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Archive for January, 2013

Floral Etiquette of The Royal Ballet

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

Longtime friends, owners and partners, Stephen Wicks and Mark Welford of bbrooks member, Bloomsbury Flowers, London, UK, are featured in this December 2012 article from The Guardian.

Retired professional ballet dancers, Mark and Stephen share insights and anecdotes related to the  floral gift-giving customs of the Royal Ballet.

Winter Garden Inspiration

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013

Writer Ryan Gainey features watercolor botanicals by artist Sarah Towery in his Flower Magazine Winter 2013 article.  Mr Gainey highlights flowering plants and shrubs which bloom throughout the winter in his lovely Southern garden.

The watercolors were commissioned by Mr. Gainey to illustrate his newest book, “The Gathered Garden” and will be displayed in an exhibit on February 27th, 2013, in association with the Cherokee Garden Library of the Jame G. Kenan Research Center at  the Atlanta History Center.

 

Monet’s Giverny in NYC

Tuesday, January 15th, 2013

For much of this past year, visitors to the New York Botanical Garden have been treated to a transcendent experience.  In a singularly ambitious exhibition, the NYBG re-created the Impressionist’s famous French garden in exquisite detail… filling the conservatory courtyard ponds with the same varieties of water lilies that Monet grew and immortalized in his paintings.

Changed out seasonally, the exhibit included all of Monet’s favorites: irises, poppies, nasturtiums, roses, delphinium, and foxgloves.

As seen in flowermag.com Winter 2012 issue.

Schneeglöckchenbuch by Gunther Waldorf

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013

One of nature’s most exquisite compositions, Snowdrops, bloom from melting snow cover just as winter ends.  Their delicate white flowers hang down from crisp green stalks as their  petals elegantly fight gravity to open and display their extraordinary markings.

Snowdrops can take several years to cultivate, and some varieties are so unusual that a single plant will sell for hundreds of dollars.

Gunther Waldorf has written a warm and engaging guide showcasing more than 300  snowdrops found throughout Europe, all in photos he shot himself.

Many of the varieties are not available in the United States due to European Union environmental protections, though similar snowdrops can be found stateside.

Gunther Waldorf’s “Snowdrops” is published by Frances Lincoln Limited, 2012.

As seen in Winter 2012 issue of Garden Design magazine.

Lenten Roses ~ Gorgeous start to the New Year!

Friday, January 4th, 2013

Bugs won’t eat them.  Deer won’t munch on them.  Heat and drought won’t faze them.  These amazing plants  are Lenten roses (Helleborus orientalis).

The name, “Lenten rose” is from bygone days, when these plants started blooming in late winter near Lent.  But now, due to global warming, people in the Lower often spy thier first flowers in early January.

Blooms range from crimson to pink, burgundy, purple, yellow, white, green and nearly black.  After they bloom, one can continue to appreciate the handsome evergreen foliage, which stands 6 to 10 inches high.

As seen in January 2013 issue of Southern Living.