It was a happy encounter this week—my garden and Alicia’s desire to use all dried flowers and grasses in her wedding bouquets and arrangements; even her bridal bouquet. She will be married in a redwood forest in the Santa Cruz Mountains next month. The practical and the comely join hands as she envisions the day.

Alicia and I connected through Buy Nothing Ocean Beach South, a Facebook group. We had the best time chatting and cutting as we gathered dried materials for several hours, then loaded them in her truck.

There was lavender, native California sage and buckwheat, yarrow, statice, eleagnus, phlomis, scabiosa, dianella, heavenly bamboo and various grasses and seed pods.

At home, Alicia hung the flowers and grasses to dry. She says her house smells amazing. With friends she’ll make the bouquets and that will be another memorable time. I can hardly wait to see the wedding photos.