The meaning behind International Women's Day... should really be our Every Day!~

I'll never forget waking up in Italy on March 8, 2007.  I had already been there for several days, but this day was a bit different.  When looking out the window of The Hotel Papa, there were beautiful pops of yellow at the newspaper stand across the street.  In fact, everywhere that I went that day, there were beautiful pops of yellow. The mimosa flower was being sold and given away to in sweet bundles and vases all day long, everywhere that I went. Mimosa sprigs were in vases at restaurants. Almost every little shop had brown paper wrapped mimosa bundles of various sizes. I'd been growing and working with flowers as a florist for years, and I'd never seen this sweet and vibrant flower anywhere near home.  

Apparently International Women's Day was a really big deal in Italy, and I witnessed smiling women being given and carrying bundles of mimosa throughout the whole day. I was given a little vase of mimosa from the owner of The Hotel Papa where we were staying. It made me smile too.   

I love what Exotic Flowers blog had to say about mimosa and the traditions of it's use on International Women's Day in 2 different posts.  In discussing International Women's Day, the author stated "it is also a chance for us all to show women how much we respect them and appreciate them".  When discussing the meaning of the mimosa flower, the author of Exotic Flowers blog used the words "sensibility", "expand" and "sympathy". 

How wonderful to have an "International Women's Day" but honestly it is a name for a day that hopefully just acknowledges the qualities that women demonstrate to others all year long!~ Strength, dignity, encouraging others and rising to the occasion in a variety of circumstances. 

I was recently humbled and enlightened when I read a blog post that a friend wrote about someone that I see on a fairly regular basis  This someone has had some challenging circumstances in her life and I'm so thankful that my friend took the time to find out more and essentially, give this someone a "vase of mimosa" in a different form. The encouragement and acknowledgement of "you are important and you are seen". I dare say that we all have a someone in our life that we can see in this story that my friend wrote.  I dare you to read it and I dare all of us to expand our horizons to see others and to show appreciation, sympathy and strength with sensibility towards those around us every day of the year. 

Here is : The Real Story 

Sometimes our "vase of mimosa" could be as simple as smile towards others, a listening ear, a bouquet of flowers and sometimes our mimosa could go much, much deeper.  May we all be "expanded" to see beyond ourselves and our own thoughts into the bigger picture of others!~ 

Flowers...

Always in awe..

of variety,

of texture,

of color,

of beauty,

of fragrance.

Our creator makes beautiful things!~

~Sweet May Wedding Flowers~

 ~simply sweet and stunning~

~roses, astilbe, oriental lilies, gerbera daisies, lisianthus & seeded eucalyptus~

additional photos can be seen when you visit our Forrester Farm facebook album at:    Forrester Farm facebook

Scattered Blooms

Most often, when I provide flowers for a wedding, I'll receive notes throughout the following weeks stating how much the flowers are still being enjoyed after an event.  It always surprises me when a bride or her family do not take the reception flowers home to enjoy.  There are times, that by the end of a very full and fun day, passing out flowers is the last thing on everyone's mind, and the flowers come back to where they started, Forrester Farm.  Most often, they are scatted and shared with those who might need a "pick me" up that week.  Once in a while, they stay right at our house and scatter joy on the homefront....

Most recent reception flowers before delivery~

Bridal bouquet ~

A few spare blooms placed in a vintage container ~ (our ancestors would have never imagined that their chamber pots would hold flowers one day)

Most of the reception arrangements went home with the bridal family, but some of the cocktail table arrangements came to our home just like this ~

Adding fragrance and beauty to the kitchen ~

...and dining room table ~

buffet ~

...and bathroom.

All white hydrangeas, lilies, baby's breath, lisianthus and 2 varieties of garden roses were used for this event ~

along with succulents in the bridal bouquet (which the bride did take home!)~

For more photos of the wedding flowers, go to our facebook page and see Laura and Mike's photo album.  

Have a wonderful weekend!~

Wedding Flower Glimpses

What a summer it has been so far!  We have been over the top busy with weddings this year and haven't taken the time to post many photos. Here are some snapshots of just a few of our June and July weddings.  Can't wait to see the professional photos from all of the weddings that we provided flowers for!

Not only have we been blessed to work with amazing couples and their families this wedding season, we have also been blessed to partner with so many wonderful location vendors who have helped to make special wedding day dreams come true!  Egypt Valley Country Club, The Cheney Place, WMU Conference Center, English Hills Country Club, Wege Plaza East Grand Rapids, East Congregational United Church of Christ, Fountain Street Church, The Salvation Army Kroc Center, The Grand Rapids Public Museum, and some very beautiful private residences!