Flowers are good for your body, mind and spirit. They serve as a reminder that we are intimately intertwined with Nature, not separate from it. Studies have repeatedly shown that people experience an increase in positive psychological and physiological effects when they see flowers, even for just a few minutes at a time.

Our vision is to infuse daily life with the magic of the botanical world in a responsible and regenerative way. This includes growing and harvesting herbs, plants, and flowers directly from our garden. What we're unable to grow ourselves, we source from local agriculture, supporting and giving back to our community of growers.

Our humble journey in small scale flower growing started in 2022 with a small plot of 120 strawflowers. Since then we've expanded into more varieties of statice, ammobium, cress and globe amaranth. Read on below as we share our humble beginnings and the evolution of our journey.

It all began with a simple yet powerful act of kindness—one that quietly, yet profoundly, altered the course of my life. The winter of 2022 was particularly challenging for my partner and me. For reasons both personal and global, the season felt heavy, cold, and uncertain. The escalating war in Ukraine cast a long shadow, and each day felt like an emotional weight. In the midst of this darkness, we chose to host a peace ceremony, hoping to bring our community together. However, I quickly realized that finding flowers for our gathering might be impossible in the dead of winter.

That's when a local woman, a stranger to me, heard about my search. With genuine warmth, she offered the few flowers she had, understanding the significance they would bring to our offering. This small gesture touched me deeply. As I drove to the ceremony, the flowers carefully nestled in my car, I felt something shift within me. The weight in my chest began to ease, and for the first time in weeks, I took a deep, full breath. Tears welled up as I recognized the profound healing power these simple flowers had on me in that moment. They were not just plants; they were a quiet reminder that real kindness still exists in the world.

In that moment, I grasped a truth I had always sensed: flowers, in their subtle beauty, have the power to heal. Their presence is more than aesthetic; it’s an offering of love, compassion, and connection. A simple act of kindness can ripple through someone’s life, leaving a lasting impact.

After the ceremony, I dried the flowers from our altar, preserving their energy and beauty. I placed them into a tiny vessel, paired with rose quartz—the stone of love—and gifted it to that kind woman as a token of my gratitude. It was then that Orchid & Pine Studio was born. I realized that what truly matters is not the material gift but the love and intention behind it. A small act of kindness—a thoughtful gesture—can spark something bigger than ourselves. It has the power to transform, uplift, and bring light even in the darkest times.

At Orchid & Pine, every creation I make is rooted in this belief. Whether it's a bouquet, a botanical gift, or a carefully crafted piece, it represents more than just an object; it conveys a message of love, connection, and healing. A reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can change the world, one quiet step at a time.

Since that transformative moment, I’ve had the delightful fortune of crossing paths with the same woman who gifted me those flowers. It feels like kismet! Over the past two years, we have cultivated a slow and quiet friendship, one that is blossoming beautifully, much like the flowers we cherish. In a world that often rushes by, filled with distractions and noise, connections that hold depth and meaning are truly precious. Relationships, much like the plants we nurture, take time to grow roots. They need care, attention, and nourishment to thrive.

In these two years, my bond with flowers has also flourished. I enrolled in the Floret Farm course in 2023, dove into countless gardening books from the library, and set up a small plot to cultivate a variety of blooms. That summer, our garden burst forth with an abundance of colors and fragrances, a testament to the love and effort poured into each seed. ,As our garden continued to fill with beautiful blooms, I quickly realized that trying to juggle growing, designing, and making handmade products would mean I would need a bigger team to help out.

This experience has been a journey of learning and evolution, teaching me to embrace both the challenges and joys along the way. Just as my friendship with that kind woman has deepened, so too has my relationship with the art of growing flowers. Each petal, each stem, tells a story of patience, resilience, and connection—reminders that the most meaningful things in life often take time to develop.

As I continue this journey, I remain committed to nurturing both my friendships and my flowers, recognizing that they share a common thread. Each bloom, each shared moment of laughter and understanding, contributes to a tapestry of beauty and growth in my life. I am grateful for the lessons learned, the connections made, and the vibrant blossoms yet to come.

Creating a strong foundation is at the heart of our values. Each flower creation, from our earth vessels to our botanical boards, is crafted with love and attention. Flowers are not just commodities; they are living beings that require care and nurturing.

As we look ahead to the next season, we’ve intentionally scaled back on growing flowers, except for a small plot of summer favorites, so we can focus more on our farm partnerships. This shift allows us to support our local and regional community of growers while taking the time to strengthen our roots.

In 2025, we’re excited to welcome a new team member who will help us implement sustainable and regenerative growing practices. We’re creating additional low-till and no-dig beds, cultivating soil health, and choosing native plants and annuals that easily self-seed. This approach not only benefits our pollinators but also helps the flowers thrive as they become naturalized to our unique ecosystem.

After harvesting, we use natural drying methods, steering clear of chemicals or preservatives. We hold the same standards for any dried flowers sourced from external partners.

If you've taken the time to read this story, I truly appreciate your interest in our journey. I’ll be sharing more updates from the garden as we continue to learn and grow over n our journal page.

With all my love and gratitude,

Charina