When Mary contacted me, I was immediately taken by the unusual name of her business and curious what would hide behind it. After hearing rave reviews from one of her customers, I met her in her small flower shop on Battery Street. Surrounded by cheerfully colored, impeccable flowers, the scent of Casablanca lilies and fresh cut spring branches, we talked about her life and her beloved profession.

After art school (BFA in painting) she went to live in Europe and worked  there as an artist for several years. In Paris she had her first encounter with floral design. Browsing through her portfolio "painting with flowers" comes the closest to describing her designs. "Paint can be manipulated, while flowers have their own minds. They can fight each other, but when you find the right companion, they are happy and sing," Mary told me.

I love her creations, which can be multi-colored or monochromatic, elegant or cheerful, enhanced with different textures. They sometimes remind you of a still life in which you find yet another detail after a more careful look. One bouquet in her portfolio is a perfect example. The peachy inside of the garden roses was picked up by calla lilies and the tips of the hypernicum berries. Green hydrangeas added texture and at the same time made the peach color more prominent.

She has attractive containers, many of them in oblong shapes, fitting the new trend of a king's table. Event professionals love to work with her. One said, "Her flowers are fabulous, she is very creative, reasonably priced and absolutely professional about getting things done on time." One bride raved about Mary's design for her winery wedding, where she incorporated herbs, artichokes, and hydrangeas in the centerpieces.