Floristry From the Ground UP

A florist who happens to grow her own flowers…

Hello! I am Yi-ling Shen

I'm a floral designer by profession and a gardener at heart. I work from my garden studio in southern New Hampshire, where I grow flowers and transform seasonal blooms into artful floral designs.

My journey with flowers began ten years ago at a specialty cut flower farm in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. It was there that I discovered the magic of growing flowers. From tiny seeds to beautiful arrangements, working on the farm taught me to appreciate the unique personality of every bloom—a connection that continues to shape the way I garden and design today.

Since then, I've completed Master Gardener training in both Virginia and New Hampshire, deepening my understanding of plants and bringing together my two passions: gardening and floral design.

Before flowers became my world, I worked in publishing, first as an art magazine editor and later as a children's book editor. Those years taught me the art of visual storytelling. Today, I bring that same storyteller's eye to floral design, using color, texture, and form to create arrangements that reflect the season and tell a personal story.

These days, I'm the happy plant mama of hundreds of dahlias and the proud owner of Bluestone Botanique, where my love of gardening and floral design comes together.

What I love most is sneaking a little piece of the garden into every arrangement. Alongside familiar favorites, you'll find unusual varieties, unexpected textures, and seasonal treasures—some freshly gathered from my own cutting garden.

Back in 2017, a budding gardener and florist, harvesting ranunculus at a specialty cut flower farm in Virginia.