Mermaid City Flowers

09/02/2025

Guess what? It’s September, and it actually feels like September!

What are you doing this weekend? Oh, you’re planning to come to my Garden to Vase Workshop but haven’t registered yet? Not to tell you what to do, but I’d highly suggest wrapping that up in the next day or two so I can cut enough beautiful blooms for your arrangement. Register at mermaidcityflowers.com.

And then in a few weeks, come back for our Fall Studio Open House on Sept 20. I’ll be outside with Sprout, slinging bouquets, and the whole Studio on Colley gang will be here:
-Kate with incredible new art
-Sarah with her addictive charm bar
-Jennifer with fine art photography, handmade jewelry + textiles
-Alexis with all sorts of goodies (including her signature fall candle)

Mark your calendars and I’ll see you soon!

08/27/2025

The sweetest florals for the sweetest couple. Inspired by the latest celebrity engagement photos making the rounds? We’ve got you covered. 📷

08/26/2025

Happening tomorrow in Norfolk!

🌸 Nosh & Knowledge: August Edition 🌸
Wednesday, Aug 27 | 5–7 PM | FREE

RSVPs are appreciated so we can have enough apps + bevs 🍷

This month we’re thrilled to welcome Mermaid City Flowers and its inspiring founder, Dee Hall Goodwin — an urban flower farmer, sustainable florist, and passionate advocate for native plants. Dee’s artistry goes far beyond the bouquet, weaving in storytelling, education, and community building.

She’s also the founder of Black Flower Farmers and the Tidewater Flower Collective, with her work featured by PBS, NPR, Garden & Gun, and Country Living Magazine.

Come for the flowers, stay for the conversation. 🌿

📍 The Redefinery
📅 Wednesday, Aug 27 | 5–7 PM
🔗 RSVP link in bio

08/18/2025

It’s no secret that I love the Pacific Northwest. Western Washington is home to one of my best friends (we met as mommy bloggers 16 years ago ), and I’m profoundly taken by any place where the mountains meet the sea. Maybe because it reminds me so much of St. Lucia.

It’s funny how time and fate pull you toward people and places you never expected to feel like home, but they do. I never imagined I’d end up a flower farmer with both personal and professional connections here that keep me coming back. And every visit, without fail, someone asks when I’m making the move.

This trip was no different and so, I’m sharing some floral things that caught my eye, like the dahlias from Angel Crest Gardens outside of Port Angeles where I got a tour and met the farmer. Not pictured (because carousels aren’t the best for it) is time with Emily , my longtime bestie, and Anne of .dahlia.house , who happens to be friends with Emily. I think it’s wild how many connections I’ve ended up having in a little town north of Seattle most people haven’t even heard of.

Anyway, here’s my PNW floral photo dump.

08/13/2025

Flowers, appetizers, beverages, giveaways, discounts—all while surrounded by new, vintage and on trend consigned furniture. ❤️

Dee Hall Goodwin is the owner of Mermaid City Flowers, an urban flower farm and floral design studio in Norfolk, VA. A sustainable foam-free florist and advocate for native plants, Dee blends floral artistry with storytelling, education, and community building.

Dee will show us how to create beautiful arrangements in consigned vases and vessels. 😍 Leaning right into our ‘sustainable gifting’ vibe!

A mid-week, end of the month treat for yourself! Extra giveaway tickets when you RSVP and bring friends! Can you guess what the giveaways might be? 😉

08/12/2025

The latest newsletter is out! I’m taking a little break this week on the Pacific Northwest coast, but I’ve got big things planned for September + October:
🌿 Garden to Vase – Sept 6
🍵 Sprout + Sip – Oct 11
💐 Grocery Store Glow-Up – Oct 26

Read it here + make sure you’re on the list so you don’t miss the next one. https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?e=bc8718c089&u=c8eabba125361636abf080814&id=829371de45

08/04/2025

When the kids say “you ate,” I don’t think they meant dirt in the teeth in the backyard at 6 AM. But that’s exactly how my Saturday started. I missed a step, went down hard, and my life flashed before my eyes, but I still made setup on time.💅🏾

Thankfully, that was the only misstep. (the jokes write themselves when you’re clumsy) The wedding was beautiful, the arch came out just right, and the Mermaid City Flowers team handled it all like pros. Shoutout to my favorite planners, seen here, for making the day seamless.

Today was for recycling what we could, composting the rest, and resetting with a little studio time. Here’s to a week of playing in the dirt, not eating it.😝

07/27/2025

✨July Recap
ASCFG brought reconnection, inspiration, and a grant win for ! Back home, I’m deep in fall prep and already planting with 2026 weddings in mind.

Workshops are up, talks are on deck, and Sprout & Sip is coming soon.

Read the full update at the link in bio.

07/15/2025

It’s been a few years since I did an intro post so… Hi, I’m Dee!
I’m an urban flower farmer and floral designer based in Norfolk, VA. I grow seasonal flowers on borrowed plots throughout the city, focusing on native plants and sustainable, foam-free designs that feel natural, textured, and personal.

You can usually find me in the studio, hosting workshops, or out with Sprout, my electric flower truck bringing local blooms to weddings, events, and more.

When I’m not growing or designing, I’m building spaces for others in this work. I founded Black Flower Farmers, a collective supporting Black growers, and the Tidewater Flower Collective, a local group focused on fellowship and resource sharing.

If you’re new here, welcome! Are you planning an event, looking for flowers, or just love seeing what’s in season?

⋒⋒⋒

07/10/2025

My heart is full and my belly still hurts from laughing. I just spent a few days in Asheville at first-ever floral design intensive, and it was incredible, especially sharing it with my family!

Joining ASCFG and founding Black Flower Farmers are two of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Both groups are filled with community, inspiration, and the kind of connections that remind me why I do this work. 💕💕.....

06/16/2025

It’s not the flowers that make market day a success, it’s the people. Thank you for showing up and supporting Mermaid City Flowers. Now more than ever, we need to lean into community, and you all do that for me every time. I hope I do the same for you.

In a sweet full-circle moment, Christine from stopped by to see Sprout, and I realized everything I had on was purchased within a 1-mile radius of .studio.on.colley:
👗 Dress:
💍 Ring:
✨ Earrings:

All women-owned, all small businesses, all supporting local makers. Love that for us. 💕

06/05/2025

Sprout’s back and she’s bringing flowers! .studio.on.colley is hosting a Summer Open House next Saturday (June 14, 12–4 PM), and you’re invited. Come say hi, grab a bouquet, and explore our space plus shop offerings from my talented studio mates: original art, handcrafted jewelry, fine art prints, and gorgeous home décor.

Preorders are open now for local delivery on Wednesday + Thursday next week, perfect if you can’t make it Saturday or just want your flowers early.

📍 Studio Open House: Saturday, June 14 | 12–4 PM
🚚 Local delivery: Wednesday + Thursday
🛒 Preorder via my website (or drop me a message!)

Tag a flower-loving friend, save this post, and we’ll see you soon 🌸