About New Brooklyn Flowers
I am a Grower/Designer whose guiding principles are reflected in the work that I do. For the past twenty-five years, we have cultivated five acres on Bainbridge Island and our labor of love has rewarded us each and every season.
For the past seven years, as a cut flower grower, I have nurtured an enduring connection to the land that I live on and the soil that the blooms are grown in. For me the joy and satisfaction I get from inspiring someone to use local flowers will always be the driving force behind what I do. Sourcing additional locally-grown flowers from like-minded growers who share together in a community that supports and encourages each other is also important to me.
– Melody Whealdon
Photo courtesy Nick Felkey Photography
Sustainability Statement
The florals that surround you at a wedding carry many messages. They represent love, celebration, color and texture and they honor you as a couple. Along with your invited guests, nature is there as well. Whether it is beside you on your tables, or in your hands, this adornment is a time-honored, beautiful tradition we all cherish.
When I choose materials and mechanics necessary to create arrangements, whether it is a simple bud vase, a bridal bouquet or an arch installation, at the top of my list of requirements is how to make sustainable choices. Where are the flowers sourced from, what is their impact on our environment and how can they best be used? I do not use floral foam, single use plastics, paints, dyes or blooms with a heavy carbon footprint. I encourage clients to take flowers home when possible, or responsibly compost. I believe minimizing waste, reducing and reusing vases and mechanics, and being stewards of our lands is important and this includes the impact we can make in a positive way while using a venue’s property. The techniques and methods I use as a grower are the same as those I use as a designer. The arbor I offer for use is locally sourced and crafted wood that is built to last for many years to come. While the celebration is a moment in time, the lasting impacts of what I do and how I choose to do it encompass a larger picture.
It all begins with growing and using local flowers that showcase our growing zone and seasons. I grow the majority of the flowers I use and source from other local growers as well. Having a wedding couple visit my property during the planning stages gives me an opportunity to share my process, answer any questions and it helps guide them in their planning. Saving seeds or utilizing self-sowing varieties, using local seed companies, exploring perennials, native greenery and foliage as well as sourcing from local nurseries that carry plants that thrive in our soil and climate has been the core of my business. My property is inspected and is Salmon-Safe Certified as a flower farm every three years.
My studio is a space to create and work. Nestled under a large cedar tree in the corner of my property, it is where flowers are processed and transferred into my cooler and where I design. Each month in a year gives it a different purpose and look, and no matter what season it is, it is always one of my favorite doors to open and walk through.