Flower May/June 2020

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature, and God.”—Anne Frank USUALLY THERE’S A SPECIFIC MESSAGE I want to communicate when I sit down to write this letter. But the world has changed. By the time you read this, the coronavirus may be on its way out, and I pray that it is. But either way, I must address this surreal season in which we find ourselves. The problem is I don’t really know where we are. This is disconcerting to someone of very strong opinions, such as myself. My uncle used to say of me, “Seldom right, never in doubt.” I acknowledge that may still be the case, but maybe a…

EXPERT FLORAL TUTORIALS Learn the art of arranging from top floral designers with Flower’s collection of step-by-step guides, full of tips and techniques that you can apply to your own creations. flowermag.com/how-to DREAMY OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES The right blend of creature comforts, fresh air, and nature makes an at-home retreat that you’ll never want to leave. Feather your outdoor nest with ideas from these porches, patios, terraces, decks, and rooftop gardens. flowermag.com/dreamy-outdoor-living-spaces AMERICA’S MOST RENOWNED PUBLIC GARDENS Celebrate the beauty and horticultural excellence of outstanding public gardens across the country. flowermag.com/public-gardens FLOWERMAG.COM TIME TO BLOOM. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INSPIRATION AND ONLINE EXCLUSIVES FOLLOW US l…

AT JUST 5 YEARS OLD Anita Wong started learning the Lingnan style of Chinese painting, continuing a generations-old family tradition. After studying with a master painter for more than 10 years, Wong moved to London to attend Central Saint Martins after graduating from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Later she received an MFA and MA from Maryland Institute College of Art, where she was a teaching assistant. Despite all her studies, Wong admits to being lost as an artist for a long time. Trained as a traditionalist, she found herself following a lot of rules. “I didn’t know how to break them, and I didn’t want to give up on traditional art just because the world had already moved on to contemporary art. I didn’t want to blindly follow any trend…

IN SUMMER TO SUMMER: HOUSES BY THE SEA (Vendome, 2020), writer Jennifer Ash Rudick and photographer Tria Giovan, the talents behind Out East: Houses and Gardens of the Hamptons (Vendome, 2017) have teamed up again to deliver a collection of magical summer houses in Maine, Nantucket, Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, and more, showcasing a bevy of styles for summertime living. We can almost feel the beachside breezes and sand under our feet while gathering decorating ideas to try. Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style (Princeton Architectural Press, 2020) by Christin Geall offers a fresh, thoughtful approach to arranging. Art and art history have influenced Geall, and she writes about how paintings can provide guidance about color, light, and movement. The chapter on creativity encourages all us to train, practice, and study…

Interior and event designer Rebecca Gardner of Houses and Parties has loved to set the scene for shimmering happenings from an early age. “I celebrated my 8th birthday with a fashion show party,” she recalls. “My friends came dressed in fantasy looks and walked the driveway down the side of my house. A glamorous local newscaster served as emcee and announced each guest by name. I closed the show dressed as a bride in shiny off-white polyester.” Gardner credits her uncle—a multitalented aesthete with a flair for the chic and surprising gesture in cooking, entertaining, and design—with inspiring her own style. On hearing of my plans to visit Savannah, Georgia, for a couple of book-signing events, Rebecca, a good friend of mine, seized upon the idea of throwing a dinner…

“I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work”—Frank Lloyd Wright…