January 2023 Newsletter

Hello from Piper’s Lane!

It has been a bit since I last wrote a newsletter....I can sleep at night, though, since I don’t believe any of you are on pins and needles waiting for it! I do want to catch you up and tell you about some plans for the end of the year. So here goes....

In addition to my porch pick ups for subscribers on Tuesdays and Fridays, this year, we added a weekly remote pick up in Central Park (formerly Stapleton). A generous repeat customer made her porch available for her neighbors to come collect their arrangements each week. It was great to expand the Piper’s Lane family!  I was able to be part of a very fun wedding in August and always get a thrill when the bride first sees her bouquet, the flower girls see their crowns and so on. Many florists complain about the stress and misery of working with brides, but I have had only lovely experiences and feel quite honored to be part of their vision for their big day. A few other events, an auction and frequent requests for larger arrangements for occasions kept me out of trouble. So all in all a busy, productive growing season. Some of my faves from this season: (see right) 

In my personal life, things have shifted. Last spring my twins graduated from high school and therefore late summer was spent shopping, packing and shopping a little more as we moved them into their respective colleges (CSU and Montana State) for Freshman year. My oldest, who is also in college, got his first place alone and I was cordially invited to accompany him to WA to shop again and suit up his place. (Good thing I like to shop and decorate!) We are now officially an empty nest! It is a bizarre feeling after having kids in the house for 21 years, but they are all loving their independence and thriving, so it’s hard to be too upset. Below are my sons moving my daughter into her dorm at CSU.

My solution to that quiet, weird feeling: plant more bulbs! In fact after digging up all of the dahlia tubers to store over the winter, clearing the beds, and amending the soil I went ahead and planted 1300 tulips and narcissus! We had that extra month of the season (usual first frost is the first of October), so it was just in the last few weeks that I got them all in. Cannot wait for them to start blooming next spring.

If you are looking for a unique gift for a flower lover in your life (sister, parents, group gift for a teacher) a flower subscription could be a great fit. (Lord knows I’ll have tulips coming out of my ears!) I am happy to provide a digital or printed gift card for the recipient. If you are interested in a subscription for yourself, I will be sending out details for pricing/registration in January.

I did not manage to hold any flower arranging workshops this summer (launching those kids and two parents weekends kept my days full!) but I am offering winter wreath workshops for those in the mood to customize the exact wreath of your desires! I will provide choice of wreath (evergreen, boxwood or grapevine) and a variety of botanical (eucalyptus, pines, cedar, magnolia, seed heads) and non-botanical items (deer, paper houses, stars, ribbon, etc) to embellish in a variety of styles. It’s all your choice! I will be there for design inspiration and good cheer. Holiday drinks and nibbles provided. $65/person. I am happy to host a private group of friends. If interested, email me for dates in December that work in your schedules.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I wanted to let you all know how thankful I am for you, your business and support. Hope you all enjoy the holiday season with friends and family.

Kindest Regards, 

Kristen

Hello Flower Friends!

I am always shocked and in denial how, yet another year has passed by so quickly. (I guess that means I am having fun?! More likely that I am old…huh?) Unbelievably, it’s a wrap on a second year of sowing, growing, and arranging flowers to spread a little floral joy in this world! Lucky, lucky me….

Like all the New Year’s Eve specials do at this time of year, I like to reflect on the year we are about to exit. All in all, I feel very happy about 2021 at Piper’s Lane.  No crazy hailstorms or freakish snows in early September like last year. It was a warm one, but the flowers liked it and I dare say the Japanese beetles were fewer in number, which is a relief! The cooler I built in Nov 2020 was a total game changer for me. I feel like my flowers held so much better and it would have been impossible to pull off the events I did without it. I’m not gonna lie on all those ridiculously hot days last summer, I would just stand in my cooler with a Diet Coke, cool my jets and hope I didn’t somehow get locked in. (Only one scare!)

The weekly subscriptions I create were able to reach more people this year (many repeat customers and folks who I didn’t know that found me through the Floret website!) I set up my first pop up flower stand just before Mother’s Day and the sense of community and enthusiastic support were just fantastic. I went old school and put-up posters on telephone poles in the neighborhood. I met neighbors who have lived here for 50 years as well as adorable DU students and everyone in between. People like to be connected, especially now, I think. Serving sangria also didn’t hurt! It was fun and I look forward to doing more of these in the future.

The biggest difference from year one was event work. I was honored to be part of several weddings, charity and corporate events this year. It was so much fun to take part in dreaming up and then creating. the vision that these lovely ladies had in mind. (Rose shortages and shipping issues made sure to not make it too dreamy though and keep me grounded in reality!) 

