Glassware to Pour Perennial Favorites

With graduation parties, midsummer birthdays and summer weddings on the horizon, we're all going to be busy, busy celebrating and entertaining. This generous, wide-bodied pitcher is just one of the decanters, carafes and pitchers that Bee has collected to help our customers take entertaining to the next level. Just right for indoor and outdoor dinners or summer barbecues, this glass pitcher is handsomely accented with a shapely arched handle, exaggerated spout and rippled body. We recommend floating slices of lemon, orange or favorite fruits to lemonade, fruit punches, or iced water for a festive touch. All this talk of cool, icy beverages is making us thirsty!

The Scent of Joy

Psst, are you looking for a gift that will impress? A present so beautiful, she'll just have to leave it out on display? So efficient, she'll want to use it every day? Royal Apothic's artful perfumes and lotions offer a library of flowers that will never wilt, scents suited for every taste. Each Royal Apothic product is completely hand made, from the small bath blending of their Eau de Parfumes, to the hand pouring of their Luminarie Candles, quality is never sacrificed. These products are proudly made in the United States. We invite you to explore the decadent collection of scented hand cremes and perfumes here at Bee.

Recipe Books: Miette

Put this recipe book on your list of must-haves for your next baking adventure! Renowned for beautiful cakes and whimsical confections, Miette Patisserie is among the most beloved of San Francisco's culinary destinations for locals and travelers. Miette's pretty Parisian aesthetic enchants visitors with tables piled high with beribboned bags of gingersnaps, homemade marshmallows, fleur de sel caramels, and rainbows of gumballs. This cookbook brings the enchantment home, sharing 100 secret formulas for favorite Miette treats from chef and owner Meg Ray. More than 75 gorgeous color photos capture the unique beauty of Miette desserts and shops. Scalloped edges on the book block enhance the preciousness of this fetching package. Just like the adorable cakes, cookies, clairs and tarts for sale in Miette's case, this book is irresistible!

La Femme by Picasso

"Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain one when we grow up."

One of the most-recognized figures in 20th century art, Pablo Picasso was a Spanish painter, sculptor, print maker, ceramicist and stage designer. Picasso's personal life was as controversial as his work – he was known for his love affairs, often with studio models that became his muses. In La Femme, Picasso portrays a woman's backside with five precisely placed lines, an uncomplicated tribute to woman's physique. We love the juxtaposition of this simple rendering with the detail of an intricate, vintage frame. 

Organic Candles from Lucia

Lucia is the creation of Lucie Bernier and Andre Pace, a husband and wife team who have developed a collection of candles crafted in Grasse, France. Lucie, together with Andre, hold a strong commitment toward good products with environmentally safe ingredients. Here are just a few of the reasons we love these fragrant candles in bright, beautiful packaging: Lucia candles use only 100% pure organic grade essential oils and 100% natural vegetable & botanical hydrating oils.  No mineral oils or petroleum byproducts are used, and only food grade, vegetable based colors are utilized. We can't wait for you to try these aromatic candles. We promise, you're home will never be the same!

A New Garden Center: An Invitation to a Celebration

We are so excited to invite you to join us for the grand opening of our new Garden Center on Saturday, May 4th from 10am to 6pm and Sunday, May 5th from 10am to 6pm. We've amassed a wonderful collection of non-GMO seeds, garden statuaries and just the right tools you'll need to design the most beautiful garden yet! Flowers or plants, indoor or outdoor, we've got it all right here! Oh, and drinks are on us! We'll be serving sangria, so bring a friend!

We'll also be unveiling a new series here at the blog called Seed Geek. We promise lots of informative and fun posts to help with your gardening adventures!

Stunning Statuaries for a Glorious Garden

Here's a peek at our stunning collection of exquisitely sculpted statuaries that will add charm to any garden or pond. It's an extensive and enchanting selection of new and antique garden statues in fine stone. Our sculptures will artistically accent pathways and gardens, those special sanctuaries where you find peace throughout the sunny, warm-weather months. For a sacred garden spot or a devotional corner of your home, we also have Buddha, the enlightened one; St. Francis of Assisi, mystic and beloved saint; and chubby cherub garden figurines with feathered wings to guard over your oasis of flowers and plants. We can't wait for you to see our collection!

