Flower May/June 2019

The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.—GERTRUDE JEKYLL I BEGIN MY GARDEN PRESENTATIONS with the personal credo that “it all started with a garden, and we’ve been trying to re-create it ever since.” As referenced in the Joni Mitchell anthem of the ’60s, “Woodstock,” “We’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.” As many of you know, my husband is the gardener in the family. I cut and arrange what he grows. I am, however, a passionate observer and lover of gardens. I’m also an awed admirer of those whose métier is to create even more beauty with what Mother Nature provides. There is nothing more refreshing and lifegiving to…

I MAGINE A WHITNEY BIENNIAL for the global floral world, a survey taking the pulse of the contemporary moment from the best and brightest stars wielding a pair of clippers, all captured within the bindings of a book, and you’ll get a sense of Blooms (Phaidon, 2019). Showcasing the work of 86 floral designers, Blooms illustrates the boundary-busting, genre-bending nature of modern floristry and its new, heightened esteem in the artistic firmament. “Not your grandmother’s florist” is how one editor sums it up in the preface. Indeed, the flower arrangements in these pages—though vastly variant from one another—bear out today’s cultural crosscurrents. Readers will see ripple effects of the slow food movement in the use of local, foraged, and sustainable materials; note the intensifying intersection of flowers with fashion and…

IN THE INTRODUCTION of his new book Garden Wild (Rizzoli New York, 2019), photographer Andre Baranowski contemplates the relationship people have had with the natural world over time. Centuries ago, he writes, “humans were surrounded by wild nature and survival was at best contingent. Now we’re surrounded by concrete jungles where we must carve out precious acres of wildness to connect to our existential roots.” The central question for Baranowski—and one he asks of readers—is “Can we as humans carve a comfortable niche on this planet without disturbing or destroying the natural order of things?” It’s sobering stuff, to be sure, but the 12 gardens Baranowski documents in this book and the philosophy behind their design offer a way forward. The gardens vary in size, style, and stature. Some are…

A RENAISSANCE WOMAN in a modern moment, South African designer Debby Tenquist has as many talents as she has interests. During her studies in decorative arts at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the South Africa native realized that many decorative artists were also architects and gardeners, so by a scholarly osmosis, she learned about historical gardens and the principles of their design. After a stint working for Sotheby’s auction house and a turn working in antique valuations, Tenquist decided to try her hand at landscape architecture back in Johannesburg. She was fortunate to get commissions that excited her from the start and soon had a bustling business, culminating in her work on The Garden of St Christopher—a private garden open by appointment—in the city’s Hyde Park. “Designing a…

Flower: It’s a pleasure to talk to you. We’re big fans of your art [which sells under the name Ron Nicole]. Tell us about your background. Ronni Robinson: I’ve always been obsessed with flowers. Growing up in Philly, I remember noticing the flowers that grew through the cracks of the concrete. I would stop to admire them, then fall behind and usually get into trouble. Later as an adult, I kept working with flowers, trying different things. To make money, I worked in the restaurant industry, working 80-hour weeks, but thought, This can’t be it. I knew I wanted to work with flowers, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. Was there a clarifying moment? About three years ago, I was visiting the Barnes collection and saw…

MATERIALS ■ Berried ivy, camellia, and pistache foliage■ Anemone■ ‘Carey’ rose (David Austin)■ Double Frill anemone■ Hellebore■ ‘Kate’ rose (David Austin)■ Ranunculus■ ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peony■ Sweet pea flowers and tendrils■ Florist frog■ Adhesive fix■ Decorative bowl■ Chicken wire■ Florist pot tape THERE IS SOMETHING VERY DECADENT about turning up to a dinner party with a bowl full of blooms. The bowl can be any shape or size, just make sure it’s watertight. I remember when I was little a friend of my mum’s turning up for a “grown up” dinner party with an ornate silver bowl filled with floating waterlilies—it looked magical! I like to make this sort of arrangement very flower-heavy and keep it low to the bowl, as it looks fuller and more luxurious this way. It also…