    
The other new thing for 2021 was doing workshops. These “Flower Bars” were so enjoyable for me, and I think everyone else too. I got to combine my love of entertaining with arranging flowers all while hanging out with awesome people. It was fun to see every person’s creation and experience the contagious, uplifting spirit that being surrounded by beauty can create. I am certainly going to be more diligent about setting the dates for these for all seasons, early on. I would love for you to join me!

     
If you haven’t finished up your holiday shopping yet and have a person in mind who just loves fresh, unique flowers, I am happy to provide a digital or paper gift certificate for a 2022 flower subscription. If you are interested in a flower subscription for yourself, registration is now open! I have a finite number of slots (and space to grow!) for Spring, Summer and Fall shares. You can sign up for weekly or bi-monthly arrangements for your favorite season or for all three. That is almost 6 months of flowers every week! Please visit my website at piperslaneflowers.com for the varieties of flowers to expect each season as well as pricing for weekly and bi-monthly subscriptions each season. Always, feel free to email me if you have any questions. 

I think that’s it for my 2021 recap, except to say thank you to all of you who have supported me and cheered me on and helped during this last year. I am terribly grateful for all of it. Happy holidays and wishing you a wonderful New Year in 2022!

Best, 

Kristen

(picture to right is the gigantic mantle at the Manor House wedding I did in September)

Hello Flower Friends,

Spring has finally sprung! (Surely we are finished with snow and lows in the teens…..fingers crossed.) I am up to my eyeballs in tulips and narcissus! Remember when I mentioned, last Fall, that I kept ordering bulbs, then forgetting and ordering more? Yeah, well, they are all coming up and it’s absolutely beautiful!  

In fact, I have so many tulips, I am going to have a POP-UP FLOWER STAND in front of my house for people interested in the occasional bouquet. (1667 S. Lafayette Street) Stop by on either FRIDAY, MAY 7th 4pm-7pm or SATURDAY, MAY 8th 9am-3pm (or until flowers are gone) to grab a bouquet for Mother’s Day or just for yourself (yes, of course, you deserve and need flowers!) 

I will have a variety of price points from posies wrapped in paper for $7 up to bigger arrangements in vases for $50 with a variety of prices/sizes in between.(Cash/Venmo/Zelle).  Also, if you could do me a favor, I would so appreciate it if you would spread the word about my flower stand via your social networks! If you would like to order arrangements ahead of time for Mother’s Day, just email me at piperslaneflowers@gmail.com. 

I am now getting into the groove of things this season; figuring out the rhythm of my weeks with harvesting/conditioning/arranging flowers for subscriber pick-ups, all the while shuffling tender seedlings indoors and out, getting them ready to plant out as soon as we know we won’t have another freeze!  It’s a promising, busy time of year...

I will be setting up the flower arranging workshop schedule in the very near future. Please stay tuned! (If you have particular dates in mind for a workshop, let me know and I will pencil you in)

Happy Spring from Piper’s Lane Flowers, and I hope to see you soon!

Best, 

Kristen 

P.S. If you wanna jump in on the Spring flower subscriptions, let me know quickly so we can get you on the schedule.  We’re in week two now and I could catch you up if interested! 

P.P.S. If anyone wants orach (‘Caramel Apple’) seedlings, they self-sowed like crazy and I would love to give you some! Just let me know...

Hello All, 

I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the holiday season. I had great intentions of getting this newsletter out much earlier, but time has a tendency to just slip through our fingers in the month of December, no? 

I cut the last of the flowers in October, but have been busier than ever with Piper’s Lane.  I emptied, purged and cleaned my garage (circa 1926) and built myself a walk-in flower cooler!  It is a free standing structure in the garage: framing with tons of insulation sheets and an A/C unit that we will externally override to maintain the perfect flower temperature. I started out very eagerly with my plans and was exhausted and grateful when I finally finished. Believe me, it is not pretty. A real carpenter would rather poke her eyes with a rusty screwdriver upon close inspection of my work. But no matter; it is done, it will work and I did it! My project also involved creating a bigger workspace and storage area.  I am so excited to use it!

The other big thing I did was revamp my website. I’ve updated the flow of it with new photos (thanks, Jenn Piccolo Photography!) and added more services and products. In addition to flower subscriptions, I will offer seasonal wreaths, floral jewelry, gift certificates and Flower Bars. 

Please check out the details at piperslaneflowers.com.   

A Flower Bar works like this: a small group (5-10 folks) come to my place, have some nibbles and drinks and, (with a bit of instruction from me along the way), create a beautiful flower arrangement from buckets of freshly harvested ingredients. The atmosphere will be festive and fun while still outdoors and distanced from each other, if need be. 

