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Join Us in the Lavender Fields June 24

Lavender is more than a color and a distinctive aroma. In fact, it’s more than a single flower – it’s in a genus of 47 known species of flowering plants growers know as mint.

That may be news to you, but this is just the tip of the stalk when it comes to understanding this glorious flower that’s grown at Destiny Hill Farm in Washington, Pennsylvania.

 

Flower farmers Jim and Nancy Cameron converted their family farm to a lavender field in 2011 and today are proud to share their magical farm and talk about their adventure at the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner on June 24.

Dinner guests will enjoy an artisanal meal surrounded by wildly fragrant lavender and like-minded flower aficionados while learning about the value of Certified American Grown Flowers.

Plus, you’ll be awe-struck when you see the arrangements from floral designer Francoise Weeks of European Floral Design who plans to adorn the dining table with beautiful American grown flowers.

 

 

Reserve your seat today!

What are you waiting for? Reserve your seat at the table and be sure to make it a complete floral experience by participating in a hands-on design workshop with floral designer Francoise Weeks where you will learn more about her beautiful and unique style.

Workshop sessions begin Friday, June 23 and continue on Saturday, June 24, prior to the dinner. You’ll find an option to add her workshop once you choose your dinner tickets.

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Designer Dubbed ‘Mother Nature’ Will Work Her Magic at Washington, Penn., Dinner

Francois Weeks To Bring Unique Flair to F2V Tables

When Francoise Weeks arrived in the United States in 1976, she packed along fond memories of helping her mother decorate their home in Antwerp, Belgium, with flowers and experience working in a florist’s shop. She fully intended to live the American dream by continuing to pursue her love of flowers in her new Portland, Oregon, home.

But life doesn’t always run in a straight line, so it was 20 years before she opened her own floral design business, European Floral Design, aimed at weddings. Today, consumers, artists and industry reviewers alike delight in her organic floral art, which is ripe with texture from pods, lichens, moss, herbs, berries, branches, buds.

In other words, a woodland style and the perfect complement to the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner in Washington, Pennsylvania, on June 24, when the lavender fields are in full bloom.

It’s a textural experience that reaches far beyond visual beauty and a satisfying meal. As Weeks puts it, “If a man has two pennies, he should spend one on a loaf of bread to sustain his life and the other on a flower to give him a reason to live.”

 

To this end, some of her most surprising pieces are wearable jewelry, pairing beauty with the human spirit. It’s no wonder Florist Review dubbed her “Mother Nature.”

Weeks has taught at Flower School Cohim in China, the Academy of Floral Art in Exeter, England, studios in Australia and Mexico, workshops at Mayesh and Florabundance and the La Jolla and Memphis garden clubs – proof of how lucky we are to have her on the dinner tour!

Field to Vase attendees have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on design workshop side by side with Weeks to learn more about her unique style. These sessions begin Friday, June 23 and continue on Saturday, June 24, prior to the dinner.

The workshop is limited to 12 students, so register now by adding the workshop at checkout!

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It Was A Magical Experience At The Flower Fields

Guests Enjoyed A Beautiful Evening At The American Grown Field to Vase Dinner In Carlsbad

Magical.

That pretty much sums up this year’s American Grown Field to Vase Dinner experience at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad. Over 150,000 people will tour The Flower Fields this year, but only our sold-out crowd of 175 people were the lucky few who enjoyed a wonderful dinner by Chef John Miller of Bistro West while overlooking a sea of ranunculus that seemed to trail off into the Pacific Ocean.

The “Flower Chef,” Carly Cylinder, and her team of designers, had guests in awe with their towering designs of greenery, which also served as an enchanting canopy over the table filled with American Grown Flowers. Carly shared her passion for designing with American Grown Flowers with the crowd and went live on Facebook with American Grown Flowers social media guru Niesha Blancas.

F2V’s Niesha Blancas interviews designer Carly Cylinder about what inspired her tablescape.

Flower farmer Mike Anthony Mellano of Mellano & Company provided a special group of guests with a bonus farm tour that took people through the 50-acre farm as Mike explained the growing process and his love for flower farming. Mike highlighted the unique and very special relationship the Mellano family has with the Ecke family, and how their partnership has worked to produce such a special farm for the public to experience and enjoy.

Certified American Grown’s Administrator Kasey Cronquist kicked-off the evening’s festivities by welcoming guests to a reception in front of the Paul Ecke Jr. Barn where they were treated to passed appetizers, wine from the Wine Militia and beer from Oceanside’s Legacy Brewery. Guests were also invited to try their hand at the self-serve “boutonniere bar” before heading up to the table in the middle of the beautiful ranunculus.

As the sun set over the Pacific Ocean and conversations between friends and new friends continued, you couldn’t help but bask in the appreciation of why origin matters.

