We care about People, Nature, and Beauty,
and we think you do too.
Our mission is to delight our clients and create custom, memorable florals that silhouette life's most meaningful moments.
We see flowers as a conduit for expressing the most elevated part of humanity: our presence with each other.
We care about our neighbors and our community. We design, plant, and harvest with intention. As a gift back, we maintain two free vegetable patches for our urban farm neighbors.
It's about People.
It's about Nature.
80% of cut flowers in the US come from abroad, mostly grown with heavy pesticide use, are flown here (yes, airplanes), trucked to refrigerated warehouses and stores where many go to waste. There is a better way.
Our sustainable DESIGN practices include:
-Sourcing local flowers when possible
-Using alternatives to floral foam
-Composting all organic waste
Our sustainable FARM practices include:
-Planting drought-tolerant species including many natives
-Using low-impact drip irrigation
-Companion planting and cover cropping
-Using organic fertilizers including local compost
-Employing low-till methods to protect soil health and microbial diversity
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It's about Beauty.
I am entranced by how beautiful flowers can be. The first time I worked with wedding florals, I felt like I didn't need to eat, drink, or sleep, as long as I could keep working with the flowers. I still get the same flower buzz every time I work on an event! Some of the best cut flowers grow locally and have a great vase life but do not ship well, which is why you never see them in stores. We use the finest local flowers available by season, including many that we grow on our urban micro farm. They are super fresh and they reflect the unique FLORA here in Charlottesville season by season.
Hi, I'm Hope.
My earliest flower memory is our neighbor handing me a floppy, fragrant garden rose over the fence. There was bright sunlight reflecting off every surface and I can still see the warm copper color of the anthers.
Years later, after studying architecture at UVA, I worked in residential design-build but always had at least a small garden that served as a reprieve from the computer, sawdust, and nail guns.
I discovered my passion for creating event florals helping my mother-in-laa seasoned floral designer) with some family weddings and honed my skills as a freelancer.
I quickly noticed an overlap from architectural design: scale, form, texture, movement, and color. I adored the ephemeral, circular nature of it: going from vision to manifestation to compost and back to the earth. I started FLORA in 2023 as a more fulfilling and less toxic occupation than renovating old houses. It's still a lot of work but oh. so. beautiful. Whether it's a bouquet or event design, I would love to share this passion with you!