Floral notes

In Its Time (San Marino)

GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Service

In life, there are certain goods and services worth paying a premium for: haircuts, olive oil, and Swedish massages all make the list. In these categories, higher prices are not merely indulgences, but reflect quality when it matters most. Floral arrangements belong in this category, too. No reasonable person would throw a tantrum if you showed up with a bouquet procured at a grocery store. But the critical occasions call for more than a Whole Foods bouquet.

On the Westside, I favor Roobarb Studio, a community-minded shop in Venice. Their $35 hand-tied bouquets are always a lovely treat. But after the closure of Heaven’s Market in Chinatown, I needed to find somewhere new for my Eastside flowers. The occasion: my best friend’s birthday. (She lives in Glendale.)

After a flurry of research, I ended up at In Its Time in San Marino. Here, floral designer Coco Ge reflects on a life spent between the US and China; her arrangements carry a subtle, naturalistic sophistication. In Its Time offers options for nearly every occasion. New baby? Send them Fresh Pink, a simple, enchanting peony bouquet that comes in colors like that of a NARS blush compact. Situationship you’d like to turn into something more? Love is in the Air might be right, a dynamic arrangement of red and white blooms that’s much more romantic than a dozen roses.

For my friend, I chose the elegant English Garden Wrapped Bouquet. Lush and rosy, indeed, like a European landscape, seasonal flowers and greens mingle together in this picturesque arrangement. The morning of my friend’s birthday, a flurry of heart-eye emojis and exclamation points flooded my iMessages. The mission was a success. –Kat Hong

→ Shop: In Its Time (San Marino) • English Garden wrapped bouquet deluxe, $145.

For more top LA floral options, see our Small Batch Florals Nines, below.