Q&A with Ann Mekala

Nostalgic floristry inspired by nature.

Hyssop is a sustainable floral design studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ann’s designs are inspired by the rhythms of the changing seasons and the rambling shapes and textures found in the wild.

Ann grew up surrounded by flowers in a home beside a lake. She spent her summers in the garden and her winters buried in seed catalogs and old botanical books. For holidays, she would put on her boots, grab her shears and head to the garden or the woods to gather branches, berries and cattails for the table.

Ann’s work still tells the story of a tryst between garden and wild. Relying exclusively on locally grown and foraged material, her colors, textures, and shapes reflect the beauty of the changing seasons. With a commitment to sustainability in all of her work, she designs chemical and foam free tablescapes, intimate weddings, dinners and large scale installations.

Ann!  I’m so excited to learn about floral arranging at our dinner/workshop!  What kind of takeaways can we expect? 

Setting the table is such an important part of hosting a dining experience. Flowers create such a feeling of beauty and intention in a table setting. We will walk step by step through choosing, preparing, and arranging flowers for a dinner party. Then we will put those skills into practice by each crafting a small arrangement for our dinner together. 

What are your favorite blooms in spring? Any tips on caretaking? 

Currently I am loving a flower called beardtongue! It’s a horrible name for a beautiful flower. It’s delicate and tall with such a variety of colors both in the foliage and flower! I hope to find some in bloom for our workshop! 

I’m saving my care-taking secrets for the workshop but I have a few good tricks if you want to join us!

Do you enjoy hosting dinner parties? 

I do! We host a lot in our home. We are sort of known for our parties. Not because they are anything spectacular, but just because we host so often! Solstice dinners, birthday parties, garden dinners, Christmas feasts! We will find any and every excuse to host in our home. I love the feeling  of creating a physical space to eat and drink and celebrate together.