PORT GAMBLE — Kim Campbell prefers live flowers over silk because she has a greater appreciation for the fresh blossoms when she knows they will only be around for a limited amount of time.

“Because it doesn’t last forever, to me, it seems like it needs to be enjoyed in the moment,” she said.

And while it would be nice if everyone had fresh flowers on their tables every day, having them on occasion can be a nice and inexpensive luxury, she added.

But Campbell gets to surround herself with such luxuries every day as one of the owners of newest businesses in Port Gamble, Rugosa Rose, located in House 7 on Rainier Avenue.

While she has been a wedding florist since 1996, Campbell recently realized she wanted to do more than just weddings. She had been working out of her home, but after watching Port Gamble grow the past few years, she wanted to bring her business to town. She also loved the idea of working out of a historic building versus a mall-like setting.

“I’ve just been watching it grow and I knew if I wanted to get here, I had to do it fast,” Campbell said.

The kitchen of House 7 is where the creativity happens and the flowers take on a life of their own as they become arrangements.

“I realize that every florist loves flowers but I let the flowers speak for themselves,” she said. “Just let the beauty of the flowers stand out.”

She appreciates unique vases, too, and makes them part of the whole piece, rather than just a holding tank for water and stems. Customers can bring in their own vases or purchase them from Campbell.

“Might as well get something nice you can put out somewhere,” she said.

Campbell receives a mix of walk-in and advanced orders, plus she hopes to do arrangements for wedding parties in Port Gamble.

She uses South American roses and tries to provide a variety, such as bright apricot or two-toned colored roses. Campbell’s also a big fan of Gerber daisies and unusual greenery, as well as more natural-looking accent pieces, like twigs. She’s particular about what she keeps in her coolers, too, and travels to Seattle to hand-pick her plants from a wholesaler.

“I like to know what I’m getting,” Campbell said.

Tips for keeping arrangements fresh includes re-cutting stems when changing the water, which should be every other day, picking out dying flowers because they affect the others and using the flower food given with arrangements.

While her primary job is being a florist, Campbell has a wide variety of fun and stylish merchandise for sale in her shop.

“To support my shopping habit,” she said with a laugh about why she added a retail angle. Campbell realizes that Port Gamble is a big tourism town and with all the foot traffic, especially during the summer, people will be able to visit her shop for more than just flowers.

Her gift selection includes candles, jewelry, home decor, bath products and handmade soaps from Bainbridge Island and skin care products from Whidbey Island. The watches are a big hit, mainly because the bands are made from sturdy and colorful canvas and the numbers on the watch face are big enough to see without needing glasses.

“It’s an economic decision,” she said. “So far, it’s paying off great.”