A new floral design business is bringing a fresh, artistic approach to Long Beach Island, creating arrangements that are more than just flowers—they’re living sculptures.
When Keisi Met’hoxha and Aylin Miranda first started creating art together eight years ago; painting, building sculptures, doing makeup for friends, they never imagined their shared artistic vision would blossom into Botanika NJ, a floral design business that’s already making waves on Long Beach Island just three weeks after launching.
Where Art Meets Nature
What sets Botanika NJ apart is their unique approach to floral design. Drawing inspiration from European and modern floral traditions, Keisi and Aylin create arrangements that feel more like art installations than traditional bouquets.
“We’re trying to bring something more than just bouquets,” Keisi explains. “When you order a piece from Botanika NJ, it’s a whole live art piece.”
Their designs feature monochromatic color schemes and bold, extravagant compositions that differ dramatically from conventional American floral arrangements. Instead of the standard dozen roses, imagine walking into someone’s home and being greeted by an eye-catching flower box that serves as a living centerpiece.
“We really feel a lot of emotion and expression through creating the arrangements,” Aylin shares. “So we want our arrangements to bring that same emotion and resonate with the client admiring it.”
Community Connection
The business choice to launch on LBI was deeply personal for both founders. Aylin grew up in Beach Haven, attending the local school and appreciating the tight-knit community where teachers know the families and neighbors greet each other at Acme.
“I grew up listening to tourists saying I was so lucky, and I was confused because I thought this was how everyone lived,” Aylin remembered. “Now that I’m older, I see how fortunate I was to live in this community. I feel so connected.”
For Keisi, who immigrated from Albania, discovering LBI felt like finding paradise. “When I first got here, this was heaven,” she recalls. “It didn’t feel like the America I saw in movies. People would say good morning to you at the grocery shop, tell you they loved your outfit. I come from Eastern Europe, so people are a little bit more tough. I told my mom I’m not leaving this place.”
After trying life in New York and other cities, Keisi always found herself drawn back to the supportive, collaborative community of LBI. “There’s no judgment, no hate, just a lot of collaboration. Anything you want to do, they really support you.”
The support of LBI was proven when they were getting their business off the ground. They met with Michelle, former K+Co Living designer and 25-year floral industry professional, to get some insights. She was happy to share advice and create connections to help them get started, which built their confidence and pointed them in new directions.
A Labor of Love and Learning
The duo takes a hands-on approach to sourcing their flowers. They’re committed to staying local when possible, though they acknowledge the challenges New Jersey’s growing zone presents, especially during winter months. They’ve been visiting wholesalers throughout South Jersey and planning trips to North Jersey and New York to find the most unique blooms in the off-season.
“We’re trying to stay monochromatic and choose flowers based on what inspires us that day,” Keisi shares. “If the wholesaler has a lot of greens, whites, and pinks, we’ll stay in that color family. We try to visualize a certain color theme.”
While they follow European and modern floral designers on social media, they’ve discovered that their best work comes from following their own instincts. When they attempt to recreate a Pinterest-inspired bouquet, it inevitably transforms into something uniquely their own.
Personal Service, Artistic Results
Botanika NJ currently operates through a personalized order request system rather than a traditional online cart. This intentional approach allows them to have conversations with each customer about their needs, preferences, and the occasion.
“The flowers are very unique, so it will never be the same,” Keisi notes. “We want to talk to the customer first to ask questions like, what kind of flowers would you like? What is the occasion? We want it to be more of a conversation.”
They offer free delivery throughout LBI and service the Manahawken area, taking orders through their website, Instagram, and email.
Seasonal Specialties
This holiday season, Botanika NJ is featuring their signature flower boxes with a festive twist; roses accented with pine and winter greenery that capture the magic of the holidays. These seasonal flower box or seasonal bouquet arrangements, which Aylin describes as their “bread and butter,” bring a sophisticated seasonal touch to any home. Their pieces are designed to bring art into the home and immediately draw the eye.
Custom floral arrangements for any holiday or celebration can be requested. Since the bouquets and flower boxes are based on which flowers are available, there may be a bit longer wait time while they track down the flowers you want. After hearing your vision, Keisi and Aylin will add their creative expression to deliver a truly unique, extravagant piece.
Looking Ahead
While Botanika is just getting started, the founders have big dreams. They’re exploring the idea of opening a storefront on LBI or just off the bridge in Manahawkin. They’re also planning to expand their demographic reach, including a creative plan to give free bouquets to construction workers around the island, inspired by seeing workers admiring their flowers during a photo shoot.
“We saw construction workers actually looking at our flowers and admiring them,” Keisi remembers. “We felt so bad. We thought, they need a bouquet too, not only women.”
While these arrangements make great gifts, Botanika NJ wants to also normalize flowers as living art for year-round display. There’s no need to wait until a birthday or anniversary and hope for flowers. Anyone can buy these arrangements for themselves, at any time, whenever they feel like adding a bit of natural beauty to their home.
Order Your Living Art
Whether you’re looking for a statement piece, a memorable gift, or a festive holiday arrangement, Botanika NJ offers something truly different. Their flower boxes and custom arrangements bring the sophistication of European floral design to the Jersey Shore, creating pieces that are meant to be admired as the living art they are.
Ready to bring a piece of botanical artistry into your home? Visit Botanika NJ’s websiteor follow them on Instagramor Facebookto inquire about custom arrangements and holiday boxes. They offer free delivery throughout Long Beach Island.
“When you order from us, it’s like a live piece that you’re going to keep in your home—like a living sculpture,” Keisi says. “That’s our main goal, to be represented in that way.”
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