http://www.prairiegirlflowers.com/

Prairie Girl Flowers, Calgary, AB (2026)

08/03/2025

On their one year anniversary, it seems appropriate to finally get around to posting more about this epic day and what went into creating an (almost) zero-waste wedding.

1. You must obviously have a couple that are interested in being mindful of their environmental and social footprint at their wedding. This can be remarkably difficult to find. Fortunately, our darling daughter and her fabulous husband were entirely on board. And they made it priority from day one.
2. The venue can make a massive difference in either helping or hindering this objective. Ask venue staff about their onsite recycling and composting procedures. Gently push them to adapt things if necessary and highlight the advantages for them if they embrace low-waste efforts. Above all - make it easy for them. Provide compost bags and extra recycling bins if required and organize the post-event pick up of these things if necessary.
3. Chat with your event rentals staff about ways to minimize packaging and unnecessary plastic shrink wrap. Our rep .ca was fabulous and adjusted things for us to reduce and almost eliminate plastic packaging.
4. Work with your caterer to ensure that compostable napkins and cutlery are used, if required. Minimize your glassware rentals by having bartenders encourage guests to reuse their glasses (no one needs 6 separate glasses for what amounts to 4 drinks…). Ensure the caterers do not bring bottled water and other unnecessary “extras”.
5. GET YOUR FLOWERS FROM LOCAL GROWERS. And (can’t believe it still requires saying), don’t allow your florist to use floral foam or any plastic products.

Most of the efforts required to go low/zero-waste at a wedding just require conversations and some planning. It’s not hard. And it makes a massive difference.

Lovebirds: + Travis
Photographer:
Rentals: .ca
Flowers: .hat.farm, .lane.farm, , .lonepine.alta, ,
Florists and design support: .hat.farm (Nikki KILLED it), , ,

05/30/2025

Officially a Harvard graduate today. I didn’t attend my convocation - for what I think should be obvious reasons. But it still feels worthy of celebration.

This degree was a grind. And not just because the classes, exams, papers, and thesis were demanding. But also because I found myself at a strange and unforeseen crossroads. When conducting my thesis research, I found that rose growers in both North and South America who had the most far-reaching claims of sustainability were the least likely to provide data and participate in my research. They made claims like “we’re too busy” or “we don’t allow researchers at our farm”. Now - it’s possible that some of these farms were reluctant to participate because I have been rather outspoken on sustainability issues over the years. But - and here’s the catch - these farms also don’t have any third party data to back their sustainability claims.

I chose to celebrate this day by giving a kickass presentation for a grant I recently applied for to study toy supply chain sustainability at the children’s hospital. And my work there with patients, families, and staff continues to lift me up, offer real therapeutic value, and create beautiful gardens.

So - here’s to higher education, meaningful work, and making a difference. All things that feel worthy of celebration.

P.S. Here’s also to my two steadfast flower friends who have supported me throughout this degree, no questions asked. + - I will be raising my glass to salute you both tonight as well.

12/17/2024

Food in traditional floral compositions/decorations/installations has become an increasingly popular trend - particularly among high-end florists who work for high-end clients. A recent post shared by a friend really caught my attention for being an egregious waste of perfectly good food that could have fed many people.

Here’s why this particular example is a problem (and why this trend needs to die a quick death):
- a quick count shows 42 lbs of butter on this table (assuming that each stick is 1/4 lb) and 255 pieces of toast nailed or pinned or glued to the wall (I’m going with nailed since the same designer nailed dozens of potatoes to the wall in a different installation)
- the total caloric value of the butter and toast is approximately 156,995 calories
- the designer makes no mention of how this food was used afterwards (I can assume that it would have only been fit for livestock to consume, since it would have had hands, breath, cigarette smoke, or whatever else was present at the dinner party touching it or blown on it…)
- if the food waste went to the landfill, it would release methane

Potential end-of-life outcomes for this supposed avant-garde + artistic dinner party are hideous for sure. But what’s even more disgusting is that this many calories could have fed almost 80 people for a day. Or provided a buttered toast breakfast or lunch for 235 seniors or children. Given that 8% of seniors live in poverty and approximately 20% of school-aged children don’t get breakfast in the U.S., how can we be ok with this sort of excessive, gratuitous and ego-driven use of perfectly good food to decorate the table for people who (presumably) have plenty of fu***ng money to spend however they want??

