Twigs & Blooms Avenue

Happy Saturday Friends!!

This mixed eucalyptus wreath is perfect for brightening up your front door year round. 🌿 Link in stories and bio.

Chad Wright was one of the few people that had a big impact in my life. He was my teacher, mentor, boss and most importantly he was a man that became like family to me.

The year was 2001 and I was 21 years old. I was still trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life, when I discovered The Utah School of Floral Design. I am so grateful that I was able to attend this class and to meet the Wrights. I asked for a job and my adventure started. ❤️

I worked for them for the next 15 years until we moved to Idaho. When I visit with them I always feel like I’m coming home. They changed my life and challenged me to be the best designer that I could be and their example helped me become a better human. Words cannot express the gratitude I have them.
Thank you Chad Wright for giving me an unforgettable adventure. I will miss you. ❤️

Happy Tuesday Friends! We did not get a white Christmas here 🤣 but today it snowed. Here’s a couple of fun captures from my yard. ❄️ I hope you all have a fabulous day! ❄️

My sweet sidekick waiting for me to finish so we can snuggle. 🥰 🐾

Happy Sunday Friends!! Nature can be so captivating and inspirational. 😘

Happy Sunday!! ☀️

Happy Thursday!! My handsome snow dog that also loves his bed and blankie 🤣

Happy November!! I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. It feels like this year has just flown by. I just got this lamb’s ear, cedar and red berry wreath restocked.

There is a local farmer who grows pumpkins just to give away. I came across their FB post and went there to meet these amazing people and to grab a couple of those gorgeous pumpkins. Seriously the nicest people. They loaded me up with several pumpkins. 🎃

I made this bouquet to take back to them as my ‘thank you’ gift. They were thrilled and loaded me up with more pumpkins. 🤣

I plan on sharing the wealth of these pumpkins with some people that could use a little love and attention. 🧡

❤️

Happy Monday!!

Fun Fact Friday!!
Did you know that cattails are edible? Young shoots can be prepared like asparagus, (taste more like a cucumber) but requires a longer cooking time to make them tender. The young stems can be eaten raw or boiled. The lower parts of the leaves can be used in salads. You can also collect the pollen from the male part of the plant to make a protein rich flour for things like biscuits, pancakes or bread.🍞

The cattail nutritional benefits are manganese, vitamin K, magnesium, dietary fibre, iron, vitamin B6 and sodium. Cattails provide skin care, helps in cancer prevention, steady increase in energy, elements that lower cholesterol and that are good for a healthy heart, aids in controlling diabetes, improves digestion, acts as a pain reliever and has natural antiseptic properties. 🍃

The leaves of cattail plant are an excellent source of weaving material that can be used to make floats and rafts, woven into mats, seats, rope, hats, baskets and etc. When the item dries out it will retain its strength. 🧺

The cottony seeds make good pillow stuffing and insulation. The brown flower heads can be dipped in oil or fat and used as torches. Because the insides of the tight brown flower heads stay dry even in heavy rain, pull them apart and use the dry fluffy seeds as a survival tinder and are effective insect repellents when burned. Cattail leaves and stalk are also usable for making a bowstring and bow drill. The stalks can be used to make arrows for hunting. 🏹

There is so much more that this plant is good for I recommend additional research.

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Fall boho wreath is back in stock!! Link in stories.

Purslane is a common plant (w**d) that is found worldwide. Purslane is a succulent that is edible and is a juicy bite that tastes salty and a little sour, but provides some incredible health benefits. It is best used as a green vegetable that is rich in minerals, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. It can protect against cardiovascular disease, cancers and osteoporosis.

Purslane contains important vitamins with big health benefits. For example, vitamin A, helps your eyes remain healthy as well as improve your immune system. Vitamin A is also essential to the health of your organs because it supports healthy cell division.
Purslane is also rich in vitamin C, which is important to keep your collagen and blood vessels in good health, as well as helping to heal injuries.

Purslane is full of beta-carotene, an antioxidant, which has been found to decrease the amount of free radicals in your body. This lowers your risk of cancer.

Purslane is also helpful for supporting your cardiovascular system. It is amazingly one of the few vegetables that contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are critical to support healthy arteries and can help prevent heart attacks, strokes and other forms of heart disease.

Purslane is also a great source of a couple of minerals that are important to bone health: magnesium and calcium. These minerals can improve skeletal health and help prevent osteoporosis and aging.

Purslane contains oxalates. Oxalates are found in raw nuts, seeds, spinach as well as other raw foods. Oxalates can cause the formation of kidney stones. Purslane seeds tend to have higher levels of oxalates than other parts of the plant. By cooking the purslane it will decrease the amount of oxalates, as is true with other foods that contain oxalates.

Zinnias are the perfect example of beauty and power. The zinnia is part of species that belong to the aster or daisy family. I’ve used them in many fresh cut arrangements throughout the years. In Victorian culture, giving someone a Zinnia means that you consider that person to be a close friend. They are also gorgeous when they are dried.

I am using zinnias in my garden this year because they are good companion plant to garden plants. They also attract pollinators and are especially good at protecting crops from aphids, beetles, and whiteflies.