For those of you who know me well, you  know that I love to entertain and I obviously love flowers, so this may be the perfect set-up!  Let me know if you are interested… I am picturing a fun girls afternoon, kids making bouquets for Mother’s Day or just a drop-in session with like-minded flower lovers who you’ve yet to meet! 

Thanks to all who have already signed up for flowers in 2021!  I’ve said it before and I will say it again, (because I really, really mean it) I appreciate your support and encouragement of my budding business.  I don’t think many of us are sad to see 2020 behind us and are more than ready to look ahead to brighter times. As my cousin said, may 2021 be happy, healthy and completely and totally precedented. 

Take Care and Best Wishes, 

Kristen 

Hello Flower Lovers!

I hope this newsletter finds you all well and adjusting to the “new normal” way of life right now and enjoying summer.  Like many of us lately, I have been thinking more than ever about the concept of community and what that means.  I actually like that sense of connectedness and feel that, even under the duress in this time in history, we can see it as a chance for greater sense of belonging and responsibility. 

I am beyond lucky to have a very supportive community behind Piper’s Lane Flowers.  I have several wonderful neighbor friends who let me plant and cut in their yards.  (I am the unkempt lady prowling the neighborhood with clippers and trowel in hand)!  When needed, my Mom happily drives from Greeley with buckets full of raspberry greens, mint and spurge to fill in my bouquets.  I have traded flowers for graphic design help, and photography. I’ve collected countless bottles and vases from co-workers and friends, and convinced my stepdad that it would be a “fun” project to build me a compost tea brewer out of a trash can and help me construct the giant planter in my back alley to create more growing space. (3rd picture down). Truly, one of the most satisfying parts of this whole thing is feeling people’s enthusiasm, generosity and appreciation for what I am doing.  That, and flowers make people happy.

Several of you have asked to see some “behind the scenes” pictures of my yard.  I am the first one to tell you, you all have much lovelier yards than I, since I cut EVERYTHING!  My space is set up for producing as many flowers as possible while keeping the company namesake, (my dog Piper), out of the beds! The concept of small scale/high intensity micro-farming is to tightly space plants to force flowers to reach for the sun and grow longer stems.  Therefore, I’ve got horizontal netting to support the stems and most of the time, I’ve got hail netting up, strung across walkways with a maze of bungee cords that makes my husband run the gauntlet while attempting to get the mower to the front yard.    

The first picture below is a snapshot of a bed that’s blooming most right now.  If zinnias don’t scream summer, I don’t know what does.  The staked plants are about 15 types of dahlias that will come into their own in the coming weeks.  The sunflower picture really shows that I use every inch in my urban garden. (They are literally growing in the cracks between my flagstone path along the house)!  

Now is when things really get rolling in the garden. Zinnias, dahlias, sunflowers, celosia, amaranth, snapdragons, cosmos, rudbeckia, mint, basil, pincushion, gomphrena and all sorts of vines are all blooming! If you want in on this riot of color, I still have a few slots left for Fall Shares from now until first frost (8 weeks for $160 or 4 weeks for $84). As always, reach out if you just need an occasional flower arrangement.  We are still delivering arrangements to your doorstep, compliments of my two, newly minted 16 year old drivers in the house! (fair warning has been issued)! 

Thanks for being part of the Piper’s Lane community.

Kristen

P.S. 

This is my workspace in the garage. Table given to me by our neighbor friend, vintage 1960’s fridge (“flower cooler” in my world) is off Craig’s List, found the painting in the alley. See? What a great community we have!

Hello All,

Happy Mayday!  Was it just my family, or does anyone else remember delivering little posies of flowers and treats to friend’s doorsteps, ditching the  doorbell and running for it? Fun memory...don’t know if anyone does that anymore?! I hope this email finds you all doing well.

Plants are growing like crazy (thanks to my home brewed compost tea!) and I am so excited for the early summer’s crop of larkspur, anemones, love in a mist, and snapdragons and more to start blooming!  I am getting ahead of myself though, as there are still lots of tulips, narcissus, allium and lilacs blooming everyday.  I’ve got a few extra bouquets this week if anyone needs a little pick me up. (See attached photos. Take a peek at my Instagram or Facebook page for photos if there are extras each week).

Next weekend is Mother’s Day, so please let me know if you’d like to order any flowers for the holiday. If your mom or other important woman in your life is in love with roses or lillies or another flower that isn’t in season here yet, I can certainly purchase wholesale and mix in with my locally grown flowers. Just let me know! 

Many of you are Moms yourselves and I want to personally wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day.  We are all Mommin’ it hard these days with the house full and so much cooking! If you want flowers for yourself and want to surreptitiously drop your husband or teenagers a hint, I am happy to email them if you send me their email address...

