THE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SPY

New Orleans returns to "green"

2010-04-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

Audubon Park, New Orleans

I went for a long weekend to New Orleans to re-connect with an old friend a few weeks ago, and came back with a whole new perspective. My soul received exactly what it needed... and when one experience ended, so many more incredible ones began. It had been twenty years since my last trip, and while much had changed, there is a spiritual and environmental awakening taking place in souls and parishes all over town. No wonder Sandra Bullock moved here.

Southern Live Oak, Audubon Park, New Orleans

Five years after Katrina, New Orleans is thankfully starting to show signs in the green department--as in growth--although it is sporadic and slow. The tragic Southern Live Oaks that were demolished are being replaced with new ones as well as other shrubs and trees, but it will never look the same, at least not in our lifetime. This is sad yes, but now is a time to focus on what is growing.

Spanish moss drips from oak tree, Audubon Park, New Orleans

Mardi Gras beads in the gloaming, New Orleans

Flowering cabbages under crepe myrtle tree, Garden District, New Orleans

I spent my first full day being spoiled in the Garden District where it cheats you into thinking New Orleans isn't so bad with its over-the-top, shaggy vegetation. As I staggered down Magazine St., visually drunk from the never-ending cascades of Spanish moss and Mardi-Gras beads, I started thinking about what I would write about. I came to re-connect with a friend who was so dis-connected, I ended up immersing myself into the city that seemed to have a lot in common with my own past.

Monkey bar, New Orleans

I spent my first night with a combination of Sauvignon blanc, milky Saki (not so sexy), sushi and lots of lit up shops and bars. It was dark, but I caught a glimpse of a vine covered garden that looked a bit mystical. When I found it the next day covered in more vines, willow branches and some beautiful wrought iron, I saw a sign that said, "Mitch's Flowers." It looked just like my studio garden, a bit untended, though quite shabby chic, with enough unusual botanical elements to make me want to find out what kind of magic was going on inside.

Mitch's Flower Shop, New Orleans

Mitch's Flowers, New Orleans

I walked through the willow arbor and met the ladies responsible for the decadent woodsy outdoor display-- none of whom were named Mitch, by the way. I told them I was a flower spy from the east-coast and lived to discover unusual botanical finds, and they invited me to take as many pictures as I wanted. It was like southern hospitality with a punctuation mark-- I fell instantly in love with their shop, and with them. Their friendliness and enthusiasm caught me off guard, as did their great hand-made oyster plates.

Flower arrangement by Mitch's Flowers

A step inside the cooler gave me even more joy; it was filled with all of the flowers any good floral snob would approve of-- with the added bonus of locally grown items like spirea, viburnum, and dogwood. And their designs? Purely fantastic. A bit high-end and garden oriented, just the way I like them, the perfect balance of nature, color and texture. If you live in the area and are in need of "natural", simply beautiful garden oriented designs, you must call Mitch's, these ladies are doing exactly what they love and it shows in every petal they touch.

Inside Mitch's flowers, New Orleans

My journey continued in the green department with a visit to City Park's Botanical Gardens. Hurricane Katrina did a lot of damage here; a lot of the plants are newly established, which are noticeable to a "green" eye. Still there was much color to be found, and everything was in perfect bloom. The Chinese Fringe trees were among some of my favorites, as were the funky bird houses local artist created in the vegetable garden.

Chinese Fringe Tree, Botanical Gardens, New Orleans

While enjoying some lunch, I had the pleasure to share my table with two interesting women and their adorable niece. Introductions were made and I met Stephanie and Rachel Jordan, two very cool sisters, who are well known fixtures in the New Orlean's jazz scene. Our conversation went from personal to spiritual in the matter of an hour, and I found myself in their car going on a road trip around town. I just love that about the people in this city. Btw- that would not happen where I live, I am sad to report.

Lobelia, Botanical Gardens, New Orleans

As we made our way around the outskirts of the city, any image I had in my mind of the Katrina tragedy was erased after this. Stephanie's once gorgeous neighborhood converted from a lush, tree filled waterfront community, to an open spaced development where abandoned homes are literally across the street. She showed me before and after pictures of her home--it was horrifying to look at, worse than I could imagine, and so terribly final. But she is determined to bring back a home that she once loved so much, and she's accomplishing this all on her own, as so many others are doing as well.

Water lilies, Botanical Gardens, New Orleans

When I left the next day, I felt there was a reason I collided into such a fascinating world of green girl power during my trip. Through gardens and flowers, I met successful, passionate women and learned how strong a city New Orleans really is despite not receiving what it needed to repair and heal. The experience renewed my courage to see things as they are and not delude myself into thinking everything works better with compassion and a band-aid. If the 'new' New Orleans was a season, I would say it should be spring. One of the nicest things about spring is it's unending shades of green and its ability to grow.

A special shout out to Stephanie to plant those day-lilies and to lovely Leslie for showing me around and escorting me to such fun places. May I never drink milk punch again!

Locally made bird house by New Orleans artist

Mitch's Flower Shop unofficial greeter, New Orleans

Storefront, Magazine St., New Orleans

ALL PHOTOS BY FLOWER SPY

Passport to the World, Philadelphia Flower Show 2010

2010-03-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

Balloon created and designed from all flowers, both fresh and dried

It's that time of year when I make my annual trek to the Philadelphia International Flower Show. This year's theme, "Passport to the World", showcased incredibly beautiful botanicals from several different countries as opposed to just one, which has been the case in past years. The countries included: India, South Africa, Brazil, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore. They each featured their prized local flora in unique settings. Vignettes ranged from intricate and detailed such as India's magnificent temple scene; while others chose to focus soley on the flower's individual character, like the tulip fields of the Netherlands.

The show began last week on February 28 and continued until the following Sunday. There were record crowds this year, most likely due to a welcome warm weather pattern after such a fierce winter of the east coast. People came from all over the country and as well as the world; the Philadelphia show is the biggest of its kind in the United States.

In between the exotic world displays sat magnificent annual spring scenes which were provided by local area landscaping companies. Most of the bulb flowers were in full-bloom, filling the large room with mixture of earthly fragrances. We attended the Friday before the show's last weekend, which is usually around the time some flowers start to become overly-ripe or faded. Even with some blooms visibly fatigued, we still caught the fragrance buzz: the intoxicating aroma steered us away from our dismal memories of shoveling 80 + inches of snow, and led us to fields of cherry blossom trees, lilacs and witch hazel.

The local designer displays were the most unusual of their kind this year. Each consisted of hip, industrial scenes and cutting edge designs. Cargo storage containers filled with a variety of unusual flowers created an arresting vision with the juxtaposition of full-bodied, sensuous blossoms against steel walls.

The white flower room was one of the most original displays at the show. Shelves and buckets of flowers were knocked over and askew, creating the illusion of a floral delivery truck accident or a passionate tryst in the cooler. It was a recipe for passion and back-room sex... ok, maybe too graphic? Sorry... but it was a scene so brilliantly executed, we could barely turn away.

Things cooled down around the corner where we were greeted with an artic array of calla lilies suspended from ice boxes and nerine lilies popping up from mounds of artificial snow. Thousands of phalaenopsis orchids were arranged in many places making the snowy scene a bit tropical, but still enticing.

The women's garden club arrangements were more modern than in past years, incorporating flowers and greens from the featured foreign lands. Some of best examples were minimal and striking, using long stemmed tropicals in shorter, cropped designs.

The floral/botanical jewelry section, which is always one of the most popular sections, delivered some of the most creative designs yet. There were bangles and crowns in a variety of periods and styles, all fit for any woodland faerie princess. Each piece lists its elements, which was incredulous when looking at the finished product.

Sample botanical elements used to create some of the jewelry

Bangles created and designed by Mimi Favre

After studying such intricacy, we were ready for the simpler things like the cactus/succulent section. I find this area to be one that attracts either horticulturists or enthusiasts who grew up with these rare, unusual forms. My east-coast friends ended up passing this by, while I captured some of my favorite pics. Although not always 'simple', I find that cacti are very enticing, despite their alien/insect appearance. They certainly pull you in with their textural paradox.

On the way out, I spotted some perfect Lady's Slippers. I never get tired of looking at these orchids; they personify "the woods" to me. I only wish they grew wild in my messy little backyard forest.

The last row of plants had this odd looking fellow, I didn't catch his name, but was taken with his onion-like bulb and hairy stems. Again, a bit alien but very cute.

The only complaint was that the lights surrounding the displays were piercingly bright-- they were so strong that taking pictures was near impossible. The pretty white orchid tree was just too over-exposed to include in this post.

Flowers as fashion

In all, this year's show was very creatively orchestrated and imagined. Known as the "Best Flower Show in America", The Philadelphia International Flower Show more than delivered with its diverse multi-cultural displays, gardening seminars and endless shopping... even a non-gardener could find inspiration and beauty. If you missed it, go next year and bring LOTS of film. It's one of the nicest ways to spend an early March day and get a head start on your gardening plans.

The best things in life are sometimes very small~ I.F.S.

