I'm Katie Lila I make art displays out of fresh cut flowers.

Wow, this is looking so fabulous.

Flowers really are nature's art and I love using them as my medium.

So fun.

Like these little fantasy flower worlds that people can interact with.

Oh my gosh, this is stunning.

I want this for my bedroom wall.

It's hard to be around flowers without smiling.

I love looking at something and being like, oh, how can we make that into something that could be in a flower installation?

Its hot out here people, its hot.

A lot of variables, a lot of question marks.

How's it going to go?

How's it going to play out?

We did it.

My install team is amazing.

They just jump in action and fill in all the weird requests.

So come follow the blooms with us.

You never know where the adventure is headed.

(acoustic guitar strums) Follow the Blooms on KSPS PBS is proudly supported by Skyline Flowers Wholesale.

In this episode.

My daughter Ava and I head across the country to the gorgeous Florida Springs to meet up with my friend and fellow flower designer, Ashley Rodriguez, the owner and lead designer of Garden and Grace florals, a bespoke floral design company specializing in weddings, editorial design and well known for creating out of the box large scale floral installations, in particular underwater.

Her beautiful work and connections to a great water savvy team have established Ashley as a go to designer when wanting to go into the deep.

Before we jump in, we must first tromp through the swamp to forage local flora for our own underwater display.

We also visit a community garden, a great place to grow and source your own flowers.

We're setting up the perfect photo of a magical creature, a real life mermaid.

Ginnie Springs outside of Gainesville, Florida.

I didn't know what to expect.

And coming here is.

Whoo!

It's... it's breathtaking.

The water is all of these gorgeous shades of blue.

The trees are their own sculptural art pieces.

It just feels like a a gorgeous canvas ready for us to to play in.

This place is awesome.

Oh my goodness.

Whoa!

Look at this thing.

Yeah.

Oh, wow.

What is that?

That is a banana spider.

Yeah.

They're huge.

What else lives out here?

We can expect many more of those.

Okay.

We also have a lot of water moccasins.

So watch where you're walking.

This is also as you can tell, very tropical, swampy kind of environments.

So what we're going to want to make sure to do is wear these bad boys.

Okay.

So I put the boots on.

Thank you.

We're going to be going through water.

We're gonna be walking in mud.

I'm going to give it a shoulder.

Yes.

Okay, so remind me what we're looking for.

So at this property, we're on about 43 acres, and, we have a lot of different type of foliage, greenery.

But what I would really like to show you is the palmetto palm.

Yes!

Typical tropical Florida.

They're like the big fronds.

Exactly.

Okay.

So we'll use those.

We have also all kinds of just beautiful, natural.

You know, we have Spanish moss hanging down, lots of different unique environments because it's such a large property.

So, we'll venture through and we'll see what we can find.

So Ava's middle name is Fern.

Ayva Fern.

Oh, we got to get some ferns going.

Yes.

For sure.

All kinds here.

All right.

I think I'm ready.

Okay.

Let's go.

Florida's got a short growing season because it's hot.

Summertime is not it.

So we are going to forage on Ashley's property for some of the greenery we use, and just have these gorgeous palmettos and all sorts of interesting things.

I'm excited because I haven't really done that before where I get to go out.

I mean, you know, I've tried to sneak people's plants before, but I've never actually just been given the right come to my property and cut whatever you want.

That's awesome.

And, she knows the way.

So even better, at first I was my whole body was tense.

I was like, what are we doing here?

I didn't know was going to be this crazy.

And then, and then slowly, I just fell in love with it.

Yeah, it just engulfed me.

Sounds and the cool water and, nothing was actually trying to eat me.

There's a couple mosquitoes.

and then it was it was just beautiful and pristine, you know?

Nothing.

You couldn't see anything besides nature.

Couldn't hear anything besides nature.

That's hard.

Hard to get to.

So right here is our beautiful pond area.

And you can kind of hear the frogs, and turtles.

But I love this for us.

Potentially for a fern.

You can even see it's, like, glistening from the rainfall in the morning.

They're huge here.

Those are beautiful.

Those are going to look awesome.

I think so, yeah.

Okay.

The effect they'll have.

Ill let you do the honors.

All right!

I'm excited.

I've never.

They're long too.

We can get a really nice Foraged my very own fern.

That's cool.

So glad.

All sorts of goodies.

What do you think?

Any of these?

Yeah.