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Returning To Carpinteria

Before We Head Off To Carlsbad, Let's Look Back On One Amazing Night at Gallup & Stribling Orchids

A beautiful tablescape of Certified American Grown Flowers designed by Debi Lilly at Gallup & Stribling Orchids.

Tomorrow, we will be breaking bread in the middle of the beautiful ranunculus in The Flower Fields of Carlsbad, but before we go there, we want to take you back to Carpinteria to share with you all of the amazing images photographer Linda Blue captured that evening among the orchids.

Debi Lilly had her hands full while designing with some amazing Certified American Grown orchids at Gallup & Stribling Orchids in Carpinteria, California.

Gallup & Stribling Orchids played host to a magical evening on its farm, and Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event shared her passion and talent with a beautifully designed tablescape. It was a sold-out event with guests enjoying a wonderfully prepared farm-to-fork meal by Rincon Beach Club & Catering’s chefs Ron True and Jose Garcia.

Chef Ron True (far right) and Chef Jose Garcia with Rincon Beach Club & Catering provided guests with an outstanding dining experience.

Certified American Flower farmers and father-and-son duo Alex and Case Van Wingerden were gracious hosts, providing an hour-long tour of their farm to guests who wanted that extra time and experience with the flower farmer discussing orchid growing and answering questions.

Alex and Case Van Wingerden of Gallup & Stribling Orchids were hosts to a sold-out crowd on their farm in Carpinteria, California.

A big thank you to our spirits sponsor Cutler’s Artisan Spirits of Santa Barbara. They greeted our guests with some extra-special tastings of their finest artisan spirits. Guests also enjoyed beer from Santa Barbara’s Captain Fatty’s Craft Brewery.

An American Grown Field to Vase Dinner would not be complete without the accompaniment of great wine, and we enjoyed some amazing pairings from Margerum Wine Company. A big thank you to Brooks Van Wingerden of Margerum Wine Company for joining us and walking our guests through each pairing.

We have a wonderful album of more photos from Carpinteria on our Flickr page. Check them out here:

2017 Carpinteria Field To Vase Dinner

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Sign Up For F2V’s Alaskan Travel Tips!

Turn Your Field to Vase Dinner Tour Experience Into a Full Alaskan Adventure

The American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour is a special event in itself, but this July, we are taking the adventure to the next level with a stop in Homer, Alaska, and we want you to be prepared!

Alaska’s peonies are something to behold! Imagine yourself surrounded by them while dining with fellow flower aficionados in the peony fields in July.

You’ll have the chance to wine and dine among the blooming fields at Scenic Place Peonies farm beside the Kachemak Bay and set against the mountain backdrop that is central Alaska. It’s a dream come true for every flower aficionado in the country.

But a journey to Homer involves so much more, and requires a bit of planning – after all, there are a limited number of daily flights into Alaska and a bit of additional travel planning will be necessary to secure your accommodations and join us at Scenic Place Peonies.

Over the next several days we’ll be providing a series of travel tips, lodging suggestions and adventure ideas for guests who have already purchased their dinner tickets. For those still considering a trip to Alaska, you can sign up for these tips, too!

Just under 50 seats remain for this amazing experience, so make sure you book your dinner tickets today!

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Design With “The Flower Chef”

Carly Cylinder To Host Design Workshop At The Flower Fields

Flower Chef Carly Cylinder will dazzle our F2V guests with her amazing floral talents. Be sure to check out her workshop too!

The American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour will make its annual stop at The Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California, April 20. Guests will enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime, dining overlooking the Pacific Ocean, touring the farm with flower farmer Mike A. Mellano of Mellano & Company while enjoying floral tablescapes created by Carly Cylinder, “The Flower Chef.”

Carly is the author of “The Flower Chef: A Modern Guide to Do-It-Yourself Arrangements,” named one of the best books of 2016 by Amazon Books. She’s been featured in magazines including InStyle, Rachel Ray, Family Circle, US Weekly and more.

Her full-service floral design studio, Flour LA, specializes in events for the beauty, fashion and tech industries. And Carly also caters to a long list of celebrities.

Carly’s “On the Farm” Design Workshop!

Why not take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and join Carly April 20 for a hands-on floral design workshop where you’ll help create the arrangements that will be the stars of the show at dinner that night?

You’ll also create your own glorious flower crown to wear or take home. Along the way, Carly will teach you about flower prep and care, along with fundamental design techniques that can be used in any floral design style. You’ll leave with a your crown and an arrangement!

Be sure to add this workshop when you reserve your seat at dinner. There’s only space for 40 guests, so register today!

And remember, tickets to the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour at The Flower Fields are going to go fast.  There are just 150 seats at the dinner table and they will sell out in advance, so reserve your seats today!

