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Katherine Slayton

I “retired” several years ago and opened Katherine By Design, a floral, wedding, event, and design company. My passion for floral design comes from watching my father. I was 27 years old when he called me one weekend to see whether I could come help, and for the first time I got to see him in a new way. His fingers moved like magic and he created the most glorious corsages I had ever seen. That was it! I fell hook, line, and sinker for design, retail floristry, and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Visit my website at KatherineByDesign.com to contact me or shop, or visit my Facebook page to see some of my fun and creative designs.

Latest Author Features

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden | Palmetto Bella

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Many years ago, I worked in a large green house as a domestic rose and cut-flower grower. It was extremely hard work, hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Not to mention all the lifting, pulling, tugging, and hauling we had to do to bring a crop to maturity in time for a special holiday such as Christmas or Mother’s Day. Did you know it takes 72 “sun days” to grow a rose? If it is a cold and cloudy winter or spring, bringing a crop in on time is difficult. We would often have to “push” the crop by feeding liquid nitrogen. Pests such as aphids and

What’s the Buzzzzz? | Palmetto Bella

What’s the Buzzzzz?

When I think of spring I think of two buzz words — bees and hummingbirds. The buzz word this month is hummingbirds. I just love the precious little birds! Hummingbirds are native to North America. As the smallest of birds, they measure approximately 3 — 5 inches in length and get their name from the humming noise their wings make when they fly. All 350 species of hummingbirds are native to the Americas; by far most of them are tropical. The life of a hummingbird is quite solitary. The males arrive in an area and stake out their territories before the females arrive. A male lets the female hummingbirds know

Hello Gardeners! | Palmetto Bella

Hello Gardeners!

Isn’t it just wonderful to feel spring in the air? I don’t think I could have stood another 6 weeks of winter — Mother Nature would definitely have heard from me … Now that there is a light at the end of that long winter tunnel, it is time to get busy preparing your garden for spring flowers and flowering bulbs. This is a good time to refresh your patio, deck, and porch containers as well. For those of you who are beginners or novices, pick the brain of a friend who is a master gardener, or call me. Over the years, I have learned to be an active listener

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden | Palmetto Bella

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden

Many years ago, I worked in a large green house as a domestic rose and cut-flower grower. It was extremely hard work, hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Not to mention all the lifting, pulling, tugging, and hauling we had to do to bring a crop to maturity in time for a special holiday such as Christmas or Mother’s Day. Did you know it takes 72 “sun days” to grow a rose? If it is a cold and cloudy winter or spring, bringing a crop in on time is difficult. We would often have to “push” the crop by feeding liquid nitrogen. Pests such as aphids and

What’s the Buzzzzz? | Palmetto Bella

What’s the Buzzzzz?

When I think of spring I think of two buzz words — bees and hummingbirds. The buzz word this month is hummingbirds. I just love the precious little birds! Hummingbirds are native to North America. As the smallest of birds, they measure approximately 3 — 5 inches in length and get their name from the humming noise their wings make when they fly. All 350 species of hummingbirds are native to the Americas; by far most of them are tropical. The life of a hummingbird is quite solitary. The males arrive in an area and stake out their territories before the females arrive. A male lets the female hummingbirds know

Hello Gardeners! | Palmetto Bella

Hello Gardeners!

Isn’t it just wonderful to feel spring in the air? I don’t think I could have stood another 6 weeks of winter — Mother Nature would definitely have heard from me … Now that there is a light at the end of that long winter tunnel, it is time to get busy preparing your garden for spring flowers and flowering bulbs. This is a good time to refresh your patio, deck, and porch containers as well. For those of you who are beginners or novices, pick the brain of a friend who is a master gardener, or call me. Over the years, I have learned to be an active listener