Please take care and enjoy this lovely Spring weather. 

Kind Regards,

Kristen 

Hello! 

I am writing to you today because: 1). you are a known lover of beautiful things 2). You appreciate quality and good value. 3). You have proven yourself to be a supportive entity in my life! (And you’re totally cool too.) As you know, I have been a gardener/flower fiend for over 20 years. I have decided (finally!) to make my love of flowers legit and start a business. Piper’s Lane is an urban farmette growing heirloom flowers locally to provide unusual varieties that cannot be purchased at stores. These flowers are the old-fashioned, fragrant types that have not been created and treated to ship well from South America. I start the flowers from seed and use only natural fertilizers to make them flourish. Absolutely no chemicals involved. 

To spread the beauty and love of flowers, I am offering a flower subscription service. (Think produce CSA, but instead of rutabagas, you’ll get snapdragons and tulips!) I will offer Spring, Summer and/or Fall shares. You will receive the freshest possible flowers (handpicked the day before) that are blooming at that moment. Each arrangement will be presented in a vase and available for pick-up on Thursdays at Common Threads at 1575 S Pearl Street, weekly or every other week. Pay me before each season by Venmo, Zelle or check and then enjoy weeks of gorgeous flowers and/or buy as a gift for someone you really like. (”One for you, one for me”… An adage I follow often while shopping!) Below are the general dates and prices for each share as well as which flowers to expect (please note that bloom times vary and not all flowers listed are guaranteed for, or limited to, the season listed. These are my best predictions. I’m at the mercy of Mother Nature!) 

Spring share: mid-April (hopefully will be blooming in time for Easter!) through mid-May (Mother’s Day): 6 weeks What’s blooming: heirloom narcissus (fancy, whirling and whimsical specialty daffodils. Not the bright yellows from the supermarket. Think corals, pink, creamy whites and pale yellows in ruffled layers.) Tulips (double blossoms, parrots, fringed and everything in between, in colors ranging from the darkest purple to corals tinged with orange, pinks of all values, and buttery yellows. Tulips are magical in the vase as they continue to grow and age beautifully. Each day the arrangement takes on a new look. Love! Purple, spherical allium are quite striking and modern looking. Additional flowers and unusual greenery will be tucked in to make a lovely bouquet each week. Prices: 6 week: $120 3 week: $63 

Summer Share: June/July: 4 weeks. What’s blooming: azalea snapdragons (tall, fragrant, super-size florets that set these WAY apart from their shorty Home Depot bedding plant counterparts). Light and airy feverfew looks like tiny daisies blooming profusely from each stem. Heirloom, fragrant sweet peas and tall, spiky Larkspur, Love in a Mist, and Bachelor’s Buttons, all in various shades of blue (not many flowers are naturally blue!) Bells of Ireland, poppies, and more! Price: 4 week: $80 2 week: $42 

Fall Share: August/September: 8 weeks What’s blooming: Dahlias, the coveted stars of the late summer/early Fall crop. Perfectly shaped in giant dinner plate size to little balls of petal profusion. Imagine colors like café au lait cream with the palest hint of pink, to a purple that is so electric. Celosia, bright yellow and magenta to faded sherbet colors from a vintage palette. Cosmos “Apricot Lemonade,” white, orange, burgundy, and pinks in double, fluted, and ruffled forms. Amaranth, gomphrena, pincushion flower, grasses, zinnias, and of course special sunflowers…the list goes on! Prices: 8 week: $160 4 week: $84 

I am offering a limited number of subscriptions for each season. If a subscription is not in the cards for you or I sell out, I will be happy to let you know if I have extra flowers each week that you can buy. I will also offer extra arrangements for sale on holidays (Easter, Mother’s Day, 4th of July) or any of your other moments where flowers will fit the bill! A note on vases. In the spirit of a very minimal carbon footprint by producing very locally, I am planning to use upcycled glass vessels in lieu of plastic sleeves. Each vase/bottle/container will be selected to complement the design of the flower arrangement. If you super love the container, please keep it. If not, there will be a return receptacle at the pickup spot for me to use another week. 

If you have friends, neighbors, parents, co-workers or any other flower lovers in your life, I would so appreciate you forwarding this email or sharing my information. Word of mouth is my marketing plan! (I know that’s how I find out about all the good stuff in my life). Please email me with any questions at piperslaneflowers@gmail.com Visit my Instagram @piperslaneflowers or website at piperslaneflowers.com for more images and information. I am so excited to do this! Thanks in advance for your support. 

Here’s to a flower filled 2020! 

Kristen Dorighi,

(grower and lone arranger)