If the first week of January is any indication of how 2025 is going to turn out, we're in for quite a ride. (And the new president hasn't even been sworn in yet, yikes!).
Despite the red flag warnings, most of us did not expect the scale of destruction that the LA fires have wrought upon our community this past week. Living only seven miles away from the Pacific Palisades, it was an eery scene watching TV on Tuesday night and not knowing that the entire town was burning up right next where I was. But I could hear the winds rattling our glass window panes, potted plants toppling over outside, and I saw the smoke - that giant plume of charcoal ash - hovering over the Santa Monica Pier earlier that afternoon.
The week began with high hopes and I was feeling so ready for the new year with healthy intentions and a commitment to stability. I started Monday with my full morning ritual, a refreshing run to the ocean, and a week filled with social plans I was so excited to host - the launching of social projects I've been planning for months - from our first bookclub to our new salon series, and hosting a baby shower for my best friend the following week. I thought, this is my week to integrate with the community, yay!
Then, Tuesday happened. And I guess in a very convoluted and ‘wtf 2025’ way, community integration there was. My Instagram stories are filled with friends offering help, dropping off donations, delivering supplies, and contributing to Gofundme's to support families affected.
Moss, a co-working space in Venice, has become a local donation hub. Other flower friends have on-the-ground efforts going over in Pasadena to support the LAFD and provide supplies for those affected by the Eaton Fire. As for me, I've been
donating to funds and checking in with friends, offering solace and support. It's been inspiring to see people come together like this in times of need.
Still, the devastation cuts deep. I can count on two hands how many people I know who have lost their homes. We can all relate to what it means to lose a home. We share in their heartbreak.
Vigilantly checking the Watch Duty app last Tuesday evening, it became clear to my husband and I that we needed a plan in case we had to evacuate like our friends did who live in north Santa Monica. In a frenzy, I began to pack up my valuables and go through a speedy inventory of what felt irreplaceable. I realized in this process that value of a home is not its singular items, but the sum of its parts. What makes a home is not just the items and clothing and photographs, not just the people in it (though that's integral), but the boundaries - the walls that seal up and store the priceless moments that happen in that special space - both the mundane, and the monumental. The recognizability and reliability of a contained place that feels familiar, that acts as the backdrop to family life, is what makes up the fabric of a meaning and sentimentality and safety in our lives. A house is not just a building, but a sacred cache situated in a specific time and place. A home is wholly human.
Alas, I would be remiss to not mention the wildlife – the deer, coyotes, raccoons, mice, birds, flowers, foliage, the list goes on… – who have been displaced by this elemental warfare as well. My prayers go out them. Once the last flame is extinguished from these county fires, the effects will be felt across this city for years to come. Please see the
link below for a list of ways you can help those affected by the fires as we begin to rebuild, one day at a time.
In other news, I'm excited to announce I'll be hosting a
flower workshop at FlowerSchool LA coming up on Tuesday, January 28. Come join me for some much needed “flower therapy” and learn how to make a compote arrangement with sustainable mechanics and seasonal flowers. Also, Valentine's Day pre-orders launching soon, along with a new website! Keep an eye out on social and in this space.
Lastly, I've launched a Substack called
Fleurish (get it?!) where I'll be sharing personal essays, lists, and guides on all things related to the art of blooming -
subscribe here to follow along! These Fleurvoyant emails will begin to be more studio announcements-related, think: upcoming events, product launches, blog posts, and special offers.
Stay safe, and happy 2025.
xx,
Emily