These guys.

So this is really, I think, good.

Could get a couple more of these, and we'll be set because they're so big, This is awesome.

Right now, we're on the lookout for fronds, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

Let's do some palmettos.

So it starts to get really deep here.

Okay.

She got her shoes off.

We're good.

Now this is an adventure.

It is definitely an adventure.

So now we're getting into what we call Cypress Alley.

You have all kinds of beautiful cypress trees around us.

Call these cypress knees.

Those are so cool.

Yeah, they are very cool.

They're all around this area.

And, people actually cut these down.

Sometimes knowingly, sometimes not.

But it's actually illegal to do so.

Because they are really a natural resource, right?

That we want to we want to maintain and keep around.

And people don't realize that.

So which one is the cypress tree?

So we have a couple around here.

This is really the perfect example though here.

And this is really the perfect stereotypical north central Florida cypress.

Right?

You can see kind of that swampy, image of the tree roots going up from the water.

And it's really a classic kind of Florida image So this type of palmetto is exactly what I think we were both thinking would be beautiful for this design.

They're huge.

They will do really well in the water and they're definitely local to this part of Florida.

What I love too, is you can actually see how they naturally dry.

And so I also come out here and I forage and I dry them myself.

I get them dried.

So maybe we could even use components of that because it's a different shade and color.

Yeah, I like this one I like that.

It's so crazy.

You know, I only see this stuff at the wholesaler, usually right in Washington.

Of course.

Yeah.

And even the dried ones, I'm paying like, Oh, theyre expensive.

Like 15 bucks a stem for those, right.

You know.

So I'm just like, what?

There's like, thousands of dollars here.

And even like these ferns, you know, that was a spot in our property and actually never foraged before.

And here we are.

To your point, this would have been $30 wholeseller, and it was pretty easy to get ourselves.

The great thing about these palm fronds is that they are so native to this area that they do well, really in and out of water.

And so particularly in the water, they keep their shape.

They are able to withstand, for example, in the springs with the currents, the movement, you know, they're really sturdy.

And so they're also great to work with because of this super sturdy stem.

Right.

It's so strong.

So you can put that in chicken wire.

You can you can do all kinds of things with it hanging upside down there also for that reason, as I mentioned before, are great for drying.

So I use these all year round in different designs.

It's so versatile.

So I think between these palm fronds, the great ferns we got earlier, we are we have everything we need, I think, to make a really cool installation.

So let's head back to my studio and we'll see what we can do.

Yay!

Okay, I'm excited.

I'm used to creating in a space I'm familiar with around elements I'm familiar with.

I know where to find what I want to find and who I want to work with.

And this is like a grab bag, right?

It's just this big surprise party, and it's brought out this sense of wonder in me.

It's...

It feels vulnerable and open and thrilling, and it feels it's just, you know, pulling me forward and, like, what?

What are we going to discover next?

Okay, Bonnie, Ashley, tell me about this community garden.

It's incredible.

It really is.

We love it.

I'll let my mom share why she loves it, but it is an amazing space that the city of Gainesville provides to anyone at no cost.

And so my mom actually found out about the community gardens, and is sort of like now the unofficial steward over this garden.

I have no full sun at my living place.

So this was a great place.

And now I had planted flowers.

So there are flowers up and there are flowers coming up.

And now it just keeps morphing and I keep growing it.

And I keep getting more flowers.

Ok, Bonnie.

But did you ever think that your garden plot would provide for an underwater mermaid wonderland I am like, so thrilled when I see anything that grew, become part of something that beautiful.

Yeah, I figure I'm the paint.

She's the palette.

She makes the art.

I love it, and I just, I do my thing.

So and I think, I think gardening especially, it creates that you have to be a little more patient.

You have to slow down a little bit, which is not been my forte over the years, certainly the way I worked.

So, as a retiree, it is definitely good for the soul.

Always good to be in nature.

This community garden is amazing.

Ashley and her mom are stewards here.

And I can tell it's just a real connecting place the way they've talked about it.

And I'm excited to see all the different things.

People are growing.

You know, there's veggies and fruit and herbs and some lovely flowers.

Of course.

You know not tons of flowers, but you can do a lot with a couple bundles of flowers.

Okay, girls, what are we putting underwater?

All right, so on the list, is Queen Anne's lace that we actually have in some really cool jewel tones?

I that which I know we kind of had talked about.