 

 

Imagine dining amongst the rows and rows of beautiful flowers in Carlsbad on April 20th. Click to Save Your Seats!

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Meet Celebrity Floral Designer and ‘Oprah Winfrey Show’ Alum At Our Dinner In Carpinteria

Debi Lilly To Create the Beautiful Tablescape at Gallup & Stribling Orchids

We are thrilled to have celebrity designer and party planner Debi Lilly as our featured F2V floral designer for the night!

Celebrity designer and party planner, Debi Lilly is the featured floral designer for the upcoming American Grown Field to Vase Dinner in Carpinteria, California on March 30.

Named Oprah’s “Favorite Party Pro,” Debi was part of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for more than 10 years and has dedicated her career to inspiring and educating flower enthusiasts all over the world.

The setting for Debi’s floral designs, a glorious greenhouse at Gallup & Stribling Orchids, couldn’t be more perfect. Overlooking the ocean and just minutes from Santa Barbara, this beautiful location will provide the perfect backdrop for Debi’s designs.

Debi’s five-star client list for her firm, A Perfect Event, includes brands like Harry Winston, Cartier, Bulgari and Lamborghini – all of which have high expectations for their floral designs  – and so do our F2V guests!  And on March 30, you won’t be disappointed.

It’s an orchid-lovers dream! Gallup & Stribling Orchids opens its greenhouse doors for our guests to experience exotic flowers … F2V style!

Experience Debi’s Workshop!

Can’t get enough of the talents of our featured designer? You’re in luck! Debi will offer a floral design workshop from 9 a.m. to noon before the F2V dinner, so don’t forget to add the workshop to your American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour experience at checkout.

 

You’ll learn about the season’s top trends for Easter, Mother’s Day, graduation and more for gift giving, styling your home and setting the table. In just three hours, you’ll get a ton of tips and tricks for creating Debi’s grocery-to-gorgeous designs. Seating is limited.

Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind Field to Vase Dinner in Carpinteria on March 30.  Tickets are going fast, so reserve your seat today!

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Kick Off Spring With Dinner in a California Orchid Greenhouse

Tickets Are On Sale NOW!

The words “magical” and “enchanting” come to mind when we talk about what a dinner in an orchid greenhouse is like. A select few had the chance to experience such an evening two years ago when the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour was last in Carpinteria. Now, we’re back, and this year’s Field to Vase (F2V) dinner promises to provide the same intoxicating experience for guests.

A shot at our last Carpinteria dinner. We are excited to be back for an orchid lovers dream!

Join us for an unforgettable spring evening at Gallup & Stribling Orchids in Carpinteria, California, on Thursday, March 30. Just a few miles south of Santa Barbara, Gallup & Stribling Orchids holds a special distinction as one of a handful of

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Setting a record high at Len Busch Roses

The Field to Vase Dinner Tour kicks off the 2017 season and brings a little spring to chilly Plymouth, Minnesota this past weekend

The cold temperatures outside were quickly forgotten when the 2017 American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour launched last weekend inside the greenhouses at Len Busch Roses in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Towering centerpieces galore! The tablescape at Len Busch Roses was nothing short of FABULOUS!

The dynamic duo of flower farmer Patrick Busch of Len Busch Roses and featured floral designer Sandy Schroeck of Trend On Design challenged themselves by striving to host the “Best Dinner in F2V History.”.

Busch welcomed F2V guests into the greenhouses at Len Busch Roses to experience the peak of

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Martha Stewart Blog Gives Flower Farm Dinners the Nod

Save Your Seat for First Dinner March 11

When you get a nod from the blog of lifestyle expert, Martha Stewart, you know you’re onto something! Stewart recently included the American Grown Field to Vase Dinner Tour in her blog, saying the tour is “setting a new standard for garden parties.”

Click to read the entire blog post.

Noting that the best part of the dinners is the stunning setting in a field of flowers, she also acknowledged each stop on the tour includes a locally sourced meal, libations, a flower farm tour and an impeccably decorated table.

American Grown Flowers are the focus of these amazing dinners on the nation’s most beautiful flower farms.

Why not take Stewart up on her suggestion and register now for the first dinner on the tour – March 11 at Len Busch Roses in Plymouth, Minnesota.

“Every dinner will surely bring something unique to the table – both in terms of flowers, food and learning,” the blog continues.

Don’t miss this amazing dinner. Save your seats today!

Enjoy an artisan dinner, created by Minnesota’s own Common Roots Catering, in the warmth of a newly remodeled tulip greenhouse surrounded by fragrant flowers, music and guests like yourself who appreciate not only the beauty of American Grown Flowers, but the growing movement among consumers for more local American Grown Flowers, like those grown by Len Busch Roses.

Join us for the experience of a lifetime!