Thursday's Tribute: Louesa Roebuck

Louesa Roebuck is neither a straight-up florist nor artist. Her spare and open approach to a resourceful and creative foraging design has branded her in a class all her own.

I met Louesa unexpectedly on Christmas Eve 2012. My boys and I were playing hooky from the traditional responsibilities of the day to meander and explore, following our noses in search of unexpected surprises. We found what we were looking for behind a chalkboard colored dutch door as we peered inside hesitantly with eyes straining against the unseasonal glare of the winter sun. A warm voice invited us in and a magical nook simply named LOUESA unfolded like a forager’s fairy tale book. I found a muted vintage photo taken in Suffolk, England and a bud vase for the boys’ grandmother. Louesa brought out a sheet of old school handwriting paper for the boys to write a note and then carefully gift wrapped our new bud vase inside the vintage lined paper.

Oh right, and did I mention Louesa Roebuck provides foraged floral arrangements for many of the bay area’s best restaurants? A mere side note to the treasure that is Louesa Roebuck.