It’s disgusting. Pure and simple. And so is nailing potatoes to the wall. Or dissecting fruit to make some sort of stupid sculpture.

These designer “influencers” need to pop their stupid artistic bubbles and start paying attention to who and what they influence.

I have always maintained that social sustainability is the thing we need to focus on as we address the climate crisis. And morons like this designer really hammer home how important this work is.

08/16/2024

It’s Canadian Flowers Week and we are going all-out this year with some incredible prizes packages. Thanks to generous donations from some incredible Canadians, we are looking forward to celebrating your beautiful creations using home-grown, seasonal flowers. We have 10 fabulous prize bundles for submissions and winners will be drawn at random on August 22. We also have an incredible grand prize for an immersive flower experience/installation that will be showcased in your community.

10 prize packages:
1. 10 dahlia tubers () + Sakagen flower scissors, small kenzan and tin o’twine (). Value: $267
2. Flower seeds () + botanically dyed silk scarf () + Sakagen flower scissors, small kenzan and tin o’twine (). Value: $217
3. Gift card () + Sakagen flower scissors, small kenzan and tin o’twine (). Value: $192
4. Snips + flower seeds (). Value: $150
5. Botanically dyed silk ribbons () + botanically dyed silk scarf (). Value: $135
6. Flower seeds () + botanically dyed silk ribbons (). Value: $115
7. Flower seeds () + botanically dyed silk scarf (). Value: $100
8. 200 tulip bulbs. Value: $100
9. 200 tulip bulbs. Value: $100
10. Flower seeds () + hand embroidered hat (). Value: $90.

GRAND PRIZE
20x30 art print ()
Grower’s Essentials pack of specialty hand tools ()
Over $1,000 worth of Groot & Groot peony roots ()
Total Value: $2,500
Rules for grand prize submissions: our sustainability commitments require that no plastic, no foam, or single use non-recyclable materials be used.

For submission rules and more information, please go to .
Questions? Feel free to shoot me a DM or drop them here in the comments.

We can’t wait to see all the beauty you create with locally grown flowers!! 🌸🇨🇦❤️

08/10/2024

About last Saturday…

It’s impossible to sum up the joy that comes from hosting your daughter’s wedding in your garden. Made unbelievably special by the family and friends who gathered with us to celebrate. I have so much to say about the flowers, my friends who grew and helped to arrange the flowers, and the efforts we took to create an (almost) zero-waste wedding for 115 people. But for now, I will simply post these beautiful photos of the gorgeous couple. Who we just adore. ❤️❤️

03/10/2024

Well, here’s some fresh bu****it for florists who are looking for the next big thing.

Thanks to the geniuses , we are lucky to welcome yet another garbage product for florists and wholesalers who are desperate to sell junk to their clients. This particular foam product reaches new heights of ignorance on behalf of . Not only are they simply greenwashing an already established garbage foam product, but they are also venturing into territory where they have absolutely no business: that of ethical and/or sustainable foraging.

Foraging requires a breadth and scope of knowledge that is not possessed by 99% of florists. Ethical, sustainable, and responsible foraging requires an understanding of local ecological conditions and social traditions associated with foraging where you live. Understanding the ethics of foraging means understanding the ecological and social significance of native species + invasive species.

As Robin Wall Kimmerer so eloquently stated: “For all of us, becoming indigenous to a place means living as if your children’s future mattered, to take care of the land as if our lives, both material and spiritual, depended on it.”

Foraging is not cool or hip. It is not fashionable or trendy. It is something that requires an intimate knowledge of local ecosystems and a respect for local knowledge + traditions. It is NOT something that (or really any florist) has any business jumping into. Nor does it require a specialized fu***ng product. Really!? A floral foam specifically designed for arranging foraged flora? Give me a break. This is nothing more than a money grab.

