Learn more about the Pansy with Brenna Estrada

Pansies: Small Faces, Big Charm

There's something undeniably cheerful about a pansy. It could be how their sweet little faces smile back at you or their surprising resilience despite their delicate look. Whatever the reason, pansies have completely stolen our hearts—and for good reason.

These classic garden favorites are anything but old-fashioned. With their dreamy watercolor hues, ruffled petals, and whimsical whiskers, pansies are a painter's palette of possibility. And trust me, once you fall for them, it's pansies forever from there.

Tiny Blooms, Endless Possibilities

What I love most about pansies is how they bridge the worlds of gardening and artistry. They're edible, pressable, dyeable, and utterly drawable. They're delicate enough to feel precious but tough enough to withstand early spring chill. They're the kind of bloom that rewards those who slow down and pay attention—because their beauty is in the details.

That makes pansies fun to work with, whether growing them in a garden bed or sculpting them in crepe paper.

Learning from the Best: Meet Brenna Estrada

When it comes to pansies, no one knows them quite like Brenna Estrada. She's a passionate flower farmer, the creative force behind Three Brothers Blooms on Camano Island, and the author of the gorgeous and inspiring book Pansies: How to Grow, Reimagine, and Create Beauty with Pansies and Violas. Her book is more than just a how-to—it's part love letter, part historical journey, and part hands-on guide for gardeners and creatives alike.

In Pansies, Brenna explores the rich history and cultural legacy of pansies and violas while offering practical, proven techniques for growing them from seed with success. She teaches readers how to grow long-stemmed, fragrant, and vibrantly colored blooms, with tips for sowing, transplanting, and saving seeds. And if you're looking for creative inspiration, she has that covered too—with ideas for using pansies in culinary, craft, and even apothecary projects.

The book also includes detailed profiles of 50 unique varieties, complete with stunning photography and notes on everything from scent to suitability as cut flowers. It's a book you'll return to again and again—whether you're tending your garden or dreaming up your next artistic project.

A Bloom-Filled Invitation

If you're anything like me, you love the idea of spending a day surrounded by flowers, hands deep in soil and paper petals. I'm thrilled to invite you to A Day of Pansies, a workshop I'm co-hosting with Brenna on June 21, 2025 at Fleurs Creative in Snohomish, WA.

We'll start the day with Brenna sharing her expert tips for growing and caring for pansies from seed, setting you up with strong starts and dreamy blooms. Then, we'll step into the art studio, where I'll guide you in turning those real-life blooms into lifelike paper pansies crafted from crepe paper and imagination.

You'll Leave With:

• A terracotta pot of live pansies
• A pack of specialty pansy seeds to grow at home
• Your handcrafted paper pansy
• Signed copies of both Pansies  by Brenna Estrada and The New Art of Paper Flowers by Quynh Nguyen
• A heart full of joy and inspiration

Spots are limited, and this one-day workshop is expected to fill quickly. If your heart is already blooming just thinking about it, we'd love to have you join us.

👉 Sign up now for A Day of Pansies, and let's grow and create something beautiful together.