Local Color Flowers

Filler flowers don't get nearly enough credit.

Everyone notices the focal flowers, but filler flowers are often the stems doing the heavy lifting. They connect the design, add movement, soften transitions, create texture, and help arrangements feel lush and complete.

And there are SO many good ones.

I've put together my full list of favorite filler flowers—from classics I use all the time to a few that deserve way more attention than they get.

Get the full list today! Here's the link! https://app.flodesk.com/form/6a30884579c94f9aa9cc765a

It's filler flower season! SO MANY BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS!

Filler flowers aren't just "extra flowers." They fill gaps, support your focal flowers, add texture, and even help hold stems in place. Learn how to identify and use them in floral design in this short 6 minute tutorial!

After watching, tell me your favorite filler flower in the comments!

The 6 Elements of Floral Design: Coloring In-between With Filler Flowers Hello Flower Friends! I'm Ellen. Sign up for my FREE weekly newslet...

Not every flower in an arrangement gets to be the main character.

Some flowers are supporting actors.
Some are background extras.

And then there are focal flowers.

The peonies.
The roses.
The dahlias.
The giant show-offs that make people stop and say, "Wow."

The rest of the arrangement exists to help them look their best.

Once you understand that, floral design starts making a whole lot more sense.

Check out my YouTube video this week ALL ABOUT FOCALS!

The 6 Elements of Floral Design: Spotlight on Focal Flowers Hello Flower Friends! I'm Ellen. Sign up for my FREE weekly newslet...

If we want customers to see local flowers differently, we have to show them something different.

One of the biggest opportunities for farmer-florists and floral designers is learning to see local flowers as a medium—not a style.

Local flowers aren't just for garden-inspired arrangements. They can be modern. They can be dramatic. They can be artistic. They can be elegant and luxurious.

The more we challenge ourselves to push beyond the expected, the more we expand what's possible—not just for our own work, but for how customers perceive local flowers.

Every arrangement we create helps shape the story people tell themselves about local flowers.

In this week's video, I take you behind the scenes as I create an arrangement for a client who wanted something refined, elegant, and luxurious—all using local flowers.

My hope is that it encourages growers, farmer-florists, and designers to keep experimenting, keep refining their craft, and keep showing what's possible.

🎥 Watch the video and see the transformation.

And if you know a grower or designer who is helping elevate the perception of local flowers, share this video with them. The more examples we put into the world, the more we expand what people believe local flowers can be.

The Secret to Making Flowers Look Luxurious Hello Flower Friends! I'm Ellen. Sign up for my FREE weekly newslet...

The flower world is so big… and somehow also so beautifully small. 🌸

Shout out to Mermaid City Flowers for introducing me to Christin Geall, author of the book Cultivated and her beautiful new book Floral Culture.

Our FlowerMore book club had already read Cultivated together in 2025 and absolutely loved it. Honestly, if you haven’t read it yet, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s one of those rare flower books that feels inspiring, thoughtful, and genuinely useful.

We had just started reading Floral Culture when Christin said yes to joining us for a live discussion with the FlowerMore community.

I still can’t quite believe it.
Tomorrow, May 26 at 7pm EST we get to welcome Christin to FlowerMore.

I’m feeling so much gratitude and excitement for this community we’re building together. FlowerMore continues to become the kind of space I dreamed about — thoughtful, generous, creative, and deeply connected through flowers.

This is a FlowerMore members-only event, and there’s still time to join us. Here is a discount link to join our community and this conversation! https://tinyurl.com/FlowerMore30

Feeling very grateful today.

I worked hard on these arrangements. I didn't feel confident I could pull of the color palette the couple wanted. I did my best...when the bride texted to say the flowers were perfect- I almost cried. See the behind the scenes video of how they came together. https://youtu.be/AA3Rj3gWEaQ?si=eU-WsPLgZNrM_Mu6

Sometimes, I still struggle with color palettes- 20 years into floral design! See how an unexpected color palette nearly wrecked me- but the flowers always know what works!

I Thought This Wedding Color Palette Would FAIL…I was WRONG Hello Flower Friends! I'm Ellen. Sign up for my FREE weekly newslet...

There is NOTHING more frustrating this time of year than buying peonies that WON’T OPEN 😩

Every time it happens, I feel cheated, frustrated, and honestly… kinda pi**ed.

If this has ever happened to you, today’s video is for you. I’m sharing:
✨ the exact right stage to buy peonies
✨ what actually helps them open
✨ and the weirdest flower trick I’ve ever shared 🌸

(yes… it involves banging them on the table 😂)

Why Your Peonies Won’t Open (And the EXACT Stage to Buy Them) Hello Flower Friends! I'm Ellen. Sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter, FlowerNerd (https://ellenfrostflowers.substack.com/) for more flower fun! I write flo...

You know what the mom folks in your life want- they want peonies.

We’ve got you covered! We’re loaded up with dozens and dozens and dozens of local peonies.

Come early! We’re open 8-noon!