ABOUT
My name is Ashlee and I am the brains behind Belmont Flowers and Gardening. After getting a degree in apparel design and spending 8 years in the design industry - I began to pivot my creative passions into flowers. Growing, arranging, admiring, you name it. I grew up around gardens; the curated flower gardens of my maternal grandmother, or the functional and sustaining vegetable garden of my paternal grandmother, my grandfathers meticulous rose garden or my mom and dads flower and tomato garden. I came to realize that I feel my most calm with my hands in the dirt. I am most inspired by the miracle of growing itself. How something so small can grow into the most beautiful bloom or vegetable. With the help of my husband we bring all these amazing flowers to life.
FLOWERS
I have loved flowers my whole life. I could always be found picking a small bundle and putting them in a cup inside the house. That quickly turned into a lot of my design projects being inspired by flowers and constantly buying grocery store flowers. I believe that flowers are such a personal experience. It's not just about the large scale wedding floral industry, but about how you can bring joy to those around you with flowers. I love hearing why someone is buying a bouquet - whether for a friend, a family member, a celebration or just a personal pick me up. I love the smile that happens after you walk by your bouquet and get a wiff of the good scents or just admire a bloom you didn't notice before. Those small moments are what makes flowers special. I am fiercely passionate about local flowers and sustainable growing and am learning every day. My style is whimsical with a cottage garden feel - taking my eye for design and applying it to floral palettes and arrangements.
VEGETABLES
There are two distinct memories I have growing up as it relates to vegetable gardens. The first - eating the first garden fresh cucumber sandwich of the summer and fresh blackberries in our morning cereal. The second - sitting on the front porch of my grandparents farm as my grandmother snapped green beans. I can remember the scent vividly. The first opportunity I had to plant my own vegetables I did. I had one pot, one tomato plant and probably only 4 tomatoes the whole summer. But i was hooked. Since then I have grown into my passion for growing vegetables and being empowered, and empowering others to grow their own food. Even if it is just herbs in your backyard or balcony. The taste, the smells, the colors, and most of all - the sense of accomplshment is like nothing else. My hope is to bring that passion to others and help them be successful on their own vegetable garden journey. Including the best part - cooking with them!
