art of flowers...a blog by The Bonny Doon Garden Company

The Botany of Desire Documentary

 

 

Michael Pollan has written such a great book- The Botany of Desire- that now it has been produced into a two hour documentary scheduled to air on PBS on October 28. 

About two years ago I recieved a phone call from the producer who asked if they could interview me in my garden for this documentary. I was honored, to say the least! Thank you Amy Stewart! So, with much re-arranging in the rose garden, and coaxing them into bloom in time for the shoot we shot the interview.  It was great fun, the garden was in full bloom, and a blanket of fog rolled in just in time for the videographer to get some incredibly romantic & colorful images of roses, dahlia, and much more.

However, two months ago, the much awaited moment of fame was snuffed out when they had to cut my footage from the final edited version.  Apparently there's a few very quick glimpses of the garden in there, but...oh well, I know I'm not the only one, and it turns out that what they did instead was make a little mini special 'Like a Florist from 100 Years Ago' and added to the Botany DVD that is for sale here.   I'm really impressed with the footage, and I haven't even seen the full documentary yet, just the previews, and it promises to be nothing short of fascinating.

In light of all that has happene for us, including the 'inclusion' on the Botany DVD, opening our new store inside New Leaf Market, and celebrating 10 years in the business, we're having a party!

Mark your calendars for November 21, from 1-3pm at our new location--

The Bonny Doon Garden Company's Open House Anniversary Celebration!

more details on this later...

Nikki & Mick @ Sand Rock Farm

An early October wedding always delves deep in my pshyche.  The leaves are turning, the air smells different, and there's a feeling of romance in the air.  The light has gone from summer bright to an autumn glow.  I love it--all my deepest and most sincere thoughts come bubbling to the surface this time of year. 

I truly enjoyed creating the floral design for Nikki & Mick's beautiful day at Sand Rock Farm in Aptos.  It was a wedding theme I can truly resonate with; Rustic, Elegant, Uncontrived, Wild. Truly beautiful--here's some shots.  There will be more later on my web site.  Photography by Sandra Ivany

A happy smiling bride is just picture perfect for me!

I LOVE Candelabras!!!

And that's all--

Check out my web site later in the month for more photos! 
 

   

Jolynn & Ryan

I LOVED the theme for Jolynn & Ryan's wedding last month.  It was a very vintage themed wedding, and as you can see from the maid's bouqets, Jolynn put a lot of thought into her wedding theme.  I used Dupiani Silk in natural to wrap simple bunches of French lavender.  Jolynn had bought each maid an antique brooch as a gift, and I attached to their bouquets.  Lovely! The pictures (at least mine!) don't do them justice! The wedding was at Sand Rock Farm which is an awesome venue for a Santa Cruz wedding.  I love doing weddings there because the property lends itself so nicely to so many difference styles and personalities.  

 

Bridal Bouquet Luncheon

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of hosting a Bride, her Mother and her maids for a luncheon in the New Leaf Community classroom--

The idea was for the ladies to enjoy time together while I assisted them in creating their wedding bouquets.  The luncheon was on Friday, and I delivered their gorgeous bouquets to them Saturday morning--just in time for the wedding vowels on the beach! It was lovely!

  

An Inspiration

Paula Pryke  has been an inspiration for me long before I began arranging flowers.  Her designs have always resonated 'garden elegance', which is what intrigued me from the beginnning.  She has a new book all about her signature color--PINK.  No one else can make pink look so gorgeous!

Romantic Homes features 'Renew Posie'

 

It's a lovely day indeed when you open such a beautiful magazine such as Romantic Homes and find your own work inside--

Featured in the August issue is the new 'Renew Posie' --which I created when the editor inquired if I could contribute a posie for a shoot.  The shoot was about entertaining, and in specific hosting an anti-oxidant, healthful (and beautiful, or course!) meal to your guests.  I created the Renew Posie to include sentiments to foster metal and physical rejuvenation and well-being. 

Since the image doesn't allow you to read my quote box, here it is;

The human body, mind and spirit can

portray magnificent powers of love,

beauty, capability and endurance. But

periodically our vitality becomes encased

with unwanted toxins.When we

detoxify, we break out of this encasement,

enabling us to bring forth our

physical and mental vitality once

again, and unleashing the vibrant,

healthful person we want to be. The

Renew Posie is an herbal recipe for

both spiritual and physical rebirth.

