Presenting

32 June | 2021 Ready-made bouquets are popular with grocery stores and even smaller florist shops that want to offer a value- conscious product. Nationwide, wholesalers receive flower shipments daily. Wholesalers offer local florists and designers access to the global array of imported; domestic; and, sometimes, local blooms—hopefully with financial margin to spare. "I love working with my wholesale partners," Chapple emphasizes. "ey know the best sources for high-quality blooms. If there is a shortage, they can make substitutions for me. If you purchase directly from a farm and something goes wrong, you're stuck. is is a relationship business, and we need our wholesalers." Aggregating Beauty Chapple's studio ramps up when flowers arrive on Tuesdays. Salcedo's thoughtfully packed roses for Meryl Miner's wedding have arrived. Once the flowers are unpacked and conditioned, Chapple's design work begins by creating a sample "recipe" based on her creative vision. If it passes Chapple's critical eye, full production ensues on ursday, for a weekend event. Chapple's style centers on an old-world aesthetic, which Alexandra Farms' roses provide. "I am obsessed with garden roses," she enthuses. "When you pull together the charm of these roses with what we, or others, grow locally, it's pure magic!" Bride Meryl Miner says, "Our wedding flowers were absolutely perfect— better than I imagined. e flowers fit seamlessly into the space and brought the room to life by bringing out the rich colors in the space. We also planned the linens, plates and chairs to be simple, specifically to give a beautiful palette for Holly's arrangements. I truly loved every aspect of the flowers!" Global Bouquets As a floral designer and also owner of Hope Flower Farm, in Waterford, Va., Chapple sees both sides of the floral industry. "I'm a designer who farms," she laughs. "Design comes first in our studio, but we have to understand what's available seasonally." Chapple supplements her locally grown and locally sourced stems with purchased luxury blooms, like garden roses. "Designing with premium blooms just beckons clients," she offers. "Our farm's retail focus is on farm-fresh blooms and branches. But by adding premium flowers that we don't grow, it makes our bouquets stand out. You really can have both!" About her relationship with Alexandra Farms, Chapple shares, "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work with Alexandra Farms—because of the flowers and the people. I've visited the farm and seen how much Joey cares about his staff. It has created a kinship with me. It makes me proud that my little company can help support people there and have a ripple effect." Vases Have Room for All We adorn our homes and events with lovely blooming things—a simple reflection of our appreciation for natural beauty from every corner of the earth. Each different flower shape and color represents the diversity of faces and places on our planet. Today's global economy affords us access to this myriad of plant biology. Some blooms ship well. Some don't, and those blooms demand local cultivation for the highest quality. Some plants are notoriously picky in their growing conditions, and others are quite adaptable. Each brings a unique beauty and appeal to its admirer. A floral designer's palette necessitates an expanding spectrum of lines and pigments to create his or her living canvases. In the melting pots of American bridal bouquets and vases, there is room for all.

• Cover