ALL PHOTOS BY THE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SPY

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED BY: THE WINE BIN

New Mexico's outdoor galleries of beauty, Pt 1

2009-08-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

International Flower Spy in the mountains near Bandelier Nat'l Park, NM

Vacations are the best. If you are lucky, they can change you by bringing out your true character, relaxing your soul, and affecting your creative vision--for the positive. As a proud member of the HSP society (Highly Sensitive Persons), I am affected by a place almost instantly, usually always before others. The nuances, vibes and energy can all be detected quickly, making my stay either intensely enjoyable or one of feeling trapped on an island, which can be disastrous.

On bridge over Rio Grande, NM

I was fortunate to avoid the later of these when a friend suggested New Mexico as a vacation destination. After battling an illness for many years, I was finally in healing mode and Santa Fe seemed like the perfect place to regenerate my physical and spiritual energy fields.

Desert and mountains, NM

A long plane ride and drive from Albuquerque later, we arrived in Santa Fe late at night, missing the view I had longed to see. The next day, we drove out of town to Ojo Caliente, for some mineral spring therapy, and that's when it happened. The first stretch of 285 north was enough to distract us from driving. The immediate colors, textures and images were just I like I had heard about but so much more, or just, well, different than anything I had seen. The view was so utterly beautiful and expansive; it almost made us forget where we were. It felt alien, like we were on another planet, and if you are unaccustomed to the southwest like we were, the initial impact is overwhelming.

Holey mountain rock, Batman!, NM

Espanola, NM

The mountains looked as if a knife cut right through them, exposing all the earth’s layers you learned about in middle school science. The sky was endless and a shade of blue that is both electric and reassuring. There was a stillness to the desert and mountains that made me want to get out of my car and investigate immediately. But we continued without stopping to Ojo Caliente. A travelers tip: bathing suits are hard to come by in August in Santa Fe, so make sure to pack one if you plan to go the mineral springs.

Cactus blooms out of rock, Bandelier, NM

After a spiritual cleansing in soda, arsenic, and iron waters, we returned to Santa Fe for one of the best night’s sleep I have had for months. Looking up at the stars while soaking in warm, mineral rich water is an experience I will always savor.

Early blooming turpentine bush, the desert in Espanola, NM

The next day was back to the desert for more sight-seeing. This time we took the time to stop on the side of the road, one of my favorite things in the world to do.

Wild helianthus grows in mountains, NM

While the mountains are indisputably the highlight of the southwest, I was about to discover there was more growing behind the scenes. When we drove out to Espanola, we found the world I was hoping to find—one that lurked in between and underneath the cragged rocks and boulders lining the landscape. I was admiring a touching roadside grave marker/display when I found my first wildflower field.

Close up of roadside flowers, NM

Adjust your gaze downward if you want to be a flower-spy. I discovered flowers and plants I never knew existed in both the desert and the mountains. What I find I love most about the southwest is that it seems to go on forever; just when I thought I had seen my last turpentine bush, another meadow would pop up down the road. Unexpected life grows on and on. My camera was overflowing with images.

A beautiful roadside tribute to family that died, Espanola, NM

Sign on way to Bandelier National Park, NM

A trip to Taos provided even more unanticipated flower finds. After a delicious Tex-Mex fusion meal in town, we walked until our feet stopped us. I located some great late blooming beauties, such as these wisteria pods, pansies and phlox. The city of Taos is sleepy and quaint, with the requisite ‘townie’ gunning a motorcycle engine, just to annoy the tourists. Otherwise, it’s like Santa Fe with all the prolific art galleries and jewelry shops. The people are nice, but not as groovy as those Santa Fe, though.

Sunflowers that looked like a painting against adobe in Taos, NM

Surprising pansies in bloom, Taos, NM

Phlox field in Taos, NM

The ride back from Taos to Santa Fe is about 2 hours and it is monotonous at night. The speed limit varies, and often you are the only car on the road. It makes speeding tempting, but here's an unusual fact, the residents of New Mexico don't really speed, certainly not like they do in my home state of Maryland. As a matter of fact, we discovered the drivers to be some of the most relaxed, courteous people we have ever encountered. It was a welcome break from the daily road-rage that awaited us back home.

Cosmos in sidewalk, Taos, NM

Even though it was dark, I was hoping to spot some wildlife (my companion was not as enthusiastic over this prospect...), but all we encountered on the drive was a tiny coyote and a really fat bunny (hare?). Sorry, no pictures of fauna this trip.

Wisteria pods in Taos, NM

We toured Santa Fe for 3 days. There is a building height restriction, which seems odd at first but makes plenty of sense once you look up at the mountains. The view is panoramic and a high rise would just kill that perspective if it were to be built.

Building covered in dead vine, Santa Fe, NM

As far as altitude adjustments, our primary complaint was lack of sleep and dry skin. This is a state that you must moisturize frequently and drink plenty of water. Otherwise we didn’t suffer like many east coasters do. Besides, the lack of sleep gave us more time to flower spy. Santa Fe has such a diverse selection of flora it's hard to stop taking pictures. In particular, the wisteria trees, not bushes, were all over the place with a few remaining blooms. There were also Oregon grape holly bushes everywhere. The sunflowers were in bloom, including on sidewalks and parking lots. As far as other trees, the pods were in full display especially in the honey locust and golden raintrees, both of which have beautiful pods.

Golden Raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata), Santa Fe, NM

While these are but a few examples of flowers and plants spied out in New Mexico, there is so much more to discover. It was August when we went, one can only imagine the beautiful finds that spring and fall bring.

A lone wisteria tree blooms in August, Santa Fe, NM

In terms of my overall experience with New Mexico, aside from flower spying, I can say without hesitation, that this is one of the most exquisite and spectacular states I have ever visited. I went to the southwest for healing and peace, and returned inspired and very happy. This is a very spiritual place that is as big as a Georgia O’Keefe painting. Even the smallest blooming finds can seem monumental. New Mexico truly is a gallery of nature and beauty.

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides creeps out of Santa Fe sidewalk, NM

Cowskull, Santa Fe, NM

New Mexico Facts:

State Flower: The Yucca
State Bird: The Roadrunner (In Spanish: Correcaminos)
State Capital: Santa Fe, which is the highest capital city in the United States at 7,000 feet above sea level.
Old Building: The Palace of Governors in Santa Fe, built in 1610, is one of the oldest public buildings in America.
History: Native Americans have been living in New Mexico for some twenty thousand years. The Pueblo, Apache, Comanche, Navajo, and Ute peoples were in the New Mexico region when Spanish settlers arrived in the 1600s.
Origin of the Name - Named by the Spanish, in reference to Mexico
State Nickname - Land of Enchantment

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY: THE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SPY

Double click on images for full effect.

Ristra in Santa Fe, NM

Verdent Vermont goes techni-color

2009-08-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

A majestic view of Lake Champlain from Union St.

Vermont is a very cool place, especially Burlington. Besides producing famed recording stoner-band, Phish, and providing the munchies to accompany the tunes, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, it's got a lot of groovy places to discover. While it can be one of the coldest states in America (last visit in March barely yielded temps above 7 degrees during the day), this time of year it's as green as its license plates and organically grown food. As a matter of fact, it's technicolored, with prolific blooming flowers and gardens all over town.

Black eyed Susan's grow everywhere here...even in sidewalks

I went for a weekend jaunt to visit some friends and came back with a full stomach and camera. I ate my way through town, and on the way, I found the most amazing gardens and sites.

Phlox peeps out of picket fence

The neighborhoods are as quaint as can be with Victorian homes painted in a variety of intense hues that make you realize there are a lot of artists living here. The nicest part is most homes have a garden in some capacity, from container pots to hanging baskets to well manicured perennial beds. It's an explosion of color against the austere backdrop of the Green Mountains. For a flower lover, it's practically paradise.

Burlington garden

The weather in Burlington in August is perfect; it's sunny for the most part and in the mid 70's. After a brief respite hanging out on the piers of Lake Champlain, my friend and I poked around town and got down to some garden spying. I lucked out with the summer season, all gardens are full and brimming with perennials. One type in particular surprised me to see it in such magnitude--Maryland's black eyed Susan. The flower seemed to somehow follow me up north, it was popping up in garden beds all over the place. It seems that black eyed Susan's love Vermont just as much as much as I was starting to.

Winter King Hawthorn trees were all over neighborhoods in town

And Vermont loves flowers. So much that they that planted a Wildflower Farm right outside Burlington in Charlotte, right on Rt. 7. It's open to visitors and flower lovers alike, and has a 1/4 mile wildflower path bursting with color. Part of it is shaded, so you can find all sorts of woodland ferns and trees there too. If you want to start your own wildflower garden, they have plenty of seeds and bulbs in their gift shop, as well as huge assortment of funky garden decor.

Heliotrope

We spied on a ton of flowers, there was: Queene Annes lace, wild lupine, carninal flower, coreopsis, ageratum, liatris, phlox, echinops, Asiatic lilies, oriental lilies, snapdragons, roses, cornflower, cosmos, purple loose strife, sunflowers, echinacea, cleomes, wild poppies, sedums, thistles, dahlias, heliotrope, larkspur, zinneas... and phew!... so many more. All were in full bloom-- my timing couldn't have been better.