Drawing on the historical language of

flowers, the Renew Posie demonstrates

the dramatic healing powers of the flora

and fauna that grace our natural

world and creates an aura of calm,

freshness and renewal.

—Teresa Sabankaya

The Renew Posie is available for our local delivery, as well as nationwide shipping from our web site

Bloom Day...late again

OK, these images were taken on the 16th of May...sorry it's late again!

Regardless, enjoy!

 

The Alchemist- a one-time-bloomer. Has covered the entire corner of the 12' high pergola, and on it's way over the top.

 

Sorry, it's sideways. The pincusion Protea.

 

This is a Leucodendron- with a ladybug!

 

'Distant Drums'- a hybrid tea rose.

And that's it for now...many more but way too many!

Filoli-part II

Our exhibition at Filoli was a huge success. The comments we heard about the 12 foot table we decorated in the grand ballroom were more than flattering, and SO many people attended the flower show.  We received many warm complements, and distributed tons of brochures! Here are some snapshots for sharing...

 

 

 

And of course, I managed to get out into the exquisite gardens of Filoli....

aaahhh. What does it mean when you walk into a garden and your eyes literally tear up?  Beyond obsessed I guess.  But I mark it off as the raw emotion of nature and human hands at work in an unmatched synchronization.  Nothing can compare to what we can do together with the natural world.

  

A mini-parterre in a beautifully built raised box.  My daugher would love this...anything in miniature.  A true work of art.

There's so many more, but I fear I'll bore you to craziness.  Just know that this was a complete honor to be a part of such a huge historical piece of our country- Filoli.  More 'professional images' later...

Off to Filoli

Next week I will be exhibiting at Filoli Flower Show! 

I am truly thrilled, honored, anxious and excited all at once.  To participate in this event is a lot like the Kentucy Derby of designers & artists.  The mansion itself 'undressed' is a remarkable example of the fine craftsmanship, and exquisite taste of the fairly well off gold mining families of the 21st Century here on the west coast.

The gardens --well I just don't know where to begin there.  It's been linked as a favorite of mine here on my blog since I went to visit for the first time several years ago.  It is just beyond gorgeous, and said to be the finest example of garden architechure of the 'Golden Era'.  It is just a dream.  

I am participating with the fabulous Ann Morhauser, of Annieglass.  This is a special honor- I always love gracing Annie's gorgeous art for the table with my floral displays.  We're doing a table together in the Grand Ballroom!  

The Santa Cruz Sentinel has me featured in an article about this event.  Check it out! Exciting stuff!

Santa Cruz Sentinel-Filoli Gardens worth the drive   

Running with clippers

 

It's the season for running with clippers.  I've got talent-true talent.  Running with clippers takes years of practice.  Cutting at an angle, leaving 3/4 of the leaf, inspecting bloom for the 'just a hint' of color before the clip, then on to the next.  Why do I run? Well it's life.  I have to get to work! But mainly it's the desire to get my cuts to the conditioned water and cooler as quickly as possible, to prolong their after-garden life. 

The image above is of just one of the 10 raised beds cultivated with single late tulips, Darwin hybrid, and dutch hybrids.  I have 8 more to go, it's almost 8am, and this is happening 1-2 times daily! Tulips dont wait.  And I don't mind leaving a few for me to enjoy- tucked away in their beds, absorbing the sunlight that will in turn use their velvety petals and leaves to return the energy back into the bulb.  But for the most part- it's business.  I need to sell them.

Cutting gorgeous bloms brings a special kind of joy to me.  I love seeing them later in an arrangement, or a bunch of them wrapped together, and wisked off to a customer's home to enjoy. Some people ask me, 'doesn't is just kill you to cut off all those beautiful blooms?'  My response to that-- I see it as sharing the fruits of my labor, and the miracle of nature.

Bouquets to Art 2009

 

Bouquets to Art 2009
Interpretation of John Singer Sargent
Caroline de Bassano, Marquise d'Espeuilles
1884

This year was a little challenging for me--given that we've just opened up a new store a mere 5 days prior to set-up day for Bouquets to Art. 

All-in-all it was an OK piece for me.  I feel I could have taken it many steps deeper into the interpretation, however, my thought process began to unravel greatly a couple of days prior, and sometimes, you need to just go back to a simple interpretation rather than going phsycho about it!

:)