Reflecting on 2018

January 6, 2019

For City House Country Mouse, 2018 was such a journey! We took a big leap and moved from our home studio, to a studio on the Hill with retail hours. While customers are sometimes surprised to open the door and realize they’re not in a more “traditional” flower shop with lots of other types of gifts, people are intrigued by the fact that our small space is a working studio first and foremost – we are always glad to put an arrangement together on the fly, and often do have pre-made arrangements and bouquets available for walk-in purchase. Keep visiting our studio to see what’s new!

Our business continues to work at being as sustainable as possible. Ways we cut down on waste include offering bouquets without a vase if requested, having a vase return discount, and NOT including flower foam or plastic wrap in our arrangements. Plus being able to offer local flowers as frequently as possible. 🙂

We really appreciated being given the opportunity to chat with media outlets this past year about our passion for flowers. Here are some links where you can listen to us chat with some great people, and learn a little something if you missed these the first time around:

Fox2 had us visit on the air 3 times! Once for a chat about the meaning of flowers, another time to feature upcoming wedding trends, and a third time to talk about easy-growing summer flowers
We were interviewed by Debra Prinzing, the founder of Slow Flowers Society and an inspiration to florists and flower growers trying to make sustainable choices and help educate the public on why buying local is important
We were also interviewed by our friend and local guru on all things green, Jean Ponzi on her KDHX program, Earthworms
Our Hill neighborhood newspaper, Il Pensiero, took time to write some really nice pieces around our studio opening. We are the first florist on the Hill in a number of years and are so appreciative to the nice neighbors who have welcomed us and our business to the neighborhood.

As City House Country Mouse continues to grow, we need to say THANK YOU so much for your help – whether you book us for your wedding, order flowers or plants with us, share our events with friends on social media, or take one of our workshops. We appreciate you and couldn’t do this without your monumental support!

Here’s an album including some of the events and instances that make us happy from 2018. Check back here or sign up for our e-mail newsletter for more updates in 2019! And keep following along on Instagram and Facebook.

: Our 2018 Art in Bloom installation next to its inspiration: Clerestory Window, George Grant Elmslie

: Our first time on TV to discuss the meaning of flowers!

: We loved our romantic and whimsical Valentine’s flowers offerings.

: Our Valentine’s Day pop-up at Parker’s Table led to a our flowers more regularly being available at their shop!

: Finally grew some tall lisianthus. If you are a grower who tries over and over, you know the feeling of succeeding after seasons of trials!

: We got to make flowers for a horse! Photo by Empire Photography.

: This year, both J.Crew and Anthropologie approached us about doing a pop-up at their stores. Both are brands I really enjoy personally, so we were really humbled by this!

: Our friends at ZeeBee Market opened a second location in Maplewood. We are so grateful for fellow small businesses who have hosted us and others before having our own space.

: As usual, Saint Louis weather wasn’t what we expected and all my tulips blew open while I was out of town.

: We love being able to fulfill requests to use local flowers in arrangements!…

: …Especially when we can say they were all from our own cutting garden!

: Like these giant (and smaller, yet acceptable) alliums.

: We more than doubled the amount of weddings compared to the previous year. So much hard work and fun!

: One of my favorites, highlighting my neighborhood and the new venue and neighbor, Wild Carrot. Photo by Elise Abigail Photo.

: Our flowers are usually just supplemental, but we get so excited to share what can be grown here in Saint Louis!

: In July, we were able to take a flower workshop at B-Side Farm, where we learned how to make foam-free arch installations.

: One of the dahlia harvests from our partnership with Kitchen House Coffee/Farm. Another business who has opened their arms to us and we are so thankful for their generosity!

: Opening the studio and the “guess where?” game we played was such a thrill.

: Our local growers are amazing! Here with Vicki from Flower Hill Farm.

: One of our other talented local growers, Mimo from Urban Buds.

: I love all the couples who gave creative license and were interested in using local flowers for their wedding! You are helping employ people locally. Photo by Simply You Creative.

: All local flowers from Flower Hill Farm and our cutting gardens, donated for a Gateway Greening event.

: Colorful weddings – will never get enough of them!

: And an autumn bride.

: Our final dahlia harvest before that early, super hard frost we had this past fall. I might be happiest when I’m gathering flowers.

: We hosted workshops with garden clubs, admin professionals, and for the general public! Thanks to venues like Lemon Gem, Central Print and Fresh & Co Studio for helping to host us.

: Our holiday centerpiece workshop was so fun!

: And finally, a client brought in a pair of red ceramic boots for us to fill in December. Please keep giving us weird containers to put flowers in!