Nevada Flower Shop News
A Film Producer's Vibrant Estate Wedding in Napa Valley - Brides
Monday, December 17, 2018Molly Heussenstamm, who's had a hand in flicks like La La Land and P.S. I Love You, has the actor to thank for her introduction to her new husband, Bron. A trip to a mutual friend's Nevada lake house in September 2016 laid the groundwork for the pair's inevitable romance, and a little over two years later, Bron quietly popped the question at the couple's West Hollywood home on a low-key Friday evening after work. To throw his bride off the trail, he initially gave her a necklace (accompanied by a bit of wine and cheese to lead up to the hype), but later pulled out all the stops with a ring and surprise cameo by Molly's Nashville-based siblings at dinner.Don't let the innocuous proposal fool you, though—Molly and Bron tied the knot in an epically elegant Napa Valley ceremony on July 7, 2018. Incomparably fitting for the bride's profession, Molly describes the stunning venue of choice, a private estate in St. Helena, as "something out of a movie." "Once we saw it, we knew it was meant for us," she adds. "The manicured gardens and property are just gorgeous." And, after planning fell under way, the couple's wedding invitations actually inspired the overall vision fo... https://www.brides.com/story/a-film-producers-vibrant-estate-wedding-in-napa-valley
Carolyn Singer: Gathering winter greens for a natural holiday season - The Union of Grass Valley
Monday, December 17, 2018Our gardens and natives enrich our lives all year. Bringing a bit of foliage and berries inside to celebrate winter seems natural.Carolyn Singer has gardened organically in Nevada County since 1977. She is the author of the award-winning "The Seasoned Gardener, 5 decades of sustainable and practical garden wisdom", and two volumes of "Deer in My Garden" (deer-resistant plants), available locally. Send your gardening questions and comments to carolynfsinger@gmail.com. Check out her website at carolynsingergardens.com. https://www.theunion.com/entertainment/carolyn-singer-gathering-winter-greens-for-a-natural-holiday-season/
California succulent smugglers plant poachers seed Asia desire for dudleya
Monday, October 01, 2018Dudleya are native to the west coast of North America, from Oregon to Baja California, with a couple of species in Arizona, one of which also grows in Nevada and Utah,” says Stephen McCabe, emeritus director of research at the Arboretum at the University of California, Santa Cruz. “Some are common and a great number of the species are rare.”The more rare the plant the more covetous the collector, and some dudleya are extremely scarce indeed. “A few of the rarest species could be devastated or driven to extinction in a day or two,” says McCabe.It was perplexing, then, that the plants targeted by poachers in Northern California were so commonly found. But while Dudleya farinosa – also known as “bluff lettuce”, “powdery liveforever” (owing to the leaves’ dusty appearance) or simply “liveforever” – may be unexceptional, the squat plants boast a geometric beauty reminiscent to some of the blossom of a lotus flower. In bloom, they sprout proud stalks, decked in clusters of small yellow flowers.And dudleya, it is argued, have character, surviving – even flourishing – in some of California’s least hospitable environments. They earned the moniker “liveforever” due to their ability to survive, in the right conditions, for more than a year with no fresh water, and dudleya sprout from rocky seaside cliffs, hanging on while battered by extreme weather and waves, so helping to secure the cliffs against erosion.What’s more, they are vital to California’s delicate coastal ecosystem.“Bees, flies, hummingbirds, butterflies, bumblebees, swallowtails and other creatures have been observed visiting the flowers,” explains McCabe, which are in turn eaten by birds. Mice, rabbits, deer and probably rats eat various plant parts. In some of the places where they occur, the dudleya are almost the only species of flowering plant present, but there are many insects around, so they are integral parts of some small or tiny ecosystems.”Still, dudleya did not seem a realistic candidate for theft, and they are delicate when taken from their natural environment. “D. farinosa, may grow in special greenhouses … but a great portion of them will die as house plants,” says McCabe. “They are very susceptible to fungus problems if it’s both hot and humid at the same time, particularly in summer. This means they are not well suited to the southeastern US and to the warm, humid parts of Asia.”And they are especially unsuited for travel. “A day in a plastic bag in a hot car will do them,” McCabe adds.Why greenery is in for interior decor in 2018, and how to pick plantsFreeling had a hunch that something big was afoot, but his colleagues dismissed the episode as simply the oddball antics of a few plant-loving eccentrics. Everyone knew that succulents were a hot trend in the US. Potted succulents had become de rigueur house-warming gifts and Instagram was awash with close-ups of the plants. Memes such as “millennial interior design bingo” inevita... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2163157/californias-succulent-smugglers-plant-poachers
