About the Flowers

Hi. I am Jen, owner and head florist here. The health of our planet is of utmost importance to me. Sadly, the alternative to local, organic flowers are flowers which are forced to grow out of season in hothouses, genetically modified, chemically fertilized, sprayed with pesticides, roses dipped in fungicide, then over-packed and shipped in planes and trucks all over the world. Sound bad? This is why I choose not to work with these flowers on a regular basis.

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At Jens Garden by the Sea, we offer fresh flowers grown in rich coastal soil. The natural, fragrant flowers are at home with birds, bugs, and bees, and are a part of healthy, seasonal ecosystems. They are planted, tended, loved, and cut by friends, neighbors, and small farms in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The farmers are well paid, and love their work. There is no waste, no packaging, a low carbon footprint, and are chemical free. Our flowers are fresh and healthy.

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Garden flowers may look a bit different than the ones one may see on a mainstream florist’s website. The stems are sometimes shorter or crooked; the bouquets are wilder and may look more like an actual garden. Designing with garden flowers is more improvisational, which I love, as I never really know what my farmers are going to bring me. The farmers cut at the best time to ensure the longest vase life once the flower leaves their farm.

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In alignment with my choices to support and utilize local organic flowers, Jens Garden by the Sea is open seasonally. However, I do occasionally choose to source flowers from flower markets for special events off season. In these cases, I will always look for and buy the most eco-friendly flowers I can find, so don't hesitate to give me a call and we can talk it through.