In March of 2020, when the world abruptly shut down, I had been working as a floral designer, under the name Poppies & Posies, for 12 years. I was burnt out. Week after week of early-morning trips to the flower market, heavy lifting, cargo vans, and weekend installs left me physically and emotionally drained. When all of my events were postponed indefinitely, I felt an unexpected sense of relief.

As the weeks turned into months, I found myself enjoying a slower pace of life. I had launched our sister company, The Floral Society, just two years earlier, and it was beginning to take off. New routines—ones that didn't involve weekly market trips, long hours on my feet, cleaning buckets, packing hard goods, and sweeping studio floors—looked good on me. I leaned into product design and worked to establish us as a lifestyle brand that could elevate the everyday.

When the world slowly returned to some sense of "normal," the floral industry did too. But I had changed. I no longer had the desire to constantly sell myself, post on Instagram, keep up the relentless go-go-go. I knew if I returned to florals, it had to be different.

So I kept things small. I turned down work that didn't feel aligned with my team’s style or ethos. I connected with wonderful clients through our favorite venue, Blue Hill, and through a handful of planners we'd worked with and trusted for many years. I focused on what we loved most: collaborating as a team and creating organic, garden-inspired designs for wedding celebrations. 

Simultaneously, I had renewed energy for my work at The Floral Society. Flowers remained a source of inspiration, without consuming my time and creativity.  

In the years since, something unexpected has emerged from this more spacious approach to being a florist. A new spark has been growing, reigniting a desire to step back into floristry in a new way. A true fusion of the two businesses I love and hold so dearly—a more evolved way for them to support and strengthen one another—is starting to take shape. We’ve curated a Floristry collection on our wholesale site and are excited to see what this offering can become—a trusted resource for our fellow designers.

Our new Canopy Florist Vase and Stand was designed in collaboration with our floral community. Together, we set out to create an elegant, slender silhouette that elevates floral designs off the table, bringing drama and visual impact to any event space

There are still mysteries to work out, but I know I’m on a new path that’s more aligned with who I am today. This 42-year-old version of me enjoys slower mornings, quiet moments, time with my family, afternoons in the garden, and rolling up my sleeves with my team. None of this could have happened without them, and the next phase won’t either.

Eighteen years in this industry have taught me, above all, that the people we surround ourselves with matter most. My team has seen one another through marriages and divorces, the births of children, the loss of family members, breakdowns, breakthroughs, and countless celebrations. We laugh together, cry together, and most importantly, we've found community among the buckets of flowers. 

Together we’re imagining new ways to feel connected and creatively fulfilled. More soon.