take home. Ellen will be available for critique and advice.
When Is It?
Open Studio is a pop-up event. Check our Classes and Events for the next scheduled Open Studio or subscribe to Ellen's newsletter to stay up to date.
Tweet CommentsDecember 20 2023
2024 LoCoFlo BookClub
Tags: BookClub, At LoCoFlo
Meetings are Monday nights at 7:00PM at the shop (dates below).
BookClub on Zoom! I'll be hosting online meetings Tuesday nights at 7:00PM following the in-person Monday night meetings (join my email list for the zoom links).
- Feb 26 2024 North Woods by Daniel Mason
- Apr 22 2024 Soil by Camille Dungy
- Jun 24 2024 Fire Weather by John Vaillant
- Aug 5 2024 This Country by Navied Mahdavian
- Sep 23 2024 Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
- Nov 11 2024 Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang
July 21 2023
Rent LoCoFlo for Photoshoots
Tags: At LoCoFloLoCoFlo will be available for photoshoots fall 2023! We are currently fitting out the space, making improvements and buying equipment. We are still a working flower shop, but the space is just too dope not to get it on film (or, I guess, flash card).
We decided to offer this service after we had several of our own successful photoshoots with professional photographers. We look forward to converting our space into a professional quality studio location for commercial and personal shoots.
Tweet CommentsApril 18 2023
Flower Club: Bloom Battle '23 Celebrity Surprise
Tags: Flower Club, At LoCoFloWe had a surprise visitor at the 2023 Bloom Battle public display and judging event - flower OG Dave Dowling! Dave has done it all in the floral world including farming, designing, vending, teaching and national leadership as the ASCFG President. He can now add Bloom Battle judge to his resume. Not originally slated to the celebrity panel, we put his expertise to work when he showed up unexpectedly. Dave joined former contestants Jen Majewski, Ian Tresselt and Chris Vaeth to place these arrangements in Bloom Battle renown.
For the second straight year the people and the judges agreed. Amanda won the People's Choice and 1st prize.
Danielle, a former 1st place winner, picked up 2nd.
Jo, also a former 1st place winner, took 3rd this year.
This photogenic beauty by Adrienne won the Instagram Famous voting.
View all of the arrangements and more pictures from the event.
Tweet CommentsMarch 15 2023
2023 LoCoFlo BookClub
Tags: BookClub, At LoCoFlo
Wow! Ten years of nerdy bookclub!
Meetings are Monday nights at 7:00PM at the shop (dates below).
New this year: BookClub on Zoom! I'll be hosting online meetings Tuesday nights at 7:00PM following the in-person Monday night meetings (join my email list for the zoom links).
- Feb 27 2023 The Home Place by J. Drew Lanham
- May 1 2023 (new date in studio | online - Apr 25) Silent Spring Revolution by Douglas Brinkley
- Jun 19 2023 Bet the Farm by Beth Hoffman
- Jul 31 2023 River of the Gods by Candice Millard
- Sep 18 2023 Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver
- Nov 13 2023 A Darker Wilderness Edited by Erin Sharkey
April 11 2022
Flower Club: Bloom Battle '22 Floral Glory
Tags: At LoCoFlo, Flower ClubIt's been three years since our amateur designers have entered the octagon - so long that some forgot they had even registered for the competition back in 2020. The time away showed no diminished skill and no lack of floral ferocity. If anything, the battle was as fierce as ever.
There was a run-a-way winner: Liz Pope crushed it with the People's Choice Award and !st Place prize.
Always the bridesmaid, Chris Vaeth picked up 2nd Place.
First time contestant and flower enthusiast newbie Susan Dumont took 3rd.
Laurel Ady won the Instagram Famous (as though she wasn't already) prize.
Another banger in the studio. Check out all the pictures and videos from the event. What's up with the cinnamon rolls?
Tweet CommentsJanuary 01 2022
2022 LoCoFlo BookClub
Tags: BookClub, At LoCoFlo, Nerdy AFIt looks like year nine of our nerdy bookclub will at least start online. Email Ellen (ellen@locoflo.com) for a link if you want to dial in. Meeting online isn't all bad. One author has already asked about joining in! (Hint: It's not Octavia Butler. She will only show up in person.)
Meetings are Monday nights at 7:00PM (dates below). We’re always looking for more flower friends to join the fun!