We have some beautiful orange cosmos that we're going to look at.

those will be vibrant.

Yes, exactly.

And possibly some buckwheat, well see kind of what we want to sprinkle in.

So I do a lot, as you know, of underwater floral installations.

I am super excited though for this one to do something with you in the springs.

Flower design is difficult enough.

And now we're going to add submerge it all.

these are the moments you're like, okay, is it going to come together?

Right?

Yeah.

The pressure is on.

Thats right, but I think we can do it.

So I'm almost thinking too.

That's fun.

We have, like, a ring that we can use.

Maybe orchids.

Strong, cool flowers, palms dried and fresh, maybe.

Oh, yeah.

Just a little something.

Is that good?

You liking it?

Okay.

Yeah.

I love it I'm thinking that we could do some really cool super tall pillars, almost of like kelp, tropical florals.

And then how deep will we be in the springs.

So we'll be at least 8 to 10ft deep.

Because the highest, pillar that we'll create is actually eight feet.

So we'll want that to be able to fully sink.

That will also give our mermaid the ability to have her super long tail be splashing about.

Yeah, we'll have plenty of room for that.

So there you have it.

How do you make a mermaid set under one?

And that's how it's done, right.

Simple.

It's so fun working with Ashley.

I feel like I found a soul sister on the other side of the country.

And it's just, you know, great.

Bouncing ideas off of each other.

I think it, you know, gets my brain juices flowing and going and, back and forth.

She's, she has brilliant ideas.

I love her work.

But fun to be in the same space and making something that probably neither of us would have come up with on our own.

But together, there's there's some good, what's the word I'm looking for?

Synergy.

Thank you.

I feel like there's an undertone of a theme for this whole project is, look around you, use what you have and make it work.

Going into Ashley's home studio.

you know, just rummaging for the things we need.

Grabbing some stuff out of the yard, playing with ideas.

it's awesome.

You just take what you have and make something fabulous in it.

Right.

Today is the day.

Whoo!

We are here at the beautiful springs of Florida and this place is awesome.

Weather is perfect on a cloudy sky.

As you can see, the water is super clear.

We got here very early To make sure that that's happening.

Yeah.

And, we have Luna Marie are mermaids here so we can go ahead and start getting set up underwater.

Okay.

Awesome.

And then what we can do to start is, Maybe, like we were talking about the studio.

Put some some color, add some more stems into the base pieces.

Yeah, before we get them into the water.

Okay.

Let's we get them into the water.

There will likely be some that float up.

Then we'll keep a finalize, right?

Yeah, but I think that'll be a good plan.

And we can continue to kind of tape and, you know, add things in as we go.

Great.

Why don't you do these?

And I'm going to try it.

Since we just have a little bit of the beauty bush.

Oh, this is looking fabulous, darling.

I know, so fun.

It really looks good.

put just these in really, focal spots.

Yes, I think yeah, I think that's the key.

And make sure you really push down the stems as much as you can so that the leaves get caught in the chickenwire.

so the leaves act as their own anchor?

Yep.

Okay.

Precisely.

Our foraged pillars are looking good.

Before we move them into the water, it's finally time to meet the mermaid.

Hayley Smith, professionally known in the mer-world as Miss Luna Marie, a tattooed mermaid and free diver who lives here in Florida.

She has been mermaiding for eight years and never thought she would have inspired so many people.

Mermaids are the peak of wonder, aren't they?

We all want to hold on to that.

I met a mermaid today.

You don't say that every day, right?

It's fun and amazing and magic.

I mean, it feels as magical as if I was just swimming out in the ocean and met a mermaid.

Luna Marie!

Sh-ello.

Hello.

This is my first time meeting a mermaid.

Oh, my gosh, this is my first time meeting a human.

Oh, great.

All right.

It's a big moment for both of us.

Okay, I have this lovely.

Oh, this is stunning.

Did you make this?

Yes, yes.

Ashley and I made it for you.

And I heard you loved orchids.

I do love orchids.

And it matches my tail.

Right.

We thought the vibe was perfect.

Oh, can I crown you?

Absolutely.

Please.

Okay.

Please do.

Okay.

This is stunning.

I love your long, beautiful locks.

I feel like.

Okay.

I was wondering about these.

These, like, feathery ferns, but Im loving them.

Yeah, I think they're gonna look really pretty in the water.

