spring flowers and resolutions

Well, we are truly in the last half of January, so time to confess this year's resolutions:

1. Be more thankful.

2. Embrace technology.

3. Drink less wine.

#1 - check
#2 & #3 - seem to be counter-intuitive

Last Sunday saw me wrestling with skype, blackberry, instagram and wordpress while simultaneously trying to chew my way through the cork on a bottle of ripasso...

And that is my apology for being so lax with new posts.

The Christmas season at i fiori was magical and crazy busy. Thank you, thank you. thank you. (see resolution #1) We spent our time with customers and workshops, and creating centrepieces, terrariums and bouquets (and unfortunately less time updating the blog with photos - see resolution #2)
But now we are coasting through January - the weather is not as brutal as last year's, but still I feel the pull, the need for spring bulbs in the house.

sweet little clay 'euro-pots'

amaryllis, narcissus, mixed bulb euro-pots, lemon cypress & heather

great selection of fresh cut tulips are in the shop now!

tulip, tulip, tulip, ranunculus, tulip...
easy and fresh in magnetic test tube vases from Chong Wu

See you in the shop!

deck that hall vers 1.1

what's in, what's low and what's almost finished...

Just a quick note: we have a v-e-r-y limited quantity of fresh mistletoe in the store, and when it is gone... it is gone.
Also this will be the last weekend to reserve and pick up our beautiful BC cedar or mixed branch garland - sold by the foot so you can purchase exactly what you need!
We still have a good supply of paperwhite bulbs in various stages of bloom, amaryllis (potted and bare bulb), some beautiful Christmas cactus (the all-white ones are gorgeous), as well as lemon cypress trees and topiaries, fresh lavender 'trees', white helleborus... oh, the list goes on...
See you in the shop!

its time to deck that hall

the i fiori deck your hall check list:

lush cedar boughs - check

elegant white pine boughs - check

seeded and baby eucalyptus - check

velvety magnolia branches - check

lemon scented wee cypress trees - check

stylish heleborus - check

natural rose hip branches - check
crimson dogwood branches - check
fragrant paperwhite bulbs - check
showy amaryllis bulbs - check
...and even more in the shop to make your home wintery and wonderful.

This weekend we have a nice selection of custom wreaths to choose from, every one is different, and I'm sure that one of them will be just right!
See you in the shop...

i fiori celebrates it's 3rd year!

The holiday season is quietly arriving at i fiori.
I have a hard time with windows filled with twinkling Christmas trees and sparkly bits in November, but the reality is that there are some things we have to think about in advance.
Like branches and berries for easing your home into winter, and starting paperwhite and amaryllis bulbs to help your mind forget that the temperatures are dipping below zero!

simple but showy amaryllis

a simple and stunning display of paperwhites :: it doesn't have to be complicated

Bulbs are in the shop now, as are branches and berries and lots of ideas. And in the next week or so the baby cypress trees, norfolk pines, helebores, wreaths and garlands will all take their place in the store.

i fiori celebrates our 3 years this november art crawl

And my pants would be on fire if I didn't say how happy and astonished I am to be celebrating the 3rd anniversary of i fiori.
Thank you thank you thank you to my customers, my clients, my friends and family. Nothing happens in isolation (nothing good, anyway), and I am constantly challenged and inspired by all of you.
B.

meet me at Gage Park

late fall in Gage Park

Today started with a walk to Gage Park to see the Mum Show. Such a fabulous, crisp November morning and Gage Park was the perfect place to be. This jewel in our city's crown was established in 1918 to 'beautify' the eastern entrance to the city of Hamilton. Nestled against the escarpment, this morning some trees were bare, some still hanging on to their leaves, some roses in the rose garden looked absolutely content with little nip of frost. This is one of my very favourite places in Hamilton (truthfully... in the whole country!).
As usual the display of mums for the 2014  Hamilton Fall Garden & Mum Show was impressive.

so perfect

so 'showy'

And the walk through the Tropical Greenhouse was a nice contrast to the weather outside.

the view from under a leaf - a very large leaf

In this city it seems that we are only 5 minutes in any direction from the bay and the waterfront, from the forests and the escarpment, from great trails and killer stairs, from bike paths and bike lanes (yay), from calming greenhouses and public gardens. We are lucky indeed.

I 'heart' Ward 3.