Flower

“For how might ever sweetnesse have be knowe to him that never tasted bitternesse?”— “Troilus and Criseyde” by Geoffrey Chaucer AS WE DELVE INTO OUR ARCHIVES to commemorate our 15 years in print (YES, 15!), I am struck by the vicissitudes of life in general—and in the life of FLOWER in particular. A while back, I visited Napa Valley’s Newton Vineyard. I spent the day directing a photo shoot and learning all about the genesis and development of one of the most interesting and exquisite properties I’ve ever had the good fortune to experience. We featured the story in our November/December 2013 issue. Sadly, this Edenic vineyard/garden has since been destroyed during the brutal wildfires of 2020. All the more reason to highlight this special place again, this time on the cover…

Celebrating Home: A Time for Every Season by James T. Farmer (Gibbs Smith, August 2022), $50 “Nothing is too insignificant to celebrate,” says beloved author and interior designer James Farmer. In his newest book, James shares his love of planning and hosting celebrations at his homes in Georgia and North Carolina. His signature style that combines classic design with today’s contemporary mindset is displayed in every perfectly curated fête. As James says, “I hope this book inspires readers to use the good linens, cut some camellias from the yard and pull out the heirloom serveware—because setting the table for life’s milestones, big and small, makes all the difference.” Romancing the Home: Stylish Interiors for Modern Living by Stewart Manger with Jacqueline Terrebonne (Rizzoli, September 2022), $50 Since launching his design firm in 2016, Stewart Manger…

When lifelong Louisianian Bridget Boustany and husband Charles moved to Washington, D.C., they each had their own wishes. Charles wanted to be near the Capitol so he could bike to work, while Bridget was intent on finding a home with enough outdoor space to cultivate an urban oasis for entertaining. Luckily, both requests were fulfilled with a historic townhouse boasting front and rear gardens in a storied Capitol Hill neighborhood. To help her with the interiors, Bridget knew she wanted a fellow Southerner who would understand her love of formality, antiques, and Southern hospitality. Her search led to Washington, D.C., designer Andrea Houck, originally from Morganton, North Carolina. “It was design love at first sight,” says Bridget. “We both like the same things—florals, color, and a welcoming Southern aesthetic. Adds Andrea,…

Inspiration: Nothings says “summertime” quite like a fistful of wildflowers. To capture that carefree vibe, floral designer Randy McManus filled a hollowed birch log with a rainbow of blooms and branches in various shapes and sizes, creating an organic display that is both elegant and enchanting. Behind the Scenes “I have never met a stick in the woods that I didn’t like,” laughs Greensboro floral designer Randy McManus as he untangles an unruly mass of curly willow. “I am a forager and discoverer, and I love digging so deep into the soil that I can almost feel its nutrients. I actually feel cleansed after getting my hands dirty, whether I am way out in the woods or I’m just working in my own backyard garden.” Randy, who opened his eponymous flower market and design…

Growing up, Virginia McCary was introduced to antiques, fine jewelry, and curiosities by her grandmother. She later spent time working in the floral industry and then under designer Iris Thorpe. In 2016, she continued her passion for design by opening her own firm. Virginia’s aesthetic is transitional, collected, timeless, and inviting. She loves introducing antiques into fresh spaces and is always up for the thrill of the hunt!…

Ask Maria Nation about the backstory behind her Berkshires garden, and she’ll launch into the history of its many iterations before coming to its current moment of splendor. She’ll talk about the 20-year evolution that started with the meager foundation plantings in place when she first bought the 8-acre property from Wanda Toscanini Horowitz (Vladimir Horowitz’s widow). The initial incarnations were willy-nilly, fed by the prevalence of perennials purchased from neighborhood garden centers. As Maria became more educated about her plants, the scene began to evolve into what it is today—a cleaner, more architectural configuration of big statements that depends more on large swipes with pruning shears and less on fussing around with weeding tools. But what really drives Maria’s garden could be distilled into a quick explanation: She comes…