Flower July/August 2021

“That translucent alabaster of our memories.” —Marcel Proust AS I PORED OVER THIS ISSUE, with its glorious and gorgeous entertaining stories, I began to dream of my early awareness of the magic of shimmery summer parties. I remember very distinctly the sounds, sights, and smells on the day of a summer party at my house growing up: the hum of the lawn mower; the strains of show tunes from the hi-fi setting the tone; the stacks of plates, platters, crisp linen napkins, and silver; and the fragrant bouquet of silver polish, lilies (my mother’s favorite flower), the sophisticated Ma Griffe (my mother’s perfume of choice), and whatever was cooking—humble and homey red beans and rice (my father’s specialty), shrimp boiling in his special spices, or even something fancy and complex…

THE BACKYARD is in bloom, the terrace is overflowing with potted herbs and flowers—it’s time for a summer garden party and a reason to add a couple of new pieces to your warm-weather wardrobe. Loren Hope’s fanciful floral jewelry and hair accessories with a retro vibe, created in Rhode Island, caught our attention. Loren’s fascination with costume jewelry took hold in childhood, when she opened jewelry boxes in her grandmother’s thrift shop to examine the treasures inside. She is also inspired by nature. “During the warmer months here in New England, I spend most of my weekends in my flower garden or shopping for more flowers at the nurseries,” she explains. “Since I was a little girl, I have always loved spending time outdoors and have been captivated by the…

ALYSON BROWN IS A FLOWER ENTHUSIAST, A cocktail creator, and founder of the Wild Folk Flower Apothecary. Though she resides in Oregon, she often references her Southern upbringing near the Florida Gulf Coast beaches. In her new book, The Flower-Infused Cocktail: Flowers, with a Twist (Folk, 2021), Alyson showcases her mixology skills using botanical ingredients. She also gives tips on “marvelous mocktails,” building a bar, and the art of the garnish. Her favorite summer sippers use wild rose, calendula, red clover, and sweet alyssum. Serve up a pitcher at your next gathering. theflowerinfusedcocktail.com CLOVERJITO Makes 1 drink The Cloverjito combines two of my favorite summer drinks, iced tea and the classic rum-based mojito, into a fresh cocktail. CLOVER SUN TEA 2 tablespoons red clover blossoms1 tablespoon dried mint1 tablespoon dried…

Pierre Frey’s new Eternel Eté collection finds its inspiration in Provence in the South of France, a place dear to Patrick Frey. “For me, Provence is profoundly alive, a region steeped in history, of great culture, a territory rich in contrasting landscapes,” says Patrick, who took his entire creative team there “to understand the creative power of this territory.” The collection speaks to different aspects of Provence—the artists who painted there, such as Picasso and Fernand Léger, and its rich ceramics history. Some of the designs speak to the landscape of the region as well—the sun and, of course, the flowers. There are diminutive floral patterns like Fleurs de corail and oversized ones like Grasse and Pays d’aix, which command attention. pierrefrey.com Designer Roxana Eslamieh of Manuka Textiles, known for…

If the kitchen is truly the heart of the home, then why not make it a lively, happy space with the addition of some statement-making color. We are dreaming about the options from L’Atelier Paris. The spring collection showcases 15 exclusive colors of wow in its line of elegant French ranges, which can be customized with a wide array of materials, finishes, and accessories. These ranges are like sophisticated jewelry for your kitchen and are guaranteed to be the talk of any gatherings at home. Your only dilemma will be settling on a color! leatelierparis.com…

A trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has been on our wish list for quite some time, and the opening of the five-guestsuite Hotel Amparo has moved it to the top. Owners Mariana Barran Goodall of Hibiscus Linens and her husband, Taylor, have created a private oasis in the heart of the city, located in the former mayor’s residence, which dates back 300 years. Texas designer Aaron Rambo imbued the rooms with international flavor. “I imagined if this was a family home for generations, with the rooms holding pieces that had been brought in over the years from the family’s travels,” says Aaron. “None of the pieces were intended to be together but somehow work as a group.” Think contemporary with ancient, shiny with rough, and plenty of patina.…