Bee digging on some echinacea

Vermont Wildflowers in bloom

Tree tags help identify arbols at the Vermont Wildflower Farm

If you visit the Wildflower Farm, you must go down the road a bit further, where you will find the Charlotte Berry Farm (it's pronounced Char-lot). It's blueberry season now and there were bushes in all varieties-- ranging from tart to sweet. Added bonus, you pick blueberries to music; they had speakers all around the barn, which was a beautiful thing.

The Magic Blueberry Farm

Our soundtrack: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Picking berries to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is hard to describe, but it was pretty magical, as you may imagine.

We scored almost 5 pounds for nine bucks

Although my focus was in the fields and gardens, the color I encountered was not only limited to flowers. We found this guy circling on his bike in Burlington's outdoor shopping square, sporting a bizarre message: Stop Shopping. Wait, aren't we in a recession? The other side of his sign read: Good Germans. We have no idea what all this meant but it doesn't matter...his acid trippy signage and wacky energy forced us to avoid his path and take his picture instead. Right on Good German, man.

Weekly messenger of doom or international public relations savant?

So, if you're lucky to be up north this time of year and find yourself in Vermont, make sure you stop off in Burlington. It's a way colorful town with a beat of its own. And amidst those endlessly green mountains, be sure and spy out some of the front yards and city plantings. Don't forget to stop by the Co-op, the food selection is endless and healthy (surprise), and the outside garden has at least 20 varieties of perennial, wild and annual flowers. In all, Burlington is pretty darn green, I mean technicolored green.

Cleome

All pictures taken by the International Flower Spy.

Black-eyed Susan's and echinacea

For optimal effect: view while eating Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia, and listen to "Bouncing Around the Room" by Phish. As always, double click on images for acid-trip colors to download.

Maidenhair ferns in the woods at Vermont Wildflower Farm

Vermont Facts:

State Flower: Red Clover
State Bird: Hermit Thrush
Home of celebrities (well kinda): Fred Pabst (as in Pabst Blue Ribbbon), Rudy Vallee and Orson Bean.
Weird Law (but good law): There is no McDonalds in the state capital of Montpelier.
Just plain Weird Law: It is illegal for women to wear false teeth without first obtaining permission from their husbands.
Name Origin: From the French, vert mont (green mountains)

Lake Champlain on a very sunny day

Washington D.C.'s Cherry Blossom Festival

2009-04-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

It's Cherry Blossom time in D.C., one of my favorite times of year. I went down this past weekend with my friend and although we may have missed the height of the pink explosion of color, we still caught the beautiful fluffy arbols looking picture perfect against a very blue sky. They could still pass as postcard images that you find in the souvenir kiosks all around the city.

As one would expect it was crowded with people from all over the world carrying cameras. It was warm for a change and walking to the Tidal Basin was made that much nicer. There still was some wind but we didn't mind, when we got to the trees, we were showered on by the falling petals-- it was very romantic.

There were some Cherry tree sections that were more popular than others, especially if they were accessible for a good climb! It's probably illegal--the Cherry Trees are considered a national landmark and Park Police will call you out if you touch them too much or try to cut them. (No I didn't have my clippers...!) But they often turn the other eye, and unless the crowd gets out unruly, you can break a low hanging blossom easily to carry as a memento of your trip. Woman and children of all ages walked around with blossoms in their hair looking very adorable.

There were families and friends and lovers all over both sections of the Basin admiring the Cherry trees. We spotted picnickers under some big, shaded trees eating gourmet meals with glasses of wine, which I thought was a wonderful idea for next year.

Since I like to include a little history in my postings, here is some background on the famous Cherry trees. In 1912, the people of Japan sent over 3020 trees as a gift of friendship. The trees were planted in several locations: around the Tidal Basin in West and East Potomac Park, and on the grounds by the Washington Monument. There are now approximately 3,750 cherry trees that are in these locations. Most of the trees are Yoshino Cherry, but there are others such as Kwanzan Cherry, Akebono Cherry, Takesimensis Cherry, Usuzumi Cherry, Weeping Japanese Cherry, Sargent Cherry, Autumn Flowering Cherry, Fugenzo Cherry, Afterglow Cherry, Shirofugen Cherry and Okame Cherry.

The idea to plant cherry trees along the Potomac originated with a travel writer and photographer by the name of Mrs. Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, back in 1885. Her idea was finally implemented in 1912 by President Taft's wife. She and Viscountess Chinda (the Japanese Ambassador's wife) planted the first two trees on March 27, 1912. The first official Cherry Blossom festival did not begin until 1934.

The trees are all marked (tagged), and are cared for by members of the Tree Crew for National Capital Parks-Central.

While all of the trees are truly, equally beautiful, my favorite ones were those whose branches dip into the water. Planting them along the Tidal Basin was an ingenious idea, it makes for a very sensuous backdrop. They reminded me of some of John Waterhouse's paintings.

As we were leaving, we found this little blossom poking out of a trunk which we thought was precious.

April 4th was probably it for the last really good cherry tree spying day for this year. While each year the blooming period fluctuates, the best times to go are normally March 28- April 11. Average peak bloom date is April 4, so they bloomed a bit early this year. The blooming period can last up to 14 days, but factors such as rain and wind can shorten its span. If you didn't make it this year, go next year! It is worth the long walk, I promise!

ALL PHOTOS BY: THE I.F.S.

Destination: Palm Beach, Florida

2009-03-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was asked to participate in a Destination Wedding photo shoot in beautiful, sunny Florida. I had just returned from Vermont where it was 20 degrees and Baltimore wasn't much better with its gray skies and chilly air-- my decision was practically made for me. While I had a go of it trying to re-arrange some projects, I managed to do so just in time to board the Air-Tran plane with my very talented colleagues.

The group that worked on this project were incredibly professional artists that I have been fortunate to work with previously. There was famed make-up artist, Ashley Riddle, of Up Do's for I Do's; the dynamic film trio of Balance Photography: Nerissa Miller, Nathaniel Corn, and their enthusiastic assistant, Brittany, and finally, me who was representing, A Garden of Earthly Delights.

It was a whirlwind trip that was filled with lots of hard work and really long hours, but the exotic models, location and flowers made it all very worth while. We arrived in the mid afternoon and drove immediately to the floral wholesaler, which happened to be located next to a strip club--(so reminiscent of Baltimore). I grabbed my floral stash, and headed back to Del Ray Beach where our central operations was located. Without so much as a break, I conditioned the flowers and within an hour, was busy creating some pretty spectacular designs.

The first shot took place that night in West Palm Beach's town center. It was a little chilly but the sky was clear and we managed to find some unusual shoot sites. While Rissa was photographing the models in the small park that housed a modernized water fountain, I spied out one of the most spectacular trees I've ever seen. There were lights all around the base of it, perhaps to honor its beauty? I am unsure of the name, but we were all thankful to have found such an immensely beautiful, old arbol in the midst of all the palm trees. It also provided some great shots of the bride and groom (models). Pictures of this forthcoming...

The other locations were varied and Nathaniel and Rissa took two teams out in order to pack alot of shots in small period of time. Rissa began shooting early the following morning we arrived at the beach, which provided just enough wind for some very beautiful flowing shots of gowns and hair. (pictures coming soon!) Nathaniel and Brittany found some great scenic places on piers, city monuments and architecture-- including the famous Colony Hotel, where they captured some great pictures inside the Presidential suite. In all, there was a well-balanced scenic background for each model. The "Balance Photography" gang managed to match each one with the right location, not an easy feat to accomplish when time constraints are present. Since we all work under pressure, we all worked well together; each of us understanding the delicacy of getting it right the first time. It was a very successful shoot, and these are just a few of the many images Nathaniel and Rissa produced. There was also a boudoir shoot taking place in between wedding shoots, I honestly don't know how they do what they did. Since this is a P.G. blog, I can't post any of the sexy pics, but you can go to Balance Photography's website and check out: http://www.balanceweddings.com/index2.php. I highly recommend them for both types of photography. P.S. only Rissa does the boudoir, so not to worry feeling embarrassed in front of Nathaniel the rock star!

Floral designs by: Carole Langrall
Photos by: Balance Photography
Hair and Make-up by: Ashley Riddle, Up Do's for I Do's

Chaussures de Fleurs (Flower Shoes)

2009-03-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

These are some images of my two favorite things in life: flowers and footwear.

Spring fashion 2009 has been touted as the "season of flowers" by style-watchers world wide and they aren't kidding. Flower motifs are in full bloom in clothes, hair styles, even in shoes. From sandals to pumps, it seems that footwear is the latest way to pay homage to Mother Nature.

After seeing some amazing floral interpretations of shoes and boots at the Philadelphia Flower Show in March, I realized what a suitable combination flowers and footwear could be. Last season Prada came out with floral Art Nouveau inspired high heels. While seemingly impractical to the average shoe-buyer, they were heavily advertised making their image hard to forget. And who can resist the beauty of flowers from the Art Nouveau period?

