Katherine Anderson of Garden Design Magazine went to Paris and soaked up all the beautiful sights and scents and flavors. When she arrived home, she captured her memories not in a scrapbook, but in a bouquet …

Katherine is the owner of Marigold & Mint, an organic farm/shop/floral studio in Seattle, and her Notes From A Flower Farm column for Garden Design is always fascinating. I was especially impressed by "The Flowers of Paris", in which she describes the elements of Paris that inspired her bouquet.

For example …

• The traditional Parisian-blue paint led her to use lovely blue columbine.
• A neon green tin of Lily-of-the-Valley tea (Lily-of-the-Valley items are a traditional springtime gift) is evoked by vibrant Lady's Mantle.
• The layering she saw in Paris, both in the floral displays in shops, and in the design of parks & gardens, is echoed in the discreet vertical layers of her arrangement.

So smart! Have you ever created an unexpected souvenir of a trip? A quilt about a camping trip? An island get-away, captured in a cocktail?

Images: Katherine Anderson