Sometimes a new hobby or skill can come about unexpectedly. In this week’s feature, Carly Gee, a pressed flower artist and the creator of The Dandelion Fox, shares her story of what happened after an image on Pinterest inspired her to begin pressing flowers. It reminds us that wonderful things are out there; we just haven’t learned about them (or grown them) yet.

We’ve included links to some of the flowers mentioned and shown in this article for those interested in growing, pressing, and creating their own floral creations.

**The Dandelion Fox: What’s in a name?**

When we asked Carly if there is an explanation behind her whimsical business name, she expressed,
“I feel a special connectedness to foxes, and consider them my animal essence. For my first tattoo years ago, I got a red fox with a fluffy dandelion in its mouth on my arm. This tattoo has always represented me, in a sense.
When I first began pressing flowers, **dandelion seed heads** quickly became one of my favorites to use in my art. As I was dreaming of business names, ‘The Dandelion Fox’ naturally felt like who I was and am. “
Photo courtesy of The Dandelion Fox

Planted as Seedlings

Like many of us, Carly’s fondness for gardens began early on. “My love and passion for flowers and plants stemmed from growing up with a nature-loving, garden growing family. Years ago, I decided to start growing my own small flower garden. While doing some research online, a Pinterest link on ‘pressing flowers’ caught my eye. From there, I went down a rabbit hole experimenting with the process through lots of trial and error. It absolutely blew my mind that through this process, I could keep alive the fleeting moments in my garden! Pressing flowers quickly became a passion, which later bloomed into my business, The Dandelion Fox.”

Carly expanded her work and began helping others hold onto their own floral memories.

“Bouquet preservation took root a few years later when a friend asked me to press their cousin’s wedding bouquet as a keepsake. Since sharing on social media, friends and couples from around the U.S. began booking their bouquet to be lovingly pressed and framed.”

Anemones are one of many types of flowers that are stunning both fresh and pressed. View Halden’s Anemone selection here.

Many flowers.jpg — **A Place of Inspiration**

**“I love being in my garden, and local community gardens when in bloom!**“ Carly passionately explains.
“Being amongst the vibrant, **thriving variety of plants and pollinators always sends me home** with a head full of flowery ideas.
My intention when creating my pressed ‘flowerscapes’ is to mirror **a homegrown, wild and bountiful garden**. I find inspiration in nature, and love incorporating companion plants and color grouping into my own work. You’ll also find me on hiking trails that promise wildflowers for inspiration.”
Photo courtesy of The Dandelion Fox

The Dandelion Fox Favorites

So you might be asking, what does a talented and nature-loving artist grow and use most often?

“I find myself favoring the use of medicinal plants, like yarrow, lavender, calendula, lemon balm, borage, echinacea, etc. in my work as much as I can. I think their magical healing powers speak to me, and do the same for others. Daisies and cosmos always end up in my pieces, too! I love their familiar shape, and that they bloom in so many different colors and sizes. Not to mention, they are easy to grow!”

Click on the following to view our available plants: Yarrow, Calendula, Lemon Balm, Cosmos

**Garden of Color**

Carly continues, “When admiring a garden, **color might be one of the first things that catches your eye.** Those **contrasting, vibrant hues invite you in for a closer inspection.** As you are planning your garden’s layout, **color grouping** may be something to consider. Color grouping is when you plan your garden and/or a garden bed around a color palette, grouping certain colored plants together or beside their complementary color. This creates **an unforgettable, and unique show of color in your garden!”**
Photo courtesy of The Dandelion Fox

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Carly’s use of different plants together in her compositions are stunning. Together the colors and shapes build something greater than anything could alone.

“Recently, my favorite pieces are from the collection of handmade, walnut and maple frames built by my Dad. I completed them with flowers my Mom and I grew at our home or picked wild near me. This collection of work truly feels like a walk in our backyard. It is such a remarkable experience to hold up one of my frames and be brought back to the memories behind each pressed plant. Sometimes, I add a naturally-expired butterfly or moth that I found to my pressed flower art. When I do, they always end up my favorites, and hardest to let go!”