Botanic Impressions

Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: April 2025

Georgia O’Keefe once said “If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.”

Douglas Selph and Austin Davis, co-owners of Southern Botanics, create magic that allows you to hold onto that world through their handcrafted pressed botanical works of art.

For those wishing to create lasting artwork commemorating their wedding, engagement, anniversaries or other special occasions, they will press your flowers into framed keepsakes, and can incorporate invitations, photos, and other memorabilia into their final design.

Brides will be excited to know they can preserve their bridal bouquets by turning them into one-of-a-kind framed works of art. They carefully take the bouquet apart, press the flowers and then compose the pressed flowers into a lovely piece suggesting the look of the original bouquet.

Douglas and Austin suggest that brides wishing to preserve their bouquets in this manner contact them prior to the wedding to schedule their service.

Although these gifted artists have enjoyed a second home in Highlands for six years, they’re now thrilled to be living on the Plateau year-round. They’ve always found their inspiration in nature, and waking up in our mountain paradise each morning has inspired them to explore new mediums and engaging ways to connect with their customers.

They now offer pressed botanical workshops at Trailborn Highlands as part of Trailborn’s Experiences program, the first of which this season is scheduled for Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 P.M. Participants will be provided with a mini-press and native plant materials in order to learn the basics of botanical pressing and mounting. They will then be able to create their own botanical art at home once the plant materials are dried and ready to remove from the press. For details, cost, and to secure your spot, contact Trailborn Highlands.

They’re also venturing into plaster casting of flowers and botanicals, and three-dimensional resin casting offering customers even more opportunities to enjoy their art.

Southern Botanics’ artwork can be purchased locally at Acorns and The Bascom Gift Store in Highlands and Objet D’ Art in Cashiers. Don’t miss their trunk show at Acorns on July 5.

You may also purchase their artwork at etsy.com/shop/southernbotanics. You can reach them by phone at (404) 314-5650 or by email at southernbotanics@gmail.com. Also check out their website at southernbotanics.com and their Facebook and Instagram pages, which offer stunning galleries of their work.