A Bee’s Eye View On Broughton Street

In the heart of downtown Savannah, our flagship store on Broughton Street unveiled a captivating store display that seamlessly blends artistry, sustainability, and the natural beauty of our products.

This display features a vibrant array of GIANT handmade flowers, each meticulously crafted from recycled materials, transforming the store into a colorful, eco-conscious bee wonderland.

Chief Creative Officer, Libbie Summer’s vision was to celebrate Savannah Bee Company’s commitment to environmental stewardship through a bee’s eye view in a whimsical floral garden.

The goal was to create a visually striking display that not only attracted customers but also gave each a sense of swirling through the store from a bee’s perspective. Libbie reached out to friend, local artist, and environmental enthusiast, Winslett Watson, to bring this vision to life.

After a few crude sketches, meetings about how to convey the importance of sustainability in the project, and two months of construction the over-the-top bee playland began to grow. 

The construction process was a labor of commitment and creativity. Winslett gathered an assortment of recycled materials including old paper (prior issues of The B. and old wholesale catalogs), discarded cardboard, leftover shipping supplies from our warehouse, dried flowers, and fabric scraps (towels, burlap, old t-shirts).

The giant flowers' petals were made from painted newspapers and cardboard shaped to mimic the delicate yet robust nature of real flowers. The leaves were crafted from thick shipping paper and were folded intricately, creating a textured and realistic appearance.

Winslett enlisted her sons to forage branches and driftwood from Sapelo Island to use as the flower’s stem’s. Each flower, standing between five to eight feet tall, is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Winslett.

Installation was done overnight by Winslett and members of the creative team. Four wildly massive hanging flowers were hung in the store’s front window to beckon customers inside.

Upon entrance, they are greeted by the enchanting floral display that evokes the lushness of a blooming meadow. I was honored to be tasked with the creation of three playful bees buzzing around a colossal sunflower display in the center of the store. My hopes were the spirited grass and flower-covered honeybees will surely keep our customers entertained as they make a move to the mead bar.

If you have a chance to stop by the store, please do. We guarantee a smile. If not, there will be a video walk through with Libbie on our YouTube channel that will have a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of the making of this Broughton Street Bee Heaven. 

The installation will remain a centerpiece of Savannah Bee Company throughout the blooming season and into the Fall, a testament to the beauty that can emerge from conscious creativity and environmental responsibility.

 - Kelsey Kirpich, Creative Assistant