Crimson Horticulture, Oakland

Tucked into a baby brick warehouse in Temescal Alley, Crimson Horticulture’s interior is dark and moody, but teeming with life…

Plant life: Succulents and orchids, houseplants and air plants, stunning STUNNING floral arrangements both custom and off-the-shelf.

People life: The super friendly and helpful staff, the throngs of devotees back for their third/fourth/fifth visit that month, and the merely curious peeking in the windows to see what all the fuss is about.

Animal life: The dogs of Crimson that you have to be careful not to trip over; the rare-bird taxidermy; the animal engravings on plates; the irridescent insects in shadowbox frames.

Crimson is a dark yet oddly joyous place — none of that trendy light-filled aerie for this shop; let’s get cozy! Let’s imagine how our dining room table can morph into a miniature living world with a few tropical plants and a terrarium, or how our hallway can spring to life with peonies that actually open into full glory! Like a wool blanket on a foggy day, Crimson sparks comfort and joy in everyone who gets pulled into the shop, whether for the first time or the tenth.

https://www.crimsonhort.com

Anne Culbertson