Flowers dominated the cat-walk at the 2009 Paris Fashion Week, including some over-the-top attractions. Bruno Frisoni, creative director for Roger Vivier, debuted an outrageous pair of hand-made fabric flower covered wedges. Coined as the “One Is Too” spring couture line, his shoes live up to this play-on-words. His designs may seem more fancy than functional, but he is serious about his craft. The mark of Frison’s mentor, Roger Vivier, is evident in these shoes-as-art, and the addition of Mother Nature’s bounty only makes them more attractive.

Another designer label who got inspiration from the garden was Scherer-Gonzalez. Their spring 2009 shoe collection was focused solely on fresh flowers. Talk about ready-to-wear! The interesting thing about these designer shoes is they were rather unexpected in structure—somewhat akin to floral designs-atop-lucite-stripper-heels. Regardless of your first impression, they make a statement…and likely will inspire women to “pimp up” their feet.

Not all shoes this season are so heavily decorated like those in the Paris show. There are many pairs available in stores across America that keep the floral theme alive in a more discreet fashion. I suppose there is something for everyone, but I have to go with the couture designer’s philosophy—if you’re going to take from the garden, make sure it’s enough for an arrangement. Shoes and flowers--a good fit if you ask me.

PICTURES SHOWN:
Run-way model with fresh flower shoes, 2009
Dolce and Gabbana inspired flower shoes, Philadelphia Flower Show
Run-way shoe, Roger Vivier Collection, Spring 2009
Run-way shoe, Scherer-Gonzalez, Spring 2009
Run-way shoe, Scherer-Gonzalez, Spring 2009
Spring 2009 Fashion Run-way shoes
Prada Flower Shoes, 2008
Flower Shoes, Paris Fashion Week, 2009

More than a glue gun was involved in the creation of these...

J'Adore les Chaussures de Fleurs-de Paris, of course.

Bella Italia blooms at Philadelphia Flower Show

2009-03-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

I did some flower spying this weekend, but instead of going somewhere exotic and fabulous, I chose to stay in the U.S.-- the mid-atlantic to be exact. This trip was for the largest indoor flower show in the world, the Philadelphia Flower Show, which took place in same city. I had little time, due to a large wedding on Sunday, but I managed to cover some gorgeous ground.

The theme this year was Bella Italia, and although I've never visited Italy, I can only imagine that it is every bit as beautiful as the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (P.H.S.) re-created. When you enter the show, you are immediately greeted by two enormous urns filled with an even larger, beautiful arrangements of assorted roses, hydrangea, eremurus, acasia mimosa and lush greens. They were truly magnificent.

Now I must pause here for a minute and offer my disclaimer: I am a floral designer by trade and can be somewhat (alright... very) scrutinizing with floral design. It is not meant as snobbery or callousness, it just comes with the turf-- I know flowers and I really know good flowers. I have been going annually for 10 years now, and not always do they hit it. Sometimes the landscaping is the highlight of the show while in others it's the garden club floral design competition that shines. This year, I thought all categories pleased, at least for this international flower spy. And while the orchid plant section is usually must see, I didn't even see get to the exotic plant judging area. Remember, I only had an hour, but I still managed to discover all sorts of fiores bellos e interessantes.

This year, there were lots of laboratory-like containers, including hanging test tubes, large bell jars and apothecary jars in several sizes. Each had unusual florals and/or exotic greenery inside them. One of the more eye-catching displays was this slatted wall covered entirely with green cymbidium orchids in tiny tubes. Incredible concept!

I loved the use of orchids as science lab decor, its Darwin motif didn't go unnoticed... attendees were swarming around like bees by the unusual exhibits.

Another design display that stood out were the succulents and cacti. I never used to appreciate these plants until I visited the Botanical Gardens in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Once I learned some background information about them, I get excited now when I spot a waxy echeveria or the webby clustered thorns on the hedgehog cactus. They are very alluring in an odd way.

Next stop was to the desert plants, where some bromeliads and cool water roses rested together on metal racks. It looked like dried bulbs were mixed in the grouping, but I'm not sure. In any case, the design was unique, and strangely attractive.

Speaking of the strange, I found a section containing modern designs that was pretty out there. I couldn't take my eyes off this spiraling vortex of bear grass, aspidistra leaves and anthurium inside a red metal swirl. It was amazing.

There were so many exhibits it was difficult to pick a favorite, but I loved this room of all yellow flowers. There was a wall with a circle of sunflower heads in the background with these tall cylinders of blooming forsythia off to the side. It was very clean and striking.

Another vignette that stood out was this falling amaryllis bulb design. You don't usually see the entire bulb, but this display showed many.

Once I made my way through more gardens and floral still life, I entered the area I like to call the "girl section." Each year, members of local floral studios and garden clubs design jewelry out of botanical matter, which often includes seeds and pods. It is quite unreal to describe, and unless you've seen these small works of art, you may not understand their brilliance. For me, these displays are incredibly entrancing, and the imagination that goes into creating them is off the chart.

These two necklaces were my favorites. I'm unsure if either of them won the blue ribbon, but it didn't matter, they are both winners in my eyes.

Jewelry wasn't the only feminine attraction. I looked across the room and found floral interpretations of another girl's best friend--shoes! There was even a pair of tall ones to fill the international flower spy's boot fetish! To look closely at all the detail is amazing. It's no surprise that this was the most crowded area in the show. These were well worth my ticket of admission.

These bark heeled pumps complete with dried leaves and fungus were crazy sexy!

More autumn inspired pumps of dried leaves and acorns... very smart.

If you've never been to this flower show, you must go next year. It is worth the travel and afterwards, there are hundreds of wonderfully hip restaurants in Philly to stop in. As far as this visit, all I can utter is: "Viva Italia!" Que bello!

All photos by: The International Flower Spy

D.C.'s Beautiful Botanical Gardens

2009-02-11T21:24:00.000-08:00

Well, the party is over. We got our cool, new president squared away and it's finally safe again to go back down to D.C. without bumping into 2 million of your closest friends. Today was the perfect day to do just that--it was 70 degrees which is excellent weather for a road trip. I've been in dire need of an early spring flower fix, February is killing me with its unending layers of gray. I require color and life in the form of sprouting bulbs and blossoming plants for some recharging and inspiration. Gray just doesn't cut it.

I took my favorite flower spy in training, Kaylee, so she could get some more exposure to my floral world of fragrance and beauty. More visits with flowers = more chances to fall in love with flowers. Plus she's an orchid lover, and I hear the conservatory is filled with lots of gorgeous varieties right now. We loaded up the spy mobile with granola bars and Gatorade and left for our floral mission down by the nation's Capitol.

We arrived without a hitch and even grabbed a space right out front which were plentiful at that hour. We didn't have much time, the gardens were closing at 5:00pm and we arrived a little before 4:00 pm So we parked in an 'authorized vehicles only' spot and ran in before we could be stopped for blatant disrespect of the D.C. parking authority. Flower spies should get some sort of clearance for their spy missions, I think. We flew inside, grabbed our visitor's guide and proceeded to get bombarded by smells and colors that were attacking us from all sides. It was almost overwhelming, but lucky for us we are professional flower spies, so we just relaxed and breathed it all in deeply. The air was heavy and had 3 distinct smells: perfume, mold and mulch. My favorite odors in the whole world. When the contact buzz wore off we zeroed in on our first orchid and the adventure began.

They were called Nun's Orchids, phaius tankervilliae. I've never seen this variety before. We wondered if they were named after real Nuns. No descriptions on that, but they were planted all around the perimeter of the inside gardens and were very tall. Colorful too, no black and white habits to be seen in the group.

We continued moving at a steady pace as we had little time and lots of spying to do. The next stop was a reflecting pool that I wanted to dive into. It was very Blue Lagoon and sexy. I've seen many like it in Mexico, and they always look more inviting when decorated with flowers. This one was no exception-- the contrasting colors from all the bromeliads and spring bulb plants made it even more alluring.

After Kaylee talked me out of taking my shoes off for a quick dip, we headed down towards the amaryllis section. Even though the holidays are over, amaryllis are still in season. There were some more unusual varieties, like this skinny petaled one. It had a spider-like grace that I found very other-worldly.

While we were gawking, a couple opened a set of glass doors which lead to another section...steam seeped out and we knew we had to follow them. It lead to a mini rain forest which is probably where the mold smell was coming from. Thank God I took my Zyrtec that morning. It was just as lush as I expected, although we didn't spot any tropical critters which disappointed both of us. Not even a bird. Wait, there was one koi fish we saw in a pond. But that was it. These bodacious alocasia leaves more than made up for it.

Next room- The Desert. I used to hate cacti and the like, but after getting a hands on eduction at the Botanical Gardens in San Miguel, Mexico, I understand them more. I look at them differently too. They are certainly stiffer and spikier than the other flowers and plants we saw, but there's something interesting about the severity of their texture. They are teasing plants that dare you to get close, then punish you for touching them. Sounds like some family members I know. Time to get out of that place...

