Love is central to what we do – whether we are helping create joy on someone’s wedding day, or manifesting happiness for a stranger walking down the street on a sunny Friday afternoon, we thrive on putting all the warm fuzzies out into the world.

We’re all aware that the pandemic has severely affected everyone involved, but one thing is for sure - the restaurant industry has taken quite a hit. Small businesses everywhere are struggling to survive, adapt, adjust and comply with the ever-changing rules and regulations that keep us all safe.

Now that vaccinations are rolling out, and things are starting to open up, we wanted to show our restaurant industry friends a little love.

One thing that universally brightens anyone’s day is the gift of flowers - so we thought, what better way to spark a little joy than to build colorful, unexpected floral displays all over our City of Roses.

We “flower bombed” Covid-style outdoor dining pods at 6 restaurants all over Portland, with installations starting at 6 am, and ending at 4pm. Throughout the day, so many people stopped and asked what this was for, and we simply answered, “just because.”

We pulled together a team of some of our favorite florists to create the designs. We have such a wide array of talent locally available, so we wanted to showcase what they could do. We gave them creative license, and man oh man, did they bring their A-game. Every design was thoughtful, unique, and fitting with each restaurant’s style and vibe.

Below you can read about the vision for each design, and the intent behind it.

Paadee by Brenna Burnett Florals

Restaurant: Paadee

Florist: Brenna Burnett Florals

Photographer: D.Selbak

Signage: Letters & Dust

“I grew up in Indonesia, spending a portion of my childhood exploring Thailand. They are experiences that shaped who I am as a person. Flower bombing Paadee, and being surrounded by the beautiful aroma of Thai food fills me with nostalgia.” – Brenna Burnett, Owner of Brenna Burnett Florals

Verde Cocina by Brenna Burnett Florals

Restaurant: Verde Cocina

Florist: Brenna Burnett Florals

Photographer: D.Selbak

Signage: Letters & Dust

“I pulled inspiration from Verde’s Mexican food with a Portland twist – opting to use primarily mixed greenery to let Verde’s bold flavors & spice bring the color. The center pod, the largest outdoor seating area, was adorned with a hanging installation of eucalyptus, bay leaf, olive and salal. At the entrance, two pillars of mixed greenery with an arrangement of pops of vibrant blooms, welcomed patrons for their dining experience.” – Brenna Burnett, Owner of Brenna Burnett Florals

Montelupo Italian Market by Novella Theory Floral Co.

Restaurant: Montelupo Market

Florist: Novella Theory Floral Co.

Photographer: D.Selbak

Signage: Letters & Dust

"Since we were working with an Italian restaurant, the installation was inspired by the colorful coast of Italy and features olive foliage, roses and dried flowers and foliage to create a colorful and textural design." – Christina Wachspress, Owner of Novella Theory Floral Co.

Bar Casa Vale by Wildflower Portland

Restaurant: Bar Casa Vale

Florist: Wildflower Portland

Photographer: D.Selbak

Signage: Letters & Dust

“It was important to support Bar Casa Vale by leaning into the restaurant's Spanish influence. I also wanted to be mindful of the guest experience by utilizing flowers with a low pollen count (no bees, please!), little to no fragrance and to avoid common allergens. As Spain's national flower- the red carnation, it was the perfect option and the genesis for the flower bomb at Bar Casa Vale.” – Chas Thompson Thomas, Owner of Wildflower Portland

Mississippi Pizza Pub by Blooms & Twine Floral Design

Restaurant: Mississippi Pizza Pub

Florist: Blooms and Twine Floral

Photographer: D.Selbak

Signage: Letters & Dust

“I love the laid-back vibes at Mississippi Pizza Pub! I knew I wanted to incorporate lots of dried elements to this design while creating a lush textural environment. Using dried blooms and greenery allowed us to go super big with the installation without having to worry about incorporating water sources over the long, warm weekend! Who hasn't dreamed of filling their home with flowers that would never wilt?! My favorite part of this design are the brass instruments- they totally embody the flowers-growing-out-of-every-nook-and-cranny experience we were going for!” – Katie Watkins, Owner of Blooms & Twine Floral Design

Parkside by Blooms & Twine Floral Design

Restaurant: Parkside

Florist: Blooms & Twine Floral

Photographer: D.Selbak

Signage: Letters & Dust

“Quarantine has been so difficult for all of us in so many different ways. We have watched our friends, loved ones, and neighbors experience financial, emotional, mental, and physical toil at unprecedented levels. For a long time, it has felt like life would never be normal. We felt this especially hard in the events industry with celebrations grinding to a sudden halt over a year ago with the first round of lockdown.

With mask restrictions lifting for vaccinated folks, the sun coming back, and friends hugging for the first time in months it feels like we've reached the rainbow at the end of a very dark tunnel.

There's still so much recovery that needs to be done, but our rainbow installation was a celebration for us all to share in the now.

I hope it brings you as much joy as it brought me!” - Katie Watkins, Owner of Blooms & Twine Floral Design

Thank you to all the florists who made this happen. You truly brought our vision to life, and without you, none of this would have been possible.

Thank you to the restaurants who allowed us to come into your space. We hope it brightened your day, and put a smile on the faces of your customers and people passing by.

To everyone out there that’s still struggling, we hope this serves as a reminder that after it rains, always look for the rainbow.