How it all began
My name is Natalia Solis Vermette and I am the owner and lead designer of Apothecary Floral.
My flower journey began on a warm September day in Paris. I was determined to create a bouquet to hold for honeymoon photos my husband and I were having taken. I soon realized that this task was not as simple as I originally anticipated. Hours went by and dusk settled; the sunlight that previously streamed through our window was replaced with the light from the Eiffel Tower, illuminating my space. I fussed over the bouquet well into the night, the flowers wilting under stress, browning petals replacing the fresh, vibrant blooms I had begun with. I have thought much of this night and how instead of feeling discouraged, I returned home to Vancouver Island determined to try again. And, so I did - many, many times, until I realized that my life without flowers was simply no life at all.
Philosophy
Throughout my relationship with plants and flowers, I have witnessed their ability to change the energy of a space, mind or body, offering joy and healing simply by existing. My goal in creating art with flowers is to channel my own energy into each design, always remembering who I am creating for and the occasion the flowers will be presented for.
I believe in honouring the flowersโ short life and beautiful cycle from seed to seed. I draw inspiration from the changing seasons - nature's ever-changing colour palette - paintings, music, and above all, the people I am blessed to design for.
My goal is to celebrate each season by highlighting the flowers that grow in the Pacific Northwest. During the months of May through October, nearly all of our flowers are grown by local flower farmers on Vancouver Island. It is our duty to be as delicate as possible on our local ecosystems and that means sourcing flowers that are locally and sustainably grown, at every opportunity.
All of our design is foam-free, and we opt for floral mechanics that can be repurposed time and time again. This keeps floral foam, a known carcinogen, and other single-use plastics out of our landfills, and offers us the freedom of designing with traditional mechanics that produce the airy, garden-inspired, lush arrangements we are known for.
Natalia creates in a private micro-studio located in Saanich, BC, and specializes in weddings, events, editorials and select custom commissions.