But not before I snap up some shots of the most phallic looking mini cactus plant I've ever seen. I tried to shelter Kaylee from it but it was too late, she was mesmerized and speechless as she stared down at them. I had to explain what 'phallic' meant. Great, can't wait to get that call from her mother.

Onward and upward... we left the desert and entered another section that housed rare botanicals from all over the world. The first one that caught our attention was this big, bad calla lily looking guy known as 'Devils Tongue', amorphophallus konjac. (note the 'phallus' in the suffix). It comes from Indonesia. It stood close to 5' tall and lived up to its name-- it was very creepy but the projectile tongue (its stamen) made us giggle. I adored the deep purple color and shape of the bloom and thought of the quote: "Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face", by Nelson DeMille. How true those words were. A devil in disguise.

Another interesting flower was this tree orchid. We didn't catch the name, it was untagged, but there were several popping out of some lovely trunks covered in Spanish moss. I love to see orchids living in their natural habitat, they are true epiphytes--a big botanical word meaning a plant that grows on a host but takes no nutrients from it, relying instead on nutrients from the air, falling rain, and compost that lies on tree branches. There is true beauty in their symbiotic relationship.

A bit further down we encountered a group of well-known annual plants that weren't so exotic but certainly were pretty. These happy French marigolds made me want to plant them all over my garden. They were so vibrant and golden.

We were speed walking at this point-- we heard the lady's voice on the speaker that said they were closing in 5 minutes. Oddly we noticed a lot of other last minute flower lovers sneaking in. I think the Botanical Gardens are a popular place for government workers to escape to after a long day of politicking. It's also perfect for dates-- I saw some early Valentine's lovebirds lingering in the corners of the tropical room. Good idea for bringing my lovebird next time.

On our way out, we found one more cluster of orchids in a rock garden setting that begged for a picture. I thought we had our fill of orchids by now, but I guess I was wrong. There were phals and cattleyas and dendrobiums all playing together nicely on mossy beds of rock and mulch. The fragrance was so overpowering, we didn't want to leave.

But the speaker lady said the gardens were officially closed, and we had to go. But not before we ducked into the room with the historical descriptions of all of the scented plants-- aka the herb room. We smelled frankincense, jasmine and wasabi and much more. Grabbed this last pic of metal-cut rose hips and then we bid goodbye to D.C.'s most beautiful gardens. It really is a great place to go if you live in the area or are visiting. It's easy to find (100 Maryland Ave., S.W. by Independence Ave.), almost right next to the Capitol. So, if you are like me and are in need of some beautiful, colorful flowers with fragrance--this is the place. By the way, you will not find many flowering trees, but if you wait a month, the Cherry Blossoms will be in full bloom and are out of this world beautiful!

ALL PICTURES BY: THE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SPY

More than a holiday at Longwood Gardens

2009-01-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

I took my young worker buddy for a late holiday treat up to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, where one of my favorite garden's resides- Longwood Gardens. From late November to the second week of January, Longwood Gardens decorates both exterior and interior gardens from top to bottom with multi-colored lights and floral designs that make even the most seasoned designers swoon (like me). The inside greenhouses hosted huge displays of Christmas trees, poinsettia topiaries, and lush gardens with flowers in reds, greens and whites, all created by a very talented staff of local designers and landscapers. It's a show house of incredible visual beauty and scents, with the floral selection including anything from paperwhites to orchids to succulents. It truly runs the gamut, which is why I love it there so much. My favorites are always the unexpected flowers and plants that show up in the most unusual places, and this visit did not disappoint.

Take spurge, for example. It has an odd name but is sure is pretty. I saw it combined with ilex berries, white mountain lilies and cyclacmen. And it worked.

When I saw this blue spikey plectranthus I went a little crazy. I have never seen it so lush and in bloom, it was like it had taken plant steriods or something...it was so vibrantly electric and fat. It was not mixed in with the Christmas garden displays, it sat right around the corner waiting for my camera to find it.

Another floral treasure I saw creeping out from under some Christmas cyclamens was helleborus, one of my favorite early spring flowers, especially the green ones. They were perfect sitting next to the spurge too!

As we continued walking, the smells became almost overwhelming--there were paperwhites and mountain lilies everywhere, but I kept smelling something different mixed in. I looked up, and lo and behold, I found an acacia tree with a branch of its ethereal clusters hanging low enough for me to sniff the exotic perfumed perfection.

After circling the central gardens several times (we didn't want to miss one petal), we continued on to the "Christmas Route" which took us to the Orchid House. Each time I go there, I can hardly contain my excitement. The varieties of color and flowers are astounding, as are the award winning plants that are proudly placed in front for all to gawk at. And gawk we did. It was like orchid porn.

My favorites are always the same- I love the Cattleyas and the Paphiopedilums, otherwise known as Lady's Slippers. They just jump out at me more than the other varieties. And there were plenty of both, especially the Lady's Slippers. I found this one below hidden away on a window ledge, behind some other larger plants. I thought the flower on it was perfect. Very woodland creature!

I also liked this rust colored one with the maiden hair fern in the back. The colors reminded me of red celery and parsley.

After getting dizzy from all of that intense beauty, we left to go to the Mediterranean Garden, where we encountered all sorts of flowers and plants from the Caribbean, South America, South Africa and of course, the Mediterranean. There was a Christmas tree constructed entirely of plants. There were arbors with dripping purple flowers that looked like wisteria until we got close. The vines were actually called Coral Pea, or the Happy Wanderer. It sure looked happy. I was hoping some seeds would wander into my bag.

There was also aeonium gomerense, one of my pet succulents that I found in abundance when I stayed in La Palma in the Canary Islands.

Next to the aeonium patch, I found this pretty forest lily from South Africa.

We continued on the Christmas Route which took us to the Palm House. It explained the difference between cycads and palms. Cycads are an ancient, non-flowering group of plants that are closely related to pines and other conifers. They are found in South and Central America, Mexico, the Antilles, the United States, Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and southern and tropical Africa. And they are spectacular when looking down at them from above.

Passing through the walkway we encountered this door covered completely in air plants, also known as Tillandsia. It was enchanting!

As we were coming to the end of the Christmas Route, we passed some eerie trees that looked very scary to the touch. I loved the bark on this Ceiba Einthos-- very Jurassic Park.

Then we spotted a few more tropical surprises, including this Chalice Vine flower. I was elated to finally discover its name. The first time I saw it was on the Canary Islands where I cut some and put on our table as a centerpiece. They start off creamy ivory and turn into a beautiful shade of butter and they last for at least a week.

The final surprise was a section of blooming aloe plants. Did you they bloomed flowers? I didn't and feel a little embarrassed to admit.

We ended our tour in the Silver Garden Room, which had the most stunning, unusual combination of flowers and plants I had seen yet, all in shades of gray and silver. It took my breath away, and I am not happy that my camera decided to poop out at this juncture. Still, I managed a few good shots and hope they at least give an idea of the magnificent concept of flowers as art. The doorway display was truly a masterpiece.

If you live on the east coast, try and visit these amazing gardens next year. If you go, try to go during the week when it's not so crowded-- the weekends are usually packed. Best times are late afternoon so you can see the beautiful Christmas trees lit up.

Longwood re-opens their gardens in the Spring starting April 1- May 22. The International Flower Spy will be there and will be sure to provide a full report on the bountiful bulbs and flowering trees. Until then, Happy New Year! Don't forget to start 'forcing' your flowering bushes, such as forsythia and quince.

ALL PICTURES BY: INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SPY

Vancouver, a beautiful city covered in moss

2008-11-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

I went for a whirlwind weekend to Vancouver and fell in love with it so much I didn't want to leave. It was raining (a.k.a. normal weather there) when I arrived in YVR Airport, but as soon as I walked outside, I could immediately feel a difference in temperature from back home where it was snowing and 29 degrees. Vancouver had already started to spoil me with its balmy, temperate climate of 50 degrees... time to peel off some layers. As soon as we hit downtown, I knew I'd be happy here. From the boutique shops with their funky window displays to the hipster cafes, this was a city destined for fun and hopefully some good flower spying. The first night we checked out some places on Robeson St. (cool shopping district). It has a Euro edge, or shall I say, Asian, in other words total I.F.S. friendly. After stopping for a drink on the top of the Empire Landmark Hotel's rotating bar, I was done-- this place had completely won me over. If you ever visit, that place is a must-go-to, the view is panoramically spectacular, and you won't get dizzy unless you order too many Cloud 9's.

Well I could go on and on about the food and nightlife, but this is a flower blog after all, so let me get down to the scenery. It was November which is fall for them as well, so I did not notice much color in the city plantings or gardens. BUT there was a whole lotta green going on, mainly in the form of moss. While I spotted a few green living roofs with plantings, I found the mossy ones far more intriguing. Moss was just everywhere. There were blankets of it on many a city roof... I wasn't sure if it was on purpose or by accident on account of all the rain. (Unfortunately I didn't get an aerial view to take any photos of the tall buildings, but I did manage to get some on the lower buildings.) And the moss appeared invasive, it covered all parts of the object or area it was growing on, which gave it a velvety effect.

