(Nothing But) Flowers 10.5.25

NEWSLETTER #19

Shifting seasons

Out in the garden and along the sidewalks, flowers are giving us their final, brilliant burst—sunny marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos are holding on just a little longer before the rich tones of autumn slowly start to emerge. 

It feels like a reminder to pause, even briefly, and take a screen break. To look around and notice the colors, to seek out the small joys that come from just being present. When the world feels overwhelming, it’s all too easy to forget the small glimmers and tiny joys that are happening right outside our own doors.

So maybe this invitation is not about doing more, but about noticing more. Step outside when you can, let yourself be surprised by what’s blooming for just a little while longer, and say hello to a neighbor. There’s something grounding in being reminded that community, much like a garden, grows in small, everyday moments.

Xoxo,
Kristen

Floriculture

Experiencing the world through a floral frame

Petals & Patterns: Liberty at 150

This year, Liberty London is celebrating 150 years at the forefront of floral design and creative innovation. From its founding by Arthur Lasenby Liberty in 1875 to launching collabs with brands including Adidas and UNIQLO, Liberty has continuously redefined botanical aesthetics through bold color, layered patterns, and innovative floral compositions.

Liberty’s influence is woven into fashion history—William Morris’s iconic Strawberry Thief print set a foundation for nature-inspired design and craftsmanship, and designers like Mary Quant and Vivienne Westwood have mined Liberty’s archives to create garments that were both ornate and rebellious.

Click to take a deep-dive into its incredible history—and to see how the brand continues to push floral design in bold new directions.

Step into the world of Liberty’s iconic patterns

Credit: images & patterns courtesy of Liberty / Camron Global

Discover

A community of artists & botanical entrepreneurs

Flowers Throughout History

Great news! Artist & author Karen Azoulay has two new books on the way: Floral Notes: A People’s History Told Through Plants, and a yet-to-be-titled book about botanical scrapbooks, both of which will be published by Timber Press / Hachette. Needless to say, we’re psyched!

If you haven’t get gotten a copy of Karen’s first book, Flowers and Their Meanings, now’s a perfect time read our Q&A with her and then order your copy.

Check out our conversation with Karen

Disclosure: Superbloom may earn revenue via affiliate marketing commissions for some of the products we link to—though you’ll never pay more for them because of that. We feature only items that we love and that embody the Superbloom style and ethos: a joyful spirit of celebrating natural abundance. See our full disclaimers and disclosures for more information about the affiliate programs in which we participate.

Shop Florals

New botanical print

The phrase “Bloom anyway” has running through my head for months — whether it’s people trying to block your shine, the weight of so many things that keep compounding, or maybe just an idea that’s been brewing, but that you haven’t been sure about sharing with others: all of it is fodder to just bloom anyway.

So I made myself a reminder and drew some nasturtiums, as they’re always at the forefront of my mind as flowers that are just going to do what they do, winding and growing regardless of seasons. The world will keep turning in all its twisted ways, but I promise you that every time you give yourself permission to bloom anwyay, people notice — and often feel inspired to do the same.

Superblooming wallpaper

Also in the store: bright, can’t-help-but-be-happy poppy-laden wallpaper. (And yes, it’s also the pattern between each section in this newsletter!)

You could wait to cover a wall in blooms someday, but honestly, why not just do it now? While the stock of this vintage German painterly pattern is limited, the absolute fun it brings to every space is boundless. Just go for it!

04.

Etcetera & Ephemera

What we’re growing & things we’re digging

In addition to being wrapped in lovely floral fabric with a seed-paper label that can be planted (!), this chocolate by @flowerchildfudge was delicious

BLOOM: Patterns from Kerry Simmons, one of our favorite artists ever, are available on Spoonflower!

REFLECT: Ordering some packets of the Jane Goodall Seeds of Hope to plant poppies, calendula, and other pollinator plants in her honor (available via the the Living Seed Company)

SIP: “Petal strewn, but full of zest.” Finally tried Ghia for the first time and want to make their Flower Power aperitif next!

BREATHE: Take an hour to yourself to come together in community & try something new: sign up for Basker’s virtual horticultural therapy workshop on 10/26

IMMERSE: Obsessed with these vintage photos collaged with giant swaths of flowers - couldn’t decide which to get, so ended up ordering the bundle of five!

The Wizard of Oz recently turned 85! If you haven’t yet read it, dive into our backstory of the floral motifs throughout the film.

SWOON: For four days, 30+ artists from around the world transformed City Hall in Brussels with more than 100,000 blooms for this year’s FlowerTime exhibit

REGENERATE: “The one thing I could do was make some plants and give them to people, to give them that little bit of hope for the future”: a free plant stand aims to help Altadena regrow.

LAYER: Soooo, it’s not pasta & cheese (I wish!), but the lasagna method is an interesting one to consider for fall planting of spring bulbs, as the results can look pretty fantastic!

OBSERVE: Fifty-One Cut Poppies, a piece in the Emerald Drifters exhibition by Cig Harvey, features “a still life that was never actually still”:  time-lapse cameras captured thousands of frames of the cut flowers slowly blooming, searching for sun, and moving throughout the day. She also has a new book about the collection with an essay by Ocean Vuong - it was called a “rallying cry to exist in our bodies” by the New Yorker.

CONTEMPLATE: “Flowers aren’t meant to last… they’re meant to help us stay present.” Love this take from Kristen Griffith VanderYacht

Current vibe…

Image: Tree Fern Forest, Golden Gate Park

“The plants seemed to want me to share with the world my own understanding of their beingness so that people might better honor them as important partners in so many of our endeavors.”

– Jane Goodall