Garden fresh and seasonal, this lovely bouquet symbolizes everything that one dozen long-stemmed (and most likely imported) red roses are not. This is a fragrant, vivid spring arrangement that evokes curiosity and interest, not to mention romance. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

Home design - cottage home design idea in Seattle

A few quirky stems of California-grown Icelandic poppies (open and in bud) add movement and personality to contrast with the denser focal flowers. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

Garden hellebores are sometimes the only thing blooming in my beds and borders at this time of year, so I judiciously snipped just three stems for inclusion in this seasonal arrangement. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

This detail shows the ideal way to use garden hellebores in a floral arrangement. Clip flowers after the stamens have dropped and the seed pods are beginning to form. This will ensure a longer-lasting bloom. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

These interesting white-and-green variegated parrot tulips are almost fully opened, which gives them a Dutch Masters quality. Grown by Sun Valley Flower Farm in Arcata, Calif., Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

A second broadleaf evergreen choice is lily-of-the-valley shrub (Pieris japonica), with raspberry, bell-shaped blooms. This is one of the best early-blooming shrubs for my Zone 8b garden. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

This "ultra violet" hued selection has non-straight stems, which I prefer, and button-black centers. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

White hyacinths add volume, texture and fragrance. These were grown by Oregon Flowers in Aurora, Ore., but I could just have as easily forced hyacinth bulbs indoors. I went for convenience and bought a bunch of five stems, perfectly in bloom. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

Getting started. Organize all flower stems and branches by variety. From left: Pieris japonica, poppies, hellebores, anemones, ranunculus, hyacinth tulip magnolia, cymbidium orchid spray (which I ended up not using), Viburnum tinus in back, fancy parrot tulips. Strip off any foliage that falls below the water's surface to reduce bacteria. Note that I've inserted a vintage dome-style flower frog inside the footed vase. This can be secured with floral adhesive, available at craft and floral supply retailers or online. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

Start with foliage and woody branch stems. Note how the Viburnum tinus is a broadleaf evergreen shrub with wine-colored stems and buds. Placement creates the lines that will ultimately take shape as the arrangement progresses. I love to choose one longer stem to "reach out" to the right as an asymmetrical gesture. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

I also purchased one bunch of pink ranunculus (California-grown) and placed them in water inside my home for 48 hours to encourage them to open. . Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

DETAIL // These interesting white-and-green variegated parrot tulips are almost fully opened, which gives them a Dutch Masters quality. Grown by Sun Valley Flower Farm in Arcata, Calif., . Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

Dahlias, sage, mint, baotisia, amaranthus and zinnias grown by Lia Fleming of Flora Fields Farm elevate the traditional autumn pumpkin.
Example of a small country entryway design

Dahlias, sage, mint, baotisia, amaranthus and zinnias grown by Lia Fleming of Flora Fields Farm elevate the traditional autumn pumpkin.
Entryway - small country entryway idea

Detail of selected ingredients, including four elements clipped from my garden and neighborhood (with permission) and blooms grown by U.S. flower farms. I purchased the hyacinth, anemone, ranunculus, poppy and tulips from the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, a wonderful farmer-to-florist cooperative representing only Pacific Northwest and domestic flowers. It is open to the public from 10 a.m.-Noon every Friday. The vintage creamware vase has the Haeger USA mark. Design & photography (c) Debra Prinzing, Slow Flowers LLC

Dahlias, sage, mint, baotisia, amaranthus and zinnias grown by Lia Fleming of Flora Fields Farm elevate the traditional autumn pumpkin.
Inspiration for a small country entryway remodel

Photo by P. Lloyd Paul Photography http://www.plloydpaul.com/
Example of a transitional deck design in Philadelphia with decking