Flower July/August 2024

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace.”—MAY SARTON MY HUSBAND, GATES, has given his heart to gardening. In fact, his regular reading list consists of seed catalogues, gardening books, and my Garden Club of America bulletin. Be it tending our 3-acre suburban garden or developing and maintaining quail habitat and grazing land on our farm, he enjoys “digging in the dirt.” He loves the burning process on the farm in winter to open the surface of the forest floor to more sunlight so that the seed bank can come forth. He loves the spring preparations for growing season, mostly turning soil for planting. And he loves bushhogging old lanes…

Inspired by the azure beauty of sparkling pools, we share our true-blue picks. Cut to the chaise—lounging poolside has never looked so chic. These splashy outdoor fabrics are UV protected and easy to clean. Apply liberally to alfresco areas.…

“Since my early days of working with flowers, I’ve been influenced by great British floral designers such as Constance Spry and Sheila Macqueen, and my appreciation for English gardens has only grown over time. I love creating lush arrangements where the flowers appear as if they’re actually growing in a garden.”—SYBIL SYLVESTER OF WILDFLOWER DESIGNS Sybil’s Design Principles See how they flourish in this indoor garden arrangement. 1. LAY THE GROUNDWORK Every gardener knows that good soil preparation ultimately leads to the happiest plants. Creating a sturdy foundation in your floral container does the same thing by providing the support to design. For this arrangement, I used a bed of gravel with chicken wire on top that will secure even the tallest stems. 2. TELL A COLOR STORY Mother Nature…

FLOWER: You grew up in Manhattan and received a degree in history and botany from Vassar College. How did that lead you to a career in landscape architecture?  Ed Hollander: If you are lucky, you find that one college professor who helps direct your path. I was the luckiest person ever because I found more than one. At Vassar, I signed up for horticulture as an elective on a whim. That decision introduced me to Sven Sward, a devoted horticulturist and former superintendent of grounds at Vassar. He is the one who truly led me to the trees, and my interest only grew. From there, I attended the New York Botanical Garden School of Professional Horticulture, but it wasn’t until I went to the University of Pennsylvania to study landscape…

“The whole thing sort of started by accident,” says Keith Meacham of the Nashville-based lifestyle brand she co-founded with her childhood friend, the late author Julia Reed. “Julia had this idea to design and sell beautiful, handmade wares for the home and garden that you couldn’t find anywhere else. I had just left a career in technology, and I knew enough about e-commerce that I thought I could help. Honestly, I had no intention of doing much more than that—helping Julia get her gig going. But the more we schemed and dreamed about it, the more invested we became in building something special together.” That was roughly five years ago. Since then, Reed Smythe & Company (which combines Julia’s last name and Keith’s maiden name) has blossomed from a pet…

Born Edith Newbold Jones in 1862, Edith Wharton spent her childhood traveling around the world. When her family moved to Europe, she was exposed to grand gardens, flower-filled hillsides, piazzas, and ancient ruins. The beauty she observed made a lasting impression on Wharton, leading to her passion for literature, interiors, and nature. When her family returned to Pencraig, their home in Newport, Rhode Island, Wharton found even more inspiration in the landscape. In her memoir, she wrote, “The roomy and pleasant house of Pencraig was surrounded by a verandah wreathed in clematis and honeysuckle, and below it a lawn sloped to a deep daisied meadow …” Wharton made her social debut into New York society in the winter of 1879. Six years later, she married Edward Wharton, from a well-established…