November 19, 2025

Bespoke Meets Foraged   

Colonial Floral Design Begins a New Era
By Andrea Valluzzo

Beth Fowler cut her teeth in floral design working on and off for the Spangenburg family, which had owned Litchfield’s Colonial Greenhouse for 90 years. Bobby Spangenburg Siddell said she’d be calling when considering retirement. Last year, Fowler was ready to work in florals full time after spending nearly 30 years as a fashion stylist. She contacted Siddell, who was ready to retire and enjoy time with her grandchildren.

In May she took over the business and renamed it Colonial Floral Design; Fowler was eager to honor its heritage while putting her own stamp on it. The shop is tucked just off the town Green at 32 Meadow Street.

The native Californian, now in New Preston, says she traveled so much for work that she was a bit nervous about being in one spot every day. “But I’ve grown to totally love it, and the town is amazing. It’s such a rare opportunity to buy a heritage business and rebrand in a really respectful way.”

Fowler, who studied floral design at the New York Botanical Garden, previously ran Loam Foam Design out of her home. She started growing flowers in 2018, but as she was often on location for work, she shuttered the farm. She still has a side business, Bloom Booth, offering photobooth and floral backdrop rentals for events. “Event work, design, production, and artistry have always been my passion,” she says. She’s often seen driving around town in a wallpapered and tricked-out van, “Flora,” which she launched during COVID for selling flowers.

For the holidays, she’s busy making arrangements, from porch styling to tablescape centerpieces. Asked what’s popular, she says Hanukkah is about whites, and sparkle, while Christmas has many different color palettes beyond the traditional red and green. “My whole business is boutique and bespoke. I work with clients to see what is significant for them, their families and traditions,” she says.

“I love a client who gives me an idea of what they would like, and trusts me enough to go and curate it for them. So much of what I do is visual storytelling; it’s hard to give you a recipe, but it’s client based and tailored in concert with them to bring out what they want.”

She incorporates big textures into arrangements, often adding unexpected touches like mushrooms she forages while on hikes. “I love to forage branches most of all, especially ones with lichen; and anything trailside that is blooming and has interesting texture and foliage,” she says. 

With a greenhouse in back, Fowler will soon be growing some of her own flowers, including dahlias, her favorite. She has potted amaryllis and paperwhites, and also sources flowers from Chrisella Farms in Litchfield.

Popular for the holidays, especially for hostesses, are her giftables, such as her Sheldon Tavern box that pairs a floral arrangement with wine sourced from a New Preston wine store. Customers can choose from a list of red or white wines, and later remove the flowers for separate display.—colonialfloraldesign.com