Marie Johnson “The flower lady”
Tuesday, August 28, 2018From a makeshift start, she developed a leading downtown business. She eventually bought the building.Over her life, Marie faced hardship and tragedy. Her daughter Beth, a Nevada Union junior, died in a car accident in 1976. Marie responded by becoming the “official mother”of the class of ’77. She stayed in touch with Beth’s classmates and many of them visited “Momma Johnson” in her shop.Marie provided the flowers for class reunions in Beth’s favorite colors. It was, said a classmate, “like a part of Beth being there with us.” At last Marie and Beth are reunited. In 1984 the brick building housing her shop was gutted by fire. Marie persevered, and during the 11 months of rebuilding and remodeling, she continued her business in the basement of the Old Post Office on S. Auburn St., crafting her floral designs again in makeshift conditions.“The fire led to a transformation,” Marie said. With the help of her son Mark, Marie redesigned the building to add a balcony over the showroom and a state-of-the-art workspace for the designers she employed.The renovated building was designated an historic landmark and recognized in 2013 by the California Heritage Council for exemplary historical preservation. “The interior was replaced with great sensitivity,” proclaimed the council.Foothill Flower shop has been depicted in paintings, note cards and a Christmas ornament. At Christmas the 30-foot tree, rising from the showroom floor to a second story skylight high above, is reminiscent of the trees in the old City of Paris in San Francisco. In 1967 Marie started a tradition of distributing Irish-themed carnation corsages to restaurant servers and downtown merchants on St. Patrick’s Day.For 28 years Marie hosted a Santa Lucia festival every December. As many as200 people crowded into her shop, which was decorated from floor to rafters for the Scandinavian festival. Marie proudly served meatballs and other Swedish delights. Marie was a life member of the Grass Valley Soroptimists, served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and the regional FTD Florist association, and was grand marshal of the Fourth of July parade in 2007. The Grass Valley City Council and Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed Foothill Flowers50th anniversary, October21, 2016, “Marie Johnson the Flower Lady Day.”Earlier this year Marie and her family received the Dame Shirley Saunders award from Hospice of the Foothills, an honor named for the founder of the modern hospice movement.Marie was sympathetic to woman who were struggling and hired them to work in her shop. She provided practical training and work experience for many disabled students.Marie lived and worked in the heart of Grass Valley and her devotion to the community never wavered. As a woman who had overcome much, Marie believe... https://yubanet.com/regional/marie-johnson-the-flower-lady/
Fun & flowers: art studio/florist open in Penn Valley
Tuesday, July 03, 2018Engstrom decided to open a similar space while also incorporating her love of and experience in floral design. She is confident that ACACIA/Floristics is a unique offering to western Nevada County.For $25 a month, kids can become members of the art space with discounts on subsequent memberships in the same family. Members have access to equipment and space during open hours. Material fees are in addition to membership fees, and are pay as you use. Basic materials like glue and tape are included in membership. Walk-in art projects will be available daily for a $7 fee (or included in membership).Engstrom said the space is really for all ages, and children under 12 will need to be with a parent. Additionally, a Toddler Time will take place 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The space will also be available for birthday parties."It's a business but the creation and the impetus is to create a community space where people can feel an extension of their homes," said Engstrom. "We have a baby-changing station, sofas, WiFi, and an espresso machine. It's a community space."Jennifer Nobles is a staff writer for The Union. She can be reached at jnobles@theunion.com or 530-477-4231. https://www.theunion.com/news/fun-flowers-art-studio-florist-open-in-penn-valley/