The Best Local Blooms

One of the ways I survive hard winters is by finding a place to score some colorful cheer! Throughout my time in the city I've bumped into a few shops I treasure and some tips that make blooms last longer. It is so therapeutic to me when I take a moment to put together a few fresh buds that I know will liven up my home and create a cozy space. As always, you have to start off knowing where to find the freshest flowers and I have a few recommendations for you! So whether you're assembling a gift for a friend or just celebrating waking up this morning, take a peek and give me a holler when you pay them a visit!

One I will rave about for quite possibly FOREVER, is Steve's Flower Market. I love walking in here any day. Their fresh floral selection is a rival to none and their gorgeous array of vases and friendly faces around always makes me feel at home. Just off of the Grand bus in West Town, consider stopping here before celebrating that friend in West Loop. Just picture how cool you'd be walking in with a fresh bouquet for the occasion.

Okay, this one is hard to track down. Their website doesn't link to the right location, they have funny weekend hours but my friend, they are well worth it. Knowledgeable staff and willing to work with any budget, it is rare that flowers from anywhere else smell this good for so long. Cattails Inc had 2 locations and I originally stumbled on their Wicker Park location but they've since moved to their Lincoln Park storefront. Give them a visit! You won't regret it.

Back in the day when I used to teach, one sweet family dropped off a care package from Sprout Home. I was obsessed and still make regular trips to their shop to view all the design eye candy. It is not for those with a small budget but there are workable pieces! I invested in a few things that I'm still using to this day.

You wouldn't be on Safe Haven In The City if I didn't tell you about a few of my favorites that give back, too! Flowers 4 Good is serious in their endeavors and their story is just as inspiring as their mission statement. "Flowers for the people. Using business as a force for good. Good jobs, good blooms, and a portion of profit for our community." They decided to provide a unique suite of organic bouquets, fair and honest prices, and a model where each purchase would benefit a local charity. The unique stems are sourced fresh daily from local wholesalers and farms across Illinois and Wisconsin, sold online for just $35 with free delivery to Chicago. Every single bouquet sold benefits an amazing local charity - 25% of all their flower profits to a rotating group of amazing charities in the community.

About this time last year I was visiting a certain Glossier pop-up and bumped into Youth and Yarrow. A cute and relatively new floral truck to the Chicago scene, I was so excited to hear about their mission as a women-owned company. Their design eye and cute as a button truck assured me that I'd be seeing much more of them. And I have! Everyone seems to be partnering with them these days. How could you not? Take a peek at their mission: "Providing quality floral products and services while supporting and radically changing the future of Chicago high school students. We offer paid internships, job experience, mentorship and scholarships. 15% of profits go towards making these jobs and scholarship opportunities a reality." Holler!

Alright, let's get real. When it comes to creating your own bouquet it's a little overwhelming, right? How do I pick a palette? What blooms work together? What's the purpose of greenery/filler? Trust me, as long as you're having fun and taking the risk of seeing what meshes together and what may not, you can't go wrong! Choosing from a shop that shows care for their flowers by persevering freshly trimmed stems in room temp water or caring for those extra sensitive blooms in a cold case truly takes your bouquet to the next level. You can't go wrong here!

And if you happen to stop by a farmer's market (as Chicago has MANY.) sneak over to the floral booths. They're my favorite! Got something to add? Shoot me a message or add a comment! I would love to hear from you.

CHEERS from C H I C A G O,