Once I got outside of the city, I spotted even more moss covered items. We took a ferry ride out to Vancouver Island and hit the moss-mother-load. Looking around it was all so pretty and lush, that is until my friends and I started to think about the ramifications of these moisture loving fuzzy spores. I did some digging and as we guessed, having a layer of that gorgeous green on the roof of your house is not a good thing.

Moss (phylum- Bryophyta) is actually a plant spore that is attracted to moisture and the reason it is found with such frequency in Vancouver is simply due to the condition of the climate. Vancouver for the most part, is damp, coolish and pretty shady from all the trees and vast forests that surround the coasts; therefore creating a perfect breeding ground for moss and lichen to flourish. When it attaches itself to a roof surface, it creates a layer of moisture for a long period of time, thereby reducing the life of the roof dwelling. In freezing climates, there may be faster frost damage, cracking, and wear of the shingles under the moss or lichens. Even in non-freezing climates, the roots or growth structures of moss eventually penetrate and separate the roof shingle materials, again speeding up their demise.

So basically as pretty and quaint as I find these mossed coverings, it can be really bad and eventually the moss has to be removed- or worse case scenario-the roof gets replaced. Some preventative measures I've heard that help are installing copper or metal stripping along the edge of the roof that will kill off the moss as the rainwater washes over the metal. Another is buying chemically treated shingles that kill off lichen and moss but I hate the idea because it sounds potentially bad for the environment in some way. And finally, it is highly suggested to trim branches of trees that overshadow the roof surface.

Well, it makes me sad that the mossed roofs are evil because I've seen so many on this trip that have made me feel like Anne of Green Gables. I made our driver Jim stop at least 5 times so we could get a closer look at them. They were just that magical for me. And it didn't stop on the roofs. While we were on Vancouver Island I saw moss attaching itself to all sorts of things from trees to barns to rocks, to all sorts of things on the side of the road. It was a paradise of green and I couldn't have been happier.

I still have more pictures to develop but here's a start.

PICTURES:
Butchart Gardens
Moss Covered Shingles
Moss Covered House
Close-up of the green culprit
Removal of moss on roof
Moss covered rock
Moss covered branches

Summer time blues in Maryland

2008-07-02T20:52:00.000-07:00

Feeling blue this summer? Well so am I and I couldn't be happier. Blue is my favorite color and I'm seeing it popping up in gardens and magical hidden troves all over town. Here are some summertime suggestions to get you out of your funk and into the blue:

1) If you have one of these majestic hydrangea bushes in your yard (this variety is known as mophead hydrangea, isn't that a perfect name?), cut some blooms and showcase them in your home. If you don't have one, cut your neighbor's...these guys are so prolific they'll never notice! Place them somewhere that all can admire their bodacious blue beauty (avoiding of course the neighbors you hydrangea-high-jacked...), they are stunning and fabulous and you don't need to be a designer to arrange them-- they are so easy you can do it yourself, for real.

2) Get in touch with your inner flower-child, start a wildflower garden and grow some cornflower. These guys are the bluest of blue and stand out even with their demure stature.

3) Feeling like a diva and don't want that garden sweat or the dirty fingernails that come with manual labor? Buy a hanging basket of lobelia or hire your gardener to plant it as a ground cover. They are acid-trip blue and spread really quickly.

4) So you like texture do you? Get yourself some echinops (a type of thistle) and act all garden-chic to your neighbors. Only seasoned floral veterans and the Brits will understand this outer-space looking gem. Bonus: they dry nice too.

5) The I.F.S. likes 'em tall--here are some fetching agapanthus that are perfect for your garden path or as a backdrop against some magenta peonies, orange poppies or red hot pokers (mmmm- how yummy is that combo?!). Ever since the I.F.S. saw them lining the sidewalk to the crime scene at O.J. Simpson's ex-wife's house, they've been a blue staple in her garden and in her summer designs. If you can get that image out of your head and appreciate them for their giraffe like presence and stealth regalness, you'll be eternally grateful I'm sure. If the garden glove fits, wear it!

6) Periwinkle was once touted as the universal color for women, meaning that lovely ladies all over the world of all shades and colors could wear this alluring blue hue and look equally good in it. The I.F.S. still doesn't know if this is true for fashion, but knows it sure looks pretty foxy in gardens making it a powerful worldly summer annual. Great as a ground cover or in containers alike.

7) If you're a patient gardener then I recommend these blissfully blue bi-annuals, the delphiniums. The blues are so electric and intense you'll think they are fake or some garden fairy dyed them while you weren't looking. They are well worth the wait.

8) Ok, ok-- don't let the weird name scare you...these scabiosas are a lovely, feminine addition to any garden despite the odd name. They are also a milder shade of blue than their bolder botanical buddies that are listed above. This peculiar posy even has a perk: when they dry, the pods turn transparent and look like "fly's eyes", their nickname, and are spectacular in fall arrangements. So don't hold their cursed nomenclature against them, plant them for yourself and see how beautiful scabiosas really are.

9) Sometimes called the flag flower these Dutch iris are iris-istable to anyone with a penchant for the "blues". Although not as majestic as their cousins the "bearded iris", these Dutch blues are still pretty luscious and very popular. We just did a wedding using nothing but this variety and color, and I'm here to tell you it was simply spylicious!

10) Tired of all this gardening business? Time to reward your hard day of planting with one of these guys... nothing beats a blue cocktail in the summertime! You'll look so exotic drinking it, you'll make those neighbors you stole the hydrangea from so jealous they'll beg you for one! Recipe for mermaid martinis listed below. Warning: drink with caution... very potent, even for heartiest of gardeners.
11) If you're in A.A., you'll want to forego the above and maybe hit a snowball stand. The I.F.S.'s favorite is sky lite blue, mmmm yummy, I hear Bill likes that flavor too! Stick your tongue out when you're finished, it's very inner child.

12) Marylanders will understand this one...they are perfect after a long day of gardening and blue mermaid martinis. Steam some up and don't forget the Old Bay, hon!

Flowers Shown: Mophead hydrangea, cornflower, lobelia, echinops/thistle, agapanthus, ageratum, delphinium, scabiosa, and iris. Non-flowers: mermaid martinis, snowballs, Maryland blue crab.
Mermaid Martini: equal parts Blue Curacao, Absolute Citron, and Lemon/Lime mix, garnish with plastic mermaids and lemon peels.

A container of earthly delights

2008-06-15T19:49:00.000-07:00

Locally grown organic flowers + unattended, often forgotten garden clippings + some flown-in stuff from around the world + the magic of the four seasons + a good sense of humor + a deep compassion for all living things = OUR SECRET RECIPE.

...can you dig?

When I'm not traveling I actually have a day job. And it's a pretty great one at that. I own and operate A Garden of Earthly Delights, a high-end floral design studio in Maryland. We specialize in big events like weddings, corporate parties, special occasions and interior floral decor for the holidays. To describe our style I would have to say: magical and earthy, straight from the garden with a twist. There is a terrific mix of the natural with the supernatural. Intrigued?

Well, to give you an example of the design process, I'll start from the beginning. First I make a trip to our local wholesaler and see what seasonal, and hopefully organic product they have in stock that week. Then I bring the flowers to our studio where we condition them, providing enough water and love to ensure that they open nicely and in a healthy, growth-oriented environment.

After that, my designers are encouraged to make a trip to our studio's garden out back and start clipping some gorgeous foliages we plan to combine with our wholesale flowers. We finish the process when we create the actual design. I have 5 designers, all with a different eye and artistic style, so each arrangement is very special and always unique. Each of us is a little A.D.D. and has a highly over-active imagination, so we mix in those wonderful ideas that are floating around in our brains and come up with some pretty spectacular creations. The end result is always magic and beauty.

Some hints if you try your hand at design:
Many seasonal summer blossoms prefer to drink water directly as opposed to struggle with hydration in oasis. Therefore, glass cube vases and cylinders are sublime for a summer floral bouquet.

If you get in a bind and need some floral assistance, give us a call, we'd be happy to help. I also teach courses in natural design, meaning- a no 'FTD' style design. Look for the Creative Alliance Schedule of Workshops in Sept. '08. I'll be teaching a class 9/17. I'd love to share my secrets in creating the earthly magic with you.

PHILOSOPHY= To always maintain a true and deep love for all flowers and plants both living and dead, including the insects and fauna that survive off of them.

LOCALE: Paradise, MD, "A Garden of Earthly Delights" floral design studio

FLORALS SHOWN: Pic 1) Large Arrangement: oakleaf hydrangea, mophead hydrangea, purple allium, delphinium, cherry brandy roses, kiwi roses, yellow Asiatic lilies, bamboo, springerai, ruscus, hanging amaranthus, beech tree foliage, baby maple leaves. Pic 2) Centerpiece: Salmon French tulips and birch branches. Pic 3) Staggered arrangements: blue birds and purple dendros, blue hydrangea and purple anemones, and green cymbidiums and grape hyacinth. Pic 4) Dolores conditions spring tulips. Pic 5) Bridal bouquet of flowering kale, rose hips, amaryllis and banksia foliage. Pic 6) Ivory mini callas overflowing in vase. Pic 7) Square vase arrangement: hydrangea, peonies, gloriosa lilies, veronica blue, dendrobium orchids, orange unique roses, lisianthus. Pic 8) Keenan plays with blue garden hydrangea, pink crown asters, green cymbidium ochids and pincusion protea. Pic 9) Square vase arrangement: allium, cymbidium orchids, antique green hydrangea, arabicum, stars of bethlehem, mountain fern, red maple leaf, tulips, peach stock, rosemary, lambs ears, vinca vine, eucalyptus leaves and huckleberry. Pic 10) Bouquet of eggplant mini callas with cymbidium orchids.

