Good-bye Squid Row

The middle of March marked the end of our days on Squid Row.  We closed the studio down there- and moved back up to Bonny Doon.  There are two reasons we decided to do this.  First, we could not make that location work for retail.  It is a VERY quiet, (although quaint) alley off the back streets of downtown Santa Cruz.  It doesn't make good sense for us to pay rent there when we cannot generate an income from that location.  We tried, it didnt work.  I even tried buying all sorts of cool garden-y type stuff to sell, but what really needs to happen is someone needs to lay down about $20k and market the alley as a retail destination.  Second, I felt isolated from the garden in Bonny Doon.  My inspiration, my sanctity, my heart & soul is in the garden.  Since we opened up Squid Row Studio, I was never able to spend much time at the kiosk, let alone at the garden. 

We've moved the studio now back up to Bonny Doon.  We're still working on the minor details, but it is absolutely awsome.  We can work in the studio with our doors closed and concentrate on paperwork, or floral designs, and then when we want, we open the door, and step out into the beautiful garden.  I was able to do my first big event since we moved back up the mountain last week, and I am shocked at how dependent we become -as a floral designer- to just look for inspiration in buckets.  That's nice and all, who doesn't love buckets of blooms!! BUT, how awesome is it to walk into the garden, and woods and draw creativity, and inspiration from mother nature? I love it! It's my 'motor' so-to-speak!

And so here's a peek at what's to come- this image is from last summer, taken from under the old oak tree toward the rose garden.  I've done TONS of planting, cultivating, propagting, etc. since then! I cannot wait to get past the spring flowers now in into the summer! ROSES!