So - what to do? As I’ve said before - stop believing everything you see and hear. Do some digging. Critical thinking does not mean jumping to conclusions - it means doing your due diligence and making sense of what you see, read, or hear. Bottom line? You CANNOT TRUST what you hear from or read on the blogs, posts, or so-called “sustainability reports” from suppliers, wholesalers, and influencers. Do your own work, ask hard questions, and don’t believe everything you see or hear.

01/29/2024

As Rebecca Solnit so wisely stated: “Personal virtue is an eternally seductive goal in progressive movements”. And certainly when it comes to solving the climate crisis, private individual actions will never increase at a rate sufficient to affect the problem in time. Collective action seeking changes in policy and law can, as can lobbying efforts at the government level. But does that mean we should still abandon individual efforts to affect change? Certainly not.

In the case of invasive plant species, there is often a lot of finger pointing - trying to figure out who is to blame for the problem of their continued spread and negative ecological, social, and economic effects. The ornamental horticulture industry will blame ineffective trade regulations. Import agencies will blame lax regulations from exporting countries. Soil experts will suggest that degraded soil conditions are to blame for their spread. And florists? Many florists seem to want to be left entirely out of the discussion: how could their work with flowers and foliage used to beautify our lives possibly contribute to the problem?

Invasive species are surprisingly common in floristry. They are grown and/or foraged by flower farmers and wholesale growers; sold and promoted by wholesalers; and used by florists. Clients love what the florists create, florists need more of (insert whatever here - oriental bittersweet, Autumn Olive …) and the cycle continues and gets bigger.

So - what to do? We should be discussing these issues with local invasive species organizations and government regulatory bodies to eliminate the growing, harvesting, and selling of invasive species. But if you do not have the time or appetite for that (which is fair!), then you know what you can do? Stop using it! That is a simple action that you can control.

Shoutout to the American florist and instructor who just transported a giant garbage bag full of Eleagnus to Tampa, Florida for a workshop. It is invasive in Florida and in her home state. So yes, dear readers, florists are a problem when it comes to invasive species.

01/25/2024

After a long hiatus from this platform, I felt the need to make some sort of triumphant (lol) return here today after several people forwarded me an article from Florists Review, citing a recent fact sheet published by Smithers-Oasis discussing myths and facts about floral foam. S-O suggests that their “know foam” fact sheet will provide a “beacon of clarity for florists” and a promise to deliver “unvarnished truths”.

There’s lots to unpack here; but I will start with the human health and safety part. It is a misconception among florists that floral foam is toxic and causes cancer. True - it contains formaldehyde. Floral foam is, after all, a phenol-formaldehyde foam. But research has shown very complex relationships between formaldehyde exposure and cancer. Most studies have been conducted in groups that experience potentially high levels of formaldehyde in their work: anatomists, embalmers, and garment workers. The amount of formaldehyde in floral foam is very low and not considered carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Floral foam - like all chemically based products - requires a GHS classification (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) and is not considered a health hazard.

Where Smithers-Oasis is wrong in their report is in their environmental section, where they continue to belabour the notion that their ‘Maxlife’ foam is “more sustainable”. Sure - it’s “more sustainable” than regular foam, since it degrades by 75% within 1 year in an anaerobic environment. But the “unvarnished truth” is that such a designation is meaningless since anaerobic digesters and landfills are not common and degrading by only that much isn’t much help.

My overall take home message is this: it took me about 15 minutes to do some research and to hop around a few reliable websites (the National Cancer Institute, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Institute of Health). So stop taking stupid documents that are published by places like Florists Review as the truth. Do some digging. Ask questions. Get off your ass and do the work. It’s just not that hard. And for f**k’s sake stop using IG as your one-stop-shop for truth.

08/16/2023

So pleased to celebrate the last day of with some of the cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers that I work with . Today we created gorgeous garden-inspired arrangements using flowers from Sheila , some BC grown mums (brought by one of our participants), and some random bits and bobs from my gardens. No floral foam (obvi) and the group had a fun time using chicken wire and interesting vessels they brought from home.

Horticultural therapy is something that has been part of my work since 2008. And - in addition to offering that offers cognitive, physical, and emotional benefits for patients - it also fills me with tremendous joy.

Here’s to local, seasonal flowers and all the power they have to create beauty, support healing, and provide a respite from what feels like such a complicated world some days.