More gorgeous flower pics on web site:
www.agardenofearthlydelights.net

Sri Lanka's national flower is in my pond...

2008-06-08T16:13:00.000-07:00

Known in Sri Lanka as the Nil Mahanel flower or Nympheae Stellata for the latin lovers, this gorgeous blue lotus flower was declared the national flower of Sri Lanka on February 26, 1986. The Nil Mahanel is found in all parts of the country as well as here in the U.S.A. The flower is purplish blue in color. The Nil Mahanel flower is considered a symbol of truth, purity and discipline. It has been a part of Sri Lankan history for centuries-- it is mentioned in many Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit Literary works. The flower which is also referred to as "Kuvalaya", "Indheewara", "Niluppala", "Nilothpala", and "Nilupul" occupies a pre eminent position in Buddhist literature as well. It is said the "Nil Mahanel Flower" was among the 108 ceremonial designs found on the footprint of Prince Siddhartha-- a pretty impressive portfolio for a flower that grows in swamps and ponds!

It is believed that the damsels depicted in Sigiriya Frescoes also carried this sexy blue blossom in their hands as offerings. Traditional poetry known as "Sandesa Kavya" likened women's eyes to the Nil Mahanel flower which can also be used as an ear ornament. I doubt even the International Flower Spy would attempt that style of floral jewelry, but would consider floating a few in her tub or pond for some fierce exotic ambience.

A very spylicious flower if ever I saw one. And quite sexy too.

Green Flower Practices in San Miguel de Allende

2008-05-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

Who needs delivery trucks when you have arms and legs? In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, I rarely if ever saw a flower delivery vehicle. What's more is I saw people walking and carrying vases filled with colorful bouquets and cellophane bundles stuffed with fresh blossoms almost everyday. I also saw large funeral arrangements being personally escorted to where the body was laid out--which was usually at a relatives home instead of a funeral parlor. While many Americans may consider this floral delivery (and funeral) system old-school, 3rd world, backwards or antiquated... the fact remains--the Mexicans love their family and flowers so much that they hand-deliver almost every arrangement to the lucky recipient--dead or alive.

In a country that is known for its beautiful flowers and tropical greenery, there is understandably a large demand for the home-grown blooms. There are no imports here, all of the floral product is grown in Mexico, that's right, Hecho en Mexico, and how proud they are of that floral fact. And why shouldn't they be? They are saving millions of pesos in fuel costs to their South of the Border multi-climated paradise.

Well, if that isn't green I don't know what is. And for the record, they grow and sell almost every flower the wholesale houses in the U.S. stock. Wouldn't it be nice if we grew all of our own floral product? There's another blog coming regarding that subject, not to worry my pretty little petunias...

LOCALE: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Mercado de Flores y Verduras

Maryland's spring flowering trees

2008-04-15T21:47:00.000-07:00

The international flower spy loves spring in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S, in particular Maryland. It just so happens to be one of those rare states that has four true seasons. Spring would have to be one of its best--the flowering trees are everywhere and when the wind blows, it creates a shower of flower petals and color. It's not only gorgeous and fragrant, it's downright romantic. Finding these trees is easy if you live in any of the counties of this state. But if you are visiting or having a hard time finding them, here are some suggestions.

BALTIMORE COUNTY AND CITY: Historic Catonsville and Ellicott City, various sections; Druid Hill Park-Zoo area by water basin; Mt. Washington-Cross Country Boulevard; Bolton Hill-all streets have at least ten flowering trees that are worth the trip-they are old and BIG; Homeland neighborhood- Springlake Way; Guilford by Sherwood Gardens.

ANNAPOLIS: Rolling Hills neighborhood off Generals Highway, Rt. 178, all around the historic district live lots of old fruit trees in bloom.

DC: All along the Potomac hiking trail; the Cherry Trees in Washington D.C. at the Tidal Basin, there are hundreds (go if you live here, if you missed this year, go next year!); National Arboretum. Takoma Park (it's called tree city U.S.A.) is filled with a beautiful variety of old flowering fruit trees; Downtown Silver Spring; and Wheaton.

VIRGINIA: Meadowland Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA.; Leesville Blvd, Springfield, VA.

Trees Shown: Weeping Cherry, Red Bud, Forsythia, Eastern Whitebud, Plum, Double Red Peach, Witch Hazel.

ALL PICTURES BY: THE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SPY

San Francisco Daze

2008-04-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

I went for a long weekend to visit an old pal in San Francisco. Since he was a worker bee during the day, I took advantage of my time alone and got down with some serious spring flower spying. I decided to start at the Golden Gate Park. That place may never be the same after I showered it with so much flower-love. It's a place so intoxicating, I got stoned just walking through the little paths and gardens. I could live in those beds of forget-me-nots, mood moss and ivy. It was a floral utopia.

When I arrived, my first stop was to check out the beautiful old Conservatory of Flowers. I walked inside and immediately felt the moist air heavy with tropical odors. How terribly luscious were those exotic botanicals, in particular the orchids! There were some varieties I've never seen which means nothing considering that there are more than 39,000 species of natural orchids growing in the world today. There was one in particular that could compete with the scariest of spiders...it was wild and projectile with flowers that looked like they could bite.

I left the moist Amazonian climate in search of the famed butterfly exhibit that was taking place in the next building. Unfortunately, due to an over abundance of field trips, few of the graceful beauties had much hair left on their wings, many of them were torn from too much fondling and capture attempts. I was disappointed but spotted one monarch stunner that had escaped the tyranny of the tykes.

After yelling at a group of boys to leave the poor creatures alone, I headed out to my next floral mission: the park. As I was leaving, I passed by a sign that said butterflies taste with their feet. I thought that was kinda creepy but cute.

I started walking aimlessly through Golden Gate Park, and came across all kinds of unusual plants and flowers, mosses and lichen, on dead branches that looked like sculptures. And just when I thought I had discovered the mother-load of Spring, I accidentally bump into a grove of perfect calla lilies. They were flawless examples of California's prettiest field flower.

I regained my composure in time to find more floral treasures-- this time I stumbled upon a small hill of echium at the De Young Museum. Like the fields of volkerfreiden delphinium I found in Europe, these guys made me swoon for a small eternity. Bees were swarming all over them and I couldn't blame them. I barely took this picture without getting stung, and it was well worth it. I was entranced and just stared for a while at their perfection. Echium is a native of the Canary Islands, a place so magical, flowers bloom from the sidewalk cracks up to the mountains without ever taking a moments pause. I should have remembered them, I just couldn't place the spikey shape. But I'll never forget that acid-trippy, sky-blue-snowball blue of blue color again.

I guess that was a great place to end my flower adventure. It started to rain, putting a damper on my spying. I would have stayed and waited, but Spring in San Francisco can be a bit nippy, so I headed on out to my next mission: Haight Ashbury. My flower power was in high force so it was time to get my hippie on. Peace out, man.

Locale: Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.

Flowers Shown: Primrose, flowering Papyrus?(possibly, unsure), an unidentified exotic Orchid, Marigold with Monarch munching away, dead branch covered with lichen, a field of (standard)Calla Lilies, Echium, field of poppies, a perfect Cattleya Orchid.

A Mexican Wedding

2008-03-18T21:35:00.000-07:00

I went for the second time to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. This trip I went for some serious meditation and relaxation. The last time was to brush up on my Spanish at the Instituto Allende where I ended up not relaxing. I was too worried about my inability to master the plus-cuam-perfecto, also known as the franken-tense. I guess you could say I was tense about the tenses.

This trip was going to be different-- I was going to do all of the things I passed on my previous back to school field trip. As our plane touched down in Leon and I boarded the bus to take us up into the mountains, I noticed something was wrong immediately. For starters, there was no green. All I saw was brown colored dryness, so much that I could make out mosaic patterns on the ground. There was a lacking in floral life...the spectacular purple infused jacaranda trees weren't so spectacular, as a matter of fact they weren't anything. It was very disappointing, I mean I had just left a gray Baltimore for in search of some serious color...but so far, nothing.

As we made our way up the mountain to San Miguel, things became a little more verdant. When we arrived, I spoke with the house-keeper where I was staying and asked her if this was the dry season. She said not really, but they were experiencing a fierce cold-snap that was lingering longer than the Mexicans expected. Not exactly music to my ears when I had just packed all my shorts and tank tops. Gracias a Dios for the endless shopping that was waiting for me downtown.