Zinnias are also edible and can be used in salads and as a garnish for desserts and drinks. The flowers have a mild, spicy flavor.
One extremely common use for edible Zinnias is turning them into tea.

Zinnias have been used in herbal remedies to treat a range of ailments including headaches, digestive issues, and skin problems. The leaves and flowers of zinnias have healing properties that are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, and cytotoxic (prevents cancer cell growth).

The aspen tree is not only stunning in nature but is also edible, medicinal and can be used as a sunscreen. The inner bark can be eaten raw or cooked. The sap makes a sweet beverage and can be boiled down into syrup, like Maple. The leaves are bitter but they are edible and contain about 20-30% protein.

The bark contains salicin and populin, which were used in making aspirin and used for arthritis and rheumatism.

Indigenous people used aspen to treat stomach pain, colds, fevers and heart problems and can be used as a poultice for sore eyes. They also would eat the tree's inner bark as a treat in cakes, as syrup, or in its raw form.

Aspen bark tea is an excellent herbal remedy that can help relieve stress and anxiety, reduce joint pain and inflammation, and provide a calming and soothing.

Aspen trees have a white powder on the outside of their trunks that can also be used to provide some physical sunscreen protection. It provides an approximate SPF of 5.

Last but not least aspen trees take greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the climate crisis. 📚

Our cabin in Island Park. So cozy!

Fun times at the drive in theater!

This is an amaranth. In the United States most people view these plants as w**ds. Despite our view on the plants, amaranths are essentially American, and well known to many Native Americans who would eat every part of the plant.

Amaranths are nutritious with many vitamins, folic acid (vitamin B9), minerals, and protein. The plant is edible from stems through leaves, flowers and seeds. The cooked leaves can be used variously as simple green side dishes (like spinach), in quiches, pestos and soups.

Amaranths can also be made into a flour by roasting the nutty-tasting seeds for around 5-7 minutes on a medium flame, while stirring occasionally. Let cool completely and transfer into a blender and blend into a smooth powder. Amaranth flour can be used as a thickener in soups, stews and gravy. The cooking of amaranth improves its digestibility and absorption of nutrients. It is gluten free and is used in many gluten-free recipes.

To harvest amaranth grains, let the plant flower. Watch the flowers as they bloom and begin to die back. Before they turn brown, (too late for the one pictured 🤣 it was green a couple of weeks ago) cut the flowers off and place them in bags where they will dry. Shake the bag once they are dry or knock the seeds loose over a cloth.

I’ve used the ornamental amaranthus flowers in many fresh floral arrangements. They’ve been popular in weddings. (The ornamental amaranth is also edible.)

Fall harvest wreath in the shop!!

Have you ever been out hiking and come across flowers or plants and wondered what they are? (I hope I’m not the only one 🤣)

This velvet leaved, bright yellow spiked flower is mullein. It has many medicinal healing properties to it and can often be found on the side of the road, in the mountains and anywhere that is typically unkept. All across the Americas.

In its second year of growth it shoots up a tall, yellow flowering spike that can reach over 7 feet tall and that is the time for harvesting.

The leaves and flowers can be made into a tea that is an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, pain killer, antiseptic and diuretic. They can also be made into a smudge stick and when burned be used to treat asthma, bronchitis, COPD and other respiratory issues. (Be careful not to ingest the seeds from the flowers because they are toxic.)

It can also be made into a poultice prepared from the leaves to heal wounds, snake bites, ulcers and tumors. Simply mash the leaves and apply them directly to the skin and then bandaging with a bandaid or a clean cloth. This may help draw out toxins from a snake bite.

*This picture was taken in Idaho at Celebration Park.

I had the opportunity to work with these amazing, talented, beautiful ladies in the flower shop today. Thanks for having fun with me and Karen 💕

Happy Father’s Day To All Of The Dads Out There!! I Was Blessed With A Great Dad, An Awesome Stepdad, A Fantastic Father-In-Law And A Incredible Husband That Is Amazing With Our Kids. ❤️

Hi my name is Miriam 🧡 Welcome to Twigs & Blooms Avenue!

On this page I will be sharing my love for creating, gardening, cooking, animals and hobbies. I work part-time at a flower shop, a wife to Chett, a mom to two teenagers and in my spare time I make wreaths to sell on Etsy. I use high quality materials to make decorations that will warm your home 🏡

The first and second pictures were taken at my graduation from the Utah School of Floral Design almost 22 years ago. This occasion was a big achievement for me in that time of my life; it led to an incredible journey of being a floral designer! 💐

I was later hired by my teacher and worked at his floral shop, Wright Flower Company, for nearly 14 years until I moved to Idaho with my husband and kids. Since the move 8 years ago, I’ve worked at Floral Creations. I’ve met some amazing people I consider to be like family. I have had the honor of celebrating life’s special occasions with customers: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, funerals and more. I’ve enjoyed experiencing all of these wondrous moments in life that are packed full of lessons.

The second picture was taken few years ago at the shop I currently work for. As an experienced florist I am capable of creating customized designs. DM me with any customized ideas and I would be happy to create for you.

Happy Thursday! I hope you all have a wonderful day!! ✨

It’s all about perspective!! 🤣