A bulb, when purchased, is an underground root structure in  its dormant state.  Made up of layered flesh, like an onion,  it holds a shoot inside.   Once planted, a bulb stays dormant until the Spring sun warms and softens the soil, causing the roots to grow.  The roots take in nutrients  and water from the damp Spring ground, and the shoot pushes up through the bulb’s papery top layer.  (Bulbs also contain “lateral” buds, which eventually form new plants.)  After the flower blooms and fades, the dying leaves feed the bulb, which makes the bulb strong for the next year.  When the weather tuns cold, the bulb goes dormant again.

( As seen in October 2011  issue of Real Simple magazine- written by Madaline Sparks– Illustration by Wendy Hollender)

For more information on bulb plants, including forcing different varieties, please see www.realsimple.com.

For his 2006 series “Exploding Flowers,” the Tel Aviv–born, London-based artist worked with a florist to create elaborate bouquets inspired, he says, by Henri Fantin-Latour’s lush 19th-century still lifes. Gersht clicked the camera’s shutter as each bouquet was ignited with a small explosive. The resulting photographs are gorgeous and a little unnerving; the artist describes them as “celebratory and violent.”

Gersht’s career is exploding too. A graduate of the master’s program at London’s Royal College of Art, the photographer is on a creative tear. This past summer alone, Gersht had solo shows at CRG Gallery in New York and at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Meanwhile, he continues to travel throughout Europe and beyond to shoot new photographs and short films, including a video he made at a bullfight in Andalusia, which was part of a group exhibition organized by Ron Arad at London’s Roundhouse.

To read more please see  Elle Decor, October 2011 issue.

Words of wisdom and shared floral knowledge from the blog at www.flourishdesigns.com.

Noted International florist and author, Jane championed the vision that flowers are as exciting as fashion and interior design, but entirely more accessible. Her passion for flowers and inspiration taken directly from nature has contributed greatly to the florticulture industry.

Jane’s legacy is an international business – London – Tokyo – New York -Seoul – Hong Kong, and despite the worst recession in living memory, the business has gone from strength to strength. In the UK alone, the recent launch of the acclaimed JANE PACKER fragrance range, the expansion of the JANE PACKER on-line flower shop, and the opening of our latest store in association with John Lewis on London’s Oxford Street, are all testimony to the potency of the JANE PACKER philosophy and brand.

Jane has been busy building a strong creativeteamwho succeed her, led by her husband, Co-Founder and CEO Gary Wallis

To learn more  Jane and her contribution to the floral design industry please see

www.jane-packer.co.uk

These gorgeous serving plates were recently featured online at:  www.theadvocate.com.

How about a walk in the great outdoors!

Battery Park, at the foot of the island of Manhattan, was once an urban wasteland.

The Spring issue of www.flowermag.com has a great article about Warrie Price and how she came up with a plan to change all that.

]]> http://www.fineflowers.com/2011/08/05/battery-park-nyc-renewed-urban-landscape/feed/ 0 http://www.fineflowers.com/2011/08/02/kitchen-garden-on-a-budget/ http://www.fineflowers.com/2011/08/02/kitchen-garden-on-a-budget/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:23:41 +0000 Estelle Mays http://www.fineflowers.com/?p=1290 Sometimes we all need a little help from our friends. Birmingham, AL  garden designer Charlie Thigpen helped a friend plan and build her kitchen garden