After I smothered myself in arroz con pollo, 2 Tecates, 3 tee shirts and multiple layered socks, I decided it was time for some flower spying. I pulled out my super-spiffy digital and started snapping away at some succulents and bougainvillea on our balcony that had managed to survive the chill. I was in mid-snap when the worst possible thing for me could have happened-- the camera shut down and died. I mean really died, like no funciona, es muerto, cabron- dead. Batteries not required dead. It was gone. This bothered me more than the cold weather.

I screamed for about an hour and my friend suggested the Guadalajara Pharmacy for a new one. So I went and a very nice Mexican lady helped me out, only problem, I had no idea what she was talking about when she started to ramble about "la carta Sim". But I figured it out when I left. No I didn't, you bloggers can smell a lie-- I had to call my techno-buddy-pal Keith back in the states for some expensive roaming advice. Once he explained it all to me, I went on my way back home, but first I stopped by the Instituto for old times sake. Peeking into the atrium, I was dumb-struck by two very green enormous displays of foliages with Belles of Ireland. There was one in each corner and they were at least 6-7' tall. I hadn't remembered them when I was there before. I realized something special was going on, it looked like a wedding.

It was the perfect opportunity to scope out some serious flowers and watch how they do it South of the Border. Who knows, maybe I'd learn a trick or two. I quietly tip-toed into the courtyard where I spotted a lone floral designer taping oasis bricks around a very branchy tree. She was using household tape it looked like, not the davee tape we use here, which I thought was odd. I watched her for 10 minutes before I got up the nerve to introduce myself. I told her I did the same job in America. We did some light shop-talk and as I noticed she was able to talk and work without losing her concentration--not an easy task to master on a wedding day set-up. Especially when talking to a person who speaks Spanish like a 5th grader.

I asked if I could snap some pictures whiles she worked, no problema, she said. She was was constructing these amazing white floral clusters, which eventually created a serpentine shape around the limbs and trunk of the tree. I thought they should have been in floral cages, it would have been much easier, but quien sabe? Maybe she knew something I didn't. Only two white flowers were used: saponaria and stock. And it was beautiful. She was doing this to about 4 trees, and it took her a very long time on each tree. Unbelievably, she did this alone- I never saw another designer. It started to make me nervous and I wanted to help her, but knew my place. I would have jumped at the opportunity to help her design if she had asked.

She eventually finished her work-just barely, and I couldn't have been more impressed or nervous for that poor girl. Meanwhile, I met the Mother of the Groom who told me lots of details about the wedding. It fascinated me watching the whole event get set-up and come together.

It was different in some ways from what I am used to doing and seeing in the states. For example, I have never seen a plastic chavarie chair, or heard of a reception lasting 8 hours which is the average in Mexico. !Que loco! And it was a medium sized wedding by Mexican standards, however, it was pricey according to the Groom's Mother, Car. (BTW-- the 'plastic' chavarie chairs fooled even me)

The budget was 250,000.00 pesos, which would be about 25,000.00 US dollars, still pretty cheap for a wedding this size. And you could tell these were educated, wealthy Mexicans who weren't playing--they wanted it upscale and they got it. Very serious planning for a very sophisticated group. But guess what?!-- they shoot off fireworks after dinner ends as well as throughout the reception as well. I could hear them from the house where I was staying up the hill. And they weren't lying-- the reception lasted until 3:00 a.m. I heard that too, as well as some of the worst D.J. music in history, including a Grease soundtrack and endless Ricky Martin tunes. Thanks to their loud celebration, I got no sleep that night-- I ended up curled in a ball in the farthest corner get away from the awful music. As bad as the noise was, I got some great pics while spying in the corner of that courtyard.

Muchas gracias y felicitaciones, Car. A great spying day indeed.

Locale: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

Flowers Shown: White stock, saponaria, white dendrobium orchids, white cymbidium orchids, white iris, blue hybrid delphinium, blue and green hydrangea, Belles of Ireland, bear grass, calla lilies.

All Pictures by: International Flower Spy

A London Spring

2008-03-05T21:29:00.000-08:00

I went to London in late March for a much needed escape. I went with a dear friend who had never been and who maintained the same level of excitement the entire time we were there. She is truly adorable. She talked me into going back to places I had already been, this time the experience was through her eyes and boy did she have fun. By the time we had to leave, I decided I didn't want to--I needed to stay to cover some new ground in one of my favorite cities in the world. I kept making deals with the universe to stay, hoping it would send me a sign that it was ok. If the sign would appear, I promised to be extra vigilant with work when I returned to my design studio. And no more damn Pimm's cups for a year--promise.

It was spring time which made it even harder to leave. All the gardens and parks were starting to flush with early blooming tulips, crocuses, narcissus and muscari; it was like a explosion of texture and hues, all in tidy little rows. Although the flowering trees weren't in bloom, the swelling of the buds told me that showers of color were right around the corner. I just needed to stay a little longer than 6 days. Being in Hyde Park in London in the spring made me feel inspired, delirious, happy, excited, well... just completely alive .

With my departure date creeping up, I had yet to receive the sign I was looking for. The idea of returning to work after flower spying in the world's capitol of flawless gardens was almost unthinkable. It was time though, and the day we did left was glorious--so unfair.

When our cab arrived, it looked like a hearse, which was perfect for the melodramatic goodbye that was playing out in my head. As we drove past the last tailored rows of hyacinths, I realized my foreign flower frolicking was over. I glanced sadly at the leafless fruit trees, thinking I never saw one in bloom-- which was hugely disappointing. If only I could see just one flowering tree in bloom before I left, then I could leave contented. It seemed like a fair request to me.

I was putting on lip gloss as we passed the last quadrant of the park. I dropped my make-up bag, and quickly looked up for one last view. Something stood out this time, something I hadn't noticed before-- and it was perfectly pink and fluffy. Oh my God, I thought, it was a blooming cherry tree, the only one I had seen thus far. I stared at it sort of dumb-founded... and then I started thinking...maybe this was the sign, the one I had been waiting for. Maybe I'm supposed to stay and get some more images? Another day of flower spying wouldn't hurt anyone, would it?

I stayed... just one more day, I can't believe I did that. It wasn't that difficult really, British Airways was very amenable, and there was a flight the same time the following day. I got back to the hotel, got a great little suite and off I went with my camera.

That spare day, I discovered two secret gardens, a magnificent field of quince and a hot Fetish Exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum. I also discovered a nice man from a place I've never heard of, but wanted to see. Was it worth it? Sure, until I got my VISA bill- damn that pound. Is there a moral to this story? I don't know, but I do know that sometimes the universe is slow... it's ok to make your own signs. I'm sure glad I did.

Hyde Park and other areas of London, 2007

The flowers of the Canary Islands, Spain

2008-03-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time... long ago...when I was a young flower spy, I saw a map of the world, and spotted a small cluster of dots off the coast of Spain and Africa called the Canary Islands. I thought they sounded most exotic and I promised myself that one day I would go there to see all the pretty canaries.

Years later, my wish came true by means of a birthday gift from a Spanish friend. A very small plane ride later, where dogs were on board without carriers, we arrived at our tropical destination, with a few howls thrown in for our listening pleasure.

The small island we landed on is called La Palma, and it is dominated by banana crops, black sand, and the strongest, roundest sun that never seems to set. Also known as La Isla Bonita (they aren't kidding with that nickname), La Palma was every bit of exotic as I had imagined. But there was something missing... I didn't see any cute, little birds fluttering about. Where were the canaries?

Not wanting to sound like la gringa estupida, I thought I should keep quiet and only voiced my concern to my travel buddy. He agreed, something was off about the name. However, being the wise Spaniard he was, he quickly realized the Canary Islands in Spanish, is Islas Canarias, which literally means islands of the dogs. Dogs?

I was confused, so after a visit to the tourism center, we learned it was as simple as the translation-- the islands were named after dogs due to a dense population of fierce, large canines, such as the Canary Mastiff. As far as my interpretation? Canary birds are just adorable, and really, doesn't it make sense? I suppose wanting an exotic vacation filled with colorful, flying wildlife was part of the problem for me as well. Pues, eso es la vida.

Once we got the name game clarified, it was time to get down to some serious flower spying. I kept a journal while we were there, and I documented over 325 varieties of flowers and plants that I recognized. However, most of the shots that were captured are of flowers I was not as familiar with. Some unfortunately, did not translate well on film (I did not bring my camera on this trip).

Seeing annual plants that were so vastly overgrown and exploding with color was not only exciting, it was intoxicating. I have never in my life seen geraniums growing as vines from window boxes, or lantana's as large as a small tree. For me, what really stood out on this magical island was the untamed beauty of a flower, and not a dog, or even a bird.

Locale: La Palma, Canary Islands

Flowers Shown: Eschscholzia Californica-a type of wildflower, Chalice Vine flower, lantana bush, a field of Adenocarpus Viscosus-wildflowers, Bougainvillea with hanging sedum, Plumbago, the I.F.S. holding a branch with lichen.

Photographs taken by the I.F.S. with the camera of Sr. Cruz