In May of this year, a weeklong series of events highlighted recovery and celebrated the resiliency  and vibrancy of San Francisco’s small businesses. This is one of those events…

During Small Business Week in San Francisco, a beautiful kick-off was created with the installation of 13 floral  butterflies placed throughout San Francisco’s merchant corridors. The butterfly wings, built by  local artists and designers, are six to nine feet in diameter and constructed of natural materials  and fresh flowers. The wings, in partnership with the San Francisco Flower Mart, the Office of  Economic and Workforce Development, and Kilroy Realty were designed to attract shoppers  to San Francisco’s merchant corridors. A map of the wings can be found on Shop and Dine in the  49.  

As part of National Small  Business Week, San Francisco celebrated the contributions and achievements of small business owners by offering a series of educational and networking events designed to inspire, empower, and connect the members of the business community.

Butterflies landed in San Francisco!   On Saturday, May 1st 13 butterflies landed in the streets of San Francisco. (13 large floral Instagram-able butterflies). 

The City is coming back to life after one of the darkest years in our history.  In celebration of the City’s reopening, and Small Business Week in SF, the City of San Francisco, has partnered with the SF Chamber of Commerce and the San Francisco Flower Market to create streets in full bloom.

The San Francisco Flower Market recruited some of the very best floral designers in the Bay Area to create these largescale floral butterflies. The designers let their creative juices flow on this project, and they have created amazing works of art. From North Beach to the Bay View, butterflies will be found on our City streets this weekend. link.oewd.org/ButterflyMap

The idea was sparked when Jeanne Boes, General Manager of the San Francisco Flower Market, saw a similar floral art installation on Instagram in New York’s historic Garment District. The designer posted, “Let it be clear, NYC is not over and it will never be”  Boes felt that floral designers in SF could create large floral structures on the streets of San Francisco to draw people into these recovering business corridors. “The goal of the campaign is to have social media draw the foot traffic into the neighborhoods. Boes presented the idea to Anne Taupier, Acting Director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic & Workforce Development and the rest is history…

Designer Erika Tanchez of Envy Floral Design called her piece “Mariposa De Barrio” or Butterfly of the Hood. “This butterfly symbolizes the transformation I’ve gone through as an individual and with my business over the last 5 years.” says Tanchez. 

The floral designers included: Acme Floral, Anies Charles, Desiree Flower & Design Studio, Envy Floral, Nixon Tran, Paul Robertson, Raul Dueñas Floral & Event Design, Sharla Flock Designs, Sharp Stick Studio, and Stanlee Gatti

For those interested in seeing wehre the butterflies were placed, check out this Google Map.

Here are a few of those butterflies…

Special thanks to Nixon Tran from When Still Blog for the photos and details of the event and to Raul Duenas of RD Floral & Design for sharing his beautiful butterflies. You can find him on Instagram @rd_floral