Planters for Your Petaled Purifiers

There is an abundance of scientific research and a wealth of information that confirms that house plants offer substantial benefits by naturally converting carbon dioxide into pure oxygen and helping to remove indoor toxins. So why not fill your home with living air purifiers? At BEE, we have several pretty plants and planters to enhance the beauty of your home. From rustic terracotta and birch cylinder pots to sleek, mod options, and elegant, antique-inspired vases speckled with mercury, we've amassed quite the selection for the most discerning eye! Visit us and find the perfect plant, pot or planters. 

A Home Grown Movement: Non-GMO Seeds

Bee is proud to introduce Seed Savers Open Pollinated Seeds. Open-pollinated varieties conserve the genetic diversity of garden vegetables and prevents the loss of unique varieties in the face of dwindling agricultural biodiversity. From our friends at Seed Savers:

Deciding which seed to plant can be a daunting task, and the decision is often more complicated than simply trying to pick which beautiful tomatoes to grow. Among the more important decisions every gardener makes is the choice between open-pollinated, hybrid, and heirloom seed varieties. The most significant distinction among these types is that gardeners can save true-to-type seed from open-pollinated and heirloom varieties, but not hybrids.

Not sure what seeds to buy? Ask Colleen, our resident Green Thumb Expert! 

We're Diggin' These Gardening Tools

Whether you're tending your plants on your apartment balcony, working at the potting bench, or planting in the garden, you'll find this garden trowel handy for so many gardening duties. This garden trowel has a wide, deep dish blade and tang made of stainless steel and a handle from sustainable hardwood. Come explore our selection of tools, gardening books, and non-gmo seeds. We'll be happy to help you choose the right gardening tools for happy digging! 

Hand-Poured, Eco Candles from Paddywax

Bee loves Paddywax's dedication to social responsibility and we're happy to introduce this line of hand-poured candles and soaps in delicious fragrance blends. The ECO Collection from Paddywax features upcycled wine bottle containers, triple-milled shea butter soap and exclusive wood veneer tubes. May we recommend the ambrosial Grapefruit and Coriander Candles?

Did you know that researchers at the University of Chicago found that when the scent of grapefruit was introduced, research subjects perceived others to be up to ten years younger. The fountain of youth in a candle? We quite like that! Yes, we will certainly put that on hold for you!

Pretty Presents for Mom

The nights she stayed up with you as you fought a fever, the sing-alongs during family road trips or perhaps simply the sound of her voice offering sage and sound advice - these memories stir emotions and propel us to seek out the very best treasures to present to mom on special occasions and moments when you just want her to know she's loved and appreciated.

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and we have the perfect gifts for the woman who knows best, including jewelry and jams, bath and beauty products, candles and more. You'll find an array of colorful scarves for transitioning from crisp spring days into breezy summer nights. We have vivid hues and abstract prints for the creative artist, bold paisley patterns for the arbiter of color, and fetching floral designs for the consummate gardener. Scarves are just the way to add a touch of color to her outfit, whether she's heading out to the local farmer's market or an evening of music at Ravinia, these light, gauzy accessories are a perfect multitasking present.

Stay tuned for more gift ideas for mom from the Bees! We've got books and baskets, candles and cake stands, lotions and linens, pillows and pickles! Wait, pickles? But, not just any pickles. Wait and see!

Welcome to the BEE Blog!

Welcome to our blog! At Bee, we've been busy working like, well, worker bees, to bring you the very best products for home and garden. We're always on the lookout for all-natural, organic ingredients in our edibles, bath and body products, linens and towels, and kitchen decor. We support local artisans, environmentally responsible companies and small-batch manufacturing whenever possible.

Oh, and let's not forget about the bevvy of unique vintage pieces. It's true! Vintage furniture is superior in quality, there's no doubt about it. In addition to our unique gifts and gardening essentials, we're excited to bring you a well-curated line of vintage furniture and home decor, including antique mirrors, beautiful accent pieces and elegant furnishings. Our striking and smartly designed furnishings inhabit the territory between modern and classic. We're getting new treasures in every day, so stop by to discover what's new.

Here at Bee home and garden, we will always seek out the most beautiful, well-crafted and just plain fun products for our customers. Like you, we love treasures that transform our houses into homes. When you walk into our shop, we hope this reflects in our selection of fine goods. We also hope you find the atmosphere warm and inviting, knowing you can expect to find staff that are sincere in their desire to get to know you and assist you.

We can't wait to unveil our new Garden Center, filled to the brim with plants and non-gmo seeds for the perfect front yard, back yard or indoor landscapes. We're looking forward to seeing your smiling face here at BEE home and garden! And don't forget to tell a friend about us!

top image courtesy of Leah MacCarthy | bottom image courtesy of Christina Pippin