Yeah, I think it's like, especially when they get in my hair kind of, like, flows out and they'll flow out with it.

I think it's gonna look epic.

Especially in that blue and the green.

when I put that tail on for the first time, I just was like, this is it.

Youve put your tail on for the first time.

Youve arrived.

Then where did the journey take you?

So it took me into this huge community of which I didnt know existed at the time at the mermaid community and its also a lot of the freediving community and photography and, you know, it's it's I've got to meet a lot of amazing people.

And to be really honest with you.

Like, I didn't realize some of the skills that you needed to do mermaiding at least safely.

They think, oh, that's so pretty.

But they forget we're holding our breaths.

Yeah.

So it's this, like, superpower.

Yes.

Really?

It feels like that sometimes.

Yeah.

And I mean, kind of like flowers, right?

People just.

Oh, they're so pretty.

But there's so much work that goes behind.

Yes.

These beautiful designs, you know?

So I feel like that's a real, similarity.

Right?

You're this beautiful swimming wonder.

But you're holding your breath.

This is fabulous.

I feel fabulous.

Okay.

See you soon.

Oh.

Thanks, Katie.

Great to meet you.

she's 100% in it and authentic and just loves everything about being a mermaid.

The team tasked with helping us capture this photo of Luna Marina is Waterbear photography.

Their crew consists of Kimber Greenwood, photographer.

Her husband Will Greenwood as videographer, and also Jules Maue, underwater safety specialist.

They excel at producing high quality water based media for film advertising and other ventures.

Their ethereal work is absolutely stunning.

We are counting on their skill and expertise to get an amazing shot.

People.

People.

We've got a lot of people on this shoot.

We've got a dive crew, you know, safety person, underwater videographer, underwater photographer.

and then we've got more people.

We've got Luna Marie.

Her husband Mike comes with her, and is her, you know, safety personnel And then we've got our film crew, you know, which is a pretty good footprint.

And Ava's with me.

Super fun on this trip.

Ashley and I, you know, so.

So there's a lot of people making this happen.

You know, everybody's doing their part.

So the big thing that we're going to be doing is weighting the bases down.

And how we do that typically is with these really cool underwater diving weights.

So they're made for the water.

They're super heavy.

Yes.

Exactly.

Very heavy.

Which is what we want especially for the currents with the spring, just to make sure that we're not getting too many wobbly things going.

Okay.

And then we have, basically kind of a solid operating procedure of trying not to disturb the sand and the bottom of the spring so that we can get the best shot.

That sounds super easy.

Right.

So it's going to be very simple underwater.

But these down in the sand don't disturb the sand.

Yeah.

I'm really surprised how exhausting it is.

I'm like.

I'm pretty fit, and I swim a lot, but this is, like, next level because you're just trying to move stuff around and swapping everywhere.

Its hard as you can tell, I'm super out of breath.

During whole shoot, I feel like there was all these challenges, right?

There's the people, and the people are fun and exciting, and they all wanted to hear what we were doing.

But also pests, right?

Like, ramming their paddleboard and their kayaks into the mermaids head and just It's crazy.

And I'm like, back it up, back it up.

then there's Luna Marie, who has this tail that's gorgeous, but it's trying not to hit the design.

Try not to fluff up the sand.

Just all these elements of challenge, and I just thought, oh, we could have it a little easier, but then that's that's it.

Right?

That's, that's life.

That's art.

There's always going to be a lot stacked against us.

But then there's this still beautiful shot.

And, and the juxtaposition of those two is stunning.

And I think there's something there.

There's something just this core of calm, even though it's all going crazy around the outside.

If you would have told me a year ago that I'd be in Florida, creating a big wonderland for a mermaid, I don't know if I would have bought it.

So I love this unraveling, this unfolding of, of just something new, something different.

And it does feel like this manifestation of unspoken dreams, you know, this idea that finding new places, following the balloons to places I have never been before.

It's super exciting.

Yknow, this photograph?

It feels like a love letter to the water, to the springs.

To wonder, to curiosity and just putting it out there in the world and hoping it sparks.

It sparks all sorts of things for lots of people.

You know, saying goodbye to Ashley.

She had these beautiful thoughts that, she said it was so rewarding to push through those challenges, to push her limits and to see something, larger than life that she was able to create with this beautiful team.

(acoustic guitar strums) Follow the Blooms on KSPS PBS is proudly supported by Skyline Flowers Wholesale.