Lady Cockburn and her Three Children
Little Acre Flowers
Amber Flack, Brigid Cowdrey, Julia Gezo, Jillian Lafitte, Hillary Gottemoeller, and Lily Tracy
2022 installation
2nd Floor - English Drawing Room
The Inspiration
Lady Augusta Anne Cockburn is depicted with her three eldest children in this group portrait purported to be a study by Joshua Reynolds for his larger final version of the portrait completed in the 1770s.
The Flowers
Florist’s inspiration: As many of us are mothers ourselves, we can only imagine what a scene it was for Lady Cockburn to sit for this portrait! Inspired by this depiction of motherhood and the energy of the children, we sought to bring this painting to life through flowers, but with our Little Acre twist: using exclusively locally sourced blooms. All of the flowers used in our design have been sourced nearby, in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We’ve also drawn from the world of floriography and selected a few varieties specifically because of what they represent: haven/sanctuary (Queen Anne’s Lace), energy in action (chamomile), youth (foxglove), open heart and lightness (Larkspur), and virtue (mint).
THE DESIGNER
Amber Flack, Brigid Cowdrey, Julia Gezo, Jillian Lafitte, Hillary Gottemoeller, and Lily Tracy
Little Acre Flowers
Little Acre Flowers is DC’s only 100% locally sourcing florist, offering seasonal, artisanal arrangements for daily delivery around the greater Washington DC area. Founded in 2014 as an alternative to traditional floral arrangements, Little Acre offers designs that are more sustainable, seasonal, and fresh. Known for their garden-inspired aesthetic, commitment to sustainability, and dedication to supporting the local community, Little Acre sources only from local growers who provide fresh and distinctive varietals throughout the year, allowing for arrangements that always reflect the season and feature only the highest quality and longest-lasting blooms. Female-owned and led, Little Acre operates with a small staff out of their studio in the U Street Corridor.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
Aimee Custis
Aimee Custis is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Washington DC. Her rich, luminous, and emotive style draws artistic inspiration from classical painters, street photography, and storytelling. Her inclusive, client-centric approach to wedding photography is informed heavily by a background in hospitality, non-profit event planning, and college summers as a camp counselor. Aimee's wedding work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Washingtonian Weddings. Her non-wedding clients include non-profits, hotels, and elected officials. Aimee (she/they) lives in a rowhouse in Washington DC’s U Street corridor with her husband Greg and golden retriever Whiskey.