08/13/2023

SUSTAINABILITY SUNDAY
Midway through Canadian Flowers Week has me thinking about not only the importance of slowing down, but also the climate significance of making slow choices when it comes to our flowers.

Trite as it may sound, we live in a fast-paced world where we have pretty much everything we could ever want at our fingertips. One quick click of the mouse and we can have anything our heart desires delivered straight to our door (sometimes in record speed). Often, these kind of choices make sense. Places like Amazon can be a lifeline for rural communities, for example. But the costs associated with our demand for whatever we want (whenever we want it) are grave. Carbon emissions, depletion of natural resources, and waterborne and solid wastes associated with manufacturing all have adverse effects on the environment. And the social costs associated with mass production and shipping can adversely affect individuals and communities throughout the supply chains.

In the case of flowers, we see these adverse consequences of mass consumption play out on a global scale.

One thing is for certain: choosing locally grown, seasonal flowers helps to alleviate the environmental burden associated with floristry. And this is a choice that so many of us can make. It just requires us to rethink the way we do business. The way we respond to requests. And the way we think about flowers. Lofty? Perhaps. But totally doable.

08/06/2023

SUSTAINABILITY SUNDAY

Canadian Flowers Week starts later this week - the perfect time to contemplate the significance of local and seasonal flowers.

For me, seasonality transcends “current” or relevant botanicals. It provides a way to ground us in the present and creates a way to relate to our surroundings that is biologically and culturally meaningful.

When I used to work as a horticultural therapist at our local children’s hospital, seasonality was an important part of my work. Not only did seasonality in the garden provide a way to ground patients with, for example, a brain injury in time and place, but it also provided a way to connect cognitive tasks to specific time periods.

Research has shown that seasons correspond to annual environmental fluctuations to which humans have adapted. Accordingly, our brains have adapted as well. Besides temperature and hours of daylight, some of the most significant seasonal cues for humans come from our botanical environment: what is blooming at any given time.

Seasonality helps to ground us in the present. And relate to our environment in ways that can provide sustenance, beauty, and clues as to what might lie ahead.

Seasonal flowers do just this for us: they ground us in time and place. They provide a meaningful and ecologically relevant way to engage with our environment. Stated more simply: they just make sense.

This week and every week - let us celebrate seasonal flowers that we can grow where we are.

Canadian Flowers Week runs from August 10-16 and we invite you to showcase what you are growing across this beautiful country. Snap a pic or video of your creation, and post it to instagram adding as a collaborator OR simply DM us the photo with a little caption for us to post in our feed. Please identify the flowers you included and your location including province or territory.
And prepare to be staggered by the bounty of our badass land!

08/04/2023

WE'RE TRANSFORMING OUR GRID INTO A CANADIAN FLOWER FIELD 💐 August 10-16th 💐 We want to flood the insta flower feed with locally grown-flowers from across our big, beautiful country. Join our takeover!

Throughout the week we invite you to celebrate Canadian Flowers Week and help us share a bird's eye view of high summer's flower fields across Canada:

1. Growers: make a bouquet that features flowers from your field/greenhouse. Florists: make a bouquet from whatever locally grown product you have in your fridge.
2. Snap a pic or video of your creation, and post it to instagram adding as a collaborator* OR simply DM us the photo with a little caption for us to post in our feed. Please identify the flowers you included and your location including province or territory.
3. Prepared to be staggered by the bounty of our badass land!

That's it! Super simple.

*To add as a collaborator, on the final screen before adding a post, there is an option below "tag people" to "add a collaborator". Adding this account will let us easily share your post!

NOTE: If you are hosting an event or making an installation or have something special planned, make sure to tag CFW in your posts and stories so that we can reshare them. And we love hashtags, here are some you can use:

Pictured here: a mix of dahlia, hydrangea, yarrow, Sanguisorba, Astrantia, allium, begonia, and Baptista foliage.

Prairie Girl Flowers

08/03/2025

05/30/2025

12/17/2024

08/16/2024

08/10/2024

03/10/2024

01/29/2024

01/25/2024

08/16/2023

08/13/2023

08/06/2023

08/04/2023

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category