- Feb 28 2022 The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey by Derick Lugo
- Apr 25 2022 (new date) Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler
- Jun 20 2022 Mycophilia: Revelations from the Weird World of Mushrooms by Eugenia Bone
- Aug 22 2022 The Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World by Emma Marris
- Oct 17 2022 My Garden (Book) by Jamaica Kincaid
- Dec 5 2022 Anthill by E. O. Wilson
December 14 2020
2021 LoCoFlo BookClub
Tags: Nerdy AF, At LoCoFlo, BookClubThe ocho, nerds!
Our book club is super casual - just drop in. Meetings are Monday nights at 7:00PM (dates below). The over/under on resuming the LoCoFlo BookClub in person is sitting on June 21. So, we'll be online for at least the first half of the year. Email Ellen (ellen@locoflo.com) for the link. We will let you know when the book club will be back IRL at the studio We’re always looking for more flower friends to join the fun!
- Feb 22 2021 Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica M. White
- Apr 19 2021 H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
- Jun 28 2021 (new date) All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Katharine K. Wilkinson
- Aug 22 2021 Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy
- Oct 18 2021 Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey
- Dec 13 2021 Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman
January 10 2020
Droppin' Flower Knowledge
Tags: Classes, At LoCoFloHere's the deal on our classes: It's probably the most fun you will ever have. For reals, taking a LoCoFlo class is a unique experience in our artsy studio led by creative experts where you develop skillz and learn new things.
We offer a variety of classes related to local flowers. They are typically part instruction and part hands-on and you leave the class with your creation. We also offer off-site classes, on-line classes, demos, classes instructed by experts in other fields as well as private classes for groups and individuals.
Photo: BAM Co-Create
Types of Classes
- Skills Focused – In these classes, the objective is to master floral design concepts, techniques, and proficiencies. Our instruction emphasizes the process. For instance, in our Intro to Floral Design class, we teach the basics of color theory and floral design while building the arrangement. Other skills-focused classes address the use of mechanics such as floral frogs or more complex techniques to make a hand-tied formal bridal bouquet. These classes are a great way to develop your skillset for a floral hobby or maybe even a side hustle or career.
- Product Focused – It's all about the gram! The goal of these classes is to complete a stunning floral arrangement. These classes feature a particular seasonal focal flower as in our Spotlight classes or we will tackle a particular project like Thanksgiving Centerpiece or Winter Wreath. These classes are fun, informative and leaves you with a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
- Private – We offer private classes and demonstrations at the shop and on the road. These can be a class we already offer just for your group, or we can customize a class for your needs. Examples of our past private classes: headcrowns for a child’s birthday, neighborhood wreath class, garden club talks regarding sustainability and local sourcing and more, Individual floral tutoring also available. Call or email Ellen (410-262-1494 | ellen@locolo.com).
- Other classes - We partner with venues and professionals to offer a variety of other interesting classes. These include conducting our flower classes on the farm where the flowers are grown, in neighboring retail shops, even on the water taxi! Our online classes are hosted by The Gardener's Workshop focusing on buying and selling local flowers. We also have had visiting instructors such as artists and bakers who conduct their classes at our shop.
Credentials
We’re legit. Our instructors are Master Gardeners and flower farmers with decades of professional floral design experience. We have training from respected organizations (FlowerSchool New York, Longwood Gardens) and industry experts (Jennie Love, Erin Benzakein, Francoise Weeks). We are members of the ASCFG since 2008 and Ellen won their prestigious Allan Armitage Leadership Award in 2016.
What Else
Classes at LoCoFlo are a fun, one-of-a kind experience where you learn new skillz using locally grown flowers and sustainable practices. Classes are for all experience levels unless otherwise specified. Advanced registration is required. One adult admittance per registration. Check the schedule on our Classes and Events page - there's always something new to do and learn.
Tweet CommentsJanuary 01 2020
Qu'Est-ce Que C'est?
Tags: At LoCoFlo
December 16 2019
2020 LoCoFlo BookClub
Tags: BookClub, At LoCoFlo, Nerdy AFLucky number 7! LoCoFlo BookClub 2020 is our seventh year. We're so old and nerdy we have returning authors: Mary Oliver and Robin Wall Kimmerer (what!). The line up is a mix of fiction, non-fiction and essays about trees, swamps, moss, parks, streams and race. We're stepping it up! No Darwin. No Mark Cameron picks. Best year yet!
The book club is super casual - just drop in. Meetings are Monday nights (dates below) at 7:00PM at our studio. Bring drinks and snacks. We’re always looking for more flower friends to join the fun!
- Feb 24 2020 The Overstory by Richard Powers
- Apr 27 2020 Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray
- Jun 22 2020 Black Faces, White Spaces by Carolyn Finney
- Aug 24 2020 Genius of Place by Justin Martin
- Oct 26 2020 Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- Dec 14 2020 Upstream by Mary Oliver
October 19 2019
Flower Club: 2019 Mystery Arrangement Challenge
Tags: At LoCoFlo, Flower ClubJoin us for our 2023 edition of Mystery Arrangement Challenge Oct 27 7:00PM
Our first ever Flower Club event looks like a keeper. The Mystery Arrangement Challenge was a bit of a risk (really, some LoCoFloers thought this thing was a bust when organizers selected glow sticks and Big Boyz Bail Bond pens as required design elements) but the participants brought their creativity, excitement and good vibes. Add in treats from Bramble Baking and Wight Tea, plus strong support from fans - everyone had a blast.
weathered watering can featuring light-up pizza slices - why not?
Here's how the night went down:
Club members were presented with unconventional compulsory items along with our spectacular selection of seasonal local flowers to build an arrangement in a "Chopped" style challenge. The required categories were: a quirky container, a non-traditional focal flower and a mystery item. After determining the selection order for the compulsory items by drawing numbered clippers (including a white elephant twist for the last pick), designers chose their materials. Over the next hour, participants built arrangements using chartreuse gel balls, pumpkin-on-a-stick, loofah, a mail box, long garlic stalks and worse. Much, much worse.
Surprises from the get-go! Liz, a wily LoCoFlo veteran, selected a shallow pink dog bowl found at the Greenmount Goodwill, white peacock feathers from the Sunday Market, and Chinese Lantern grown at Wollam Garden with the first overall pick. Beth found value at pick thirteen in her selections of a ceramic pumpkin (another Greenmount Goodwill treasure), googly eyes of Michael's, and indian corn from Calvert's Gift Farm (more on Beth's arrangement below). Allison drew the final pick, and per white elephant rules, had a run at a the entire field of design options.
inchoate llama
After an hour of design, each participant presented their arrangement. In addition to a monologue of their experience with the challenge and what they created, several participants embellished their design with stories and titles including Megan's glowing "Grandma's Midnight Romance" and Liz's John Waters inspired "Pink Flamingos". Our AP friend, J Kupps, even had an accompanying song for her eggplant exaggerated "Don't Get Got".
Back to Beth. A LoCoFlo bride in 2018, Beth invited Mr. Trash Wheel to her wedding. Mr. Trash Wheel sent his regrets due to his trash gobbling duties down in the harbor. However he was able to look across the water at the Rusty Scupper to see the reception. He was so happy to be asked he also sent a trove of his merch to the newlyweds. Beth's arrangement: Mrs. Flower Wheel is a floral tribute.
And that's the way it was. Another LoCoFlo classic. See all the pictures in our Flickr album and join us next time.
Tweet CommentsOctober 04 2019
DIY - How Hard Can It Be?
Tags: At LoCoFloDoing your own flowers should be a fun and creative experience that enhances your event and changes your life for the better. However, without the proper resources, some planning, and a little bit of pro-style help, your DIY floral project could totally blow.
Example: Our new friend, Andrea of The Codex Club, got married just a week before we became besties, and she didn't know about LoCoFlo's DIY services. Let's just say her DIY flower experience wasn't magical.
"There was so much we didn't know. We just thought we would buy some flowers and design the arrangements. It wasn't that easy."
"First, transporting everything was a nightmare. My car still smells from all the dirty flower water that spilled from the buckets."
"We did have a great time designing the arrangements, but that only made our disappointment worse on our wedding day - everything wilted. I loved my wedding. The only thing I would have changed were the flowers."
Oh No! DIY disaster!
Bloom Battler Chris, on the other hand, was on his DIY game. He brought his out-of-town aunts and gran, plus friends, over to the shop a few days before his wedding to make bud vases, centerpieces and accent arrangements. We provided the flowers, some of the vases, the tools and materials, and all of the fun.
"My family was so happy to be part of the floral design. It was a fun activity and a great memory."
"We brought our arrangements to brunch the next day. Gran was still talking about the flowers. She loved it! I'm bringing her back to make our Thanksgiving centerpiece."
LoCoFlo kept all of Chris's arrangements looking fresh in our cooler. We also did the heavy lifting with the large ceremony pieces and handled the deets with bouts and corsages plus delivered everything on the big day.
Yesss! DIY domination!
LoCoFlo's DIY services:
Space to Work Everybody needs a proper workstation to do their best design. And, do you really want all that mess at your house? Design your flowers in our inspiring floral studio. Bring drinks and snacks. Spread out, chill and have fun.
Flowers We will facilitate your flower order from our network of local farmers. Have a brief consultation with us about your requirements and flower availability, variety, and colors. The flowers will be ready when you arrive. Easy peasy.
Materials and Tools We are a full service flower shop with all the materials and tools you need. (As a green florist, we do not use floral foam, but we have alternatives.)
Advice and coaching We got the skillz. Our designers have years of training and experience. We have provided floral arrangements for thousands of events. You got this - we can help (that sounds familiar).
Storage Flowers are dying from the moment they are cut. Proper care and storage will extend their life. We will store your floral creations in our walk-in cooler, and care for them until the big day.
Delivery Arrangements are delicate. We have years of experience safely delivering flower arrangements to weddings and events and a van.
Do it right. Do it fun. Do it yourself.
Tweet CommentsJuly 28 2019
Flower Club
Tags: At LoCoFlo, Nerdy AF, Flower ClubThe first rule of Flower Club is: You MUST talk about Flower Club.
But, before you talk about Flower Club, you have to know all about Flower Club.
Former Bloom Battlers Jen and Meredith were gabbing at Open Studio one Spring Wednesday night. They missed the competition of Bloom Battle and wanted a new challenge.
Meredith: "What if LoCoFlo had a 'Chopped' style competition, where we wouldn't know what the flowers were and we would need to include unusual elements in the design!"
Jen: "Ooh, that would be fun. Or like 'Nailed It', where we would try to arrange a complex floral installation."
Meredith: "Yeah, that would be fun!"
Jen: "Yeah!"
Meredith: "Yeah!
Ellen then put her MBA training to use and recognized the customer need.
Ellen (internal monologue): "I bet I could get this floral shop cookin' with a new LoCoFlo event: Flower Club! It would be a fun floral activity night for our flower MVPs and new friends. Wow, I'm really good."
Ellen workshopped the idea with some other Bloom Battlers, Heather and Liz, and, boom, the ideas kept flowing: floral bingo, large group project, speed dating flower edition, flower trivia night... The possibilities, and flower fun, are endless.
If you love flowers you're already a member of the club. Some meetings will be drop-in, some will require registration. All will be awesome. Look for the schedule on our Classes and Events page, social media and our email.
Join Flower Club. You probably won't get punched in the face.
Tweet CommentsApril 28 2019
Hey Guys! We Have a Mural Now
Tags: Hilarious, At LoCoFloLoCoFlo thought we had something special when Jessica A. Rowe Valmas applied for a design job with us. She was in the Future Harvest Beginner Farmer Training Program with an internship at our long-time trusted partner, Butterbee Farm. She was a graduate of MICA with several aquatic-themed commissions completed. She wore a t-shirt that implied membership in The Society of Excellent Women. It was all very promising.
Flower design training began. Jess built a wall. Everything was pretty, pretty, pretty good. Then, things got weird. Jess started bringing Uncrustables for lunch. She reenacted her favorite signature professional wrestling moves from the 90's (i.e Scotty Too Hotty and George, The Animal, Steel). She would, on more than one occasion, rap the entire theme song from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
Real weird.
But Jess had the art skillz, and we asked her to paint a mural on the outside of the building. We set the requirements: Flowers from our logo - Rudbeckia, Zinnia, Dahlia. Easy peasy.
Nailed it!
It turns out our first impression was right: Jess is special. She has transformed our building and our business. She brings beauty to shop even on the days she isn't working. If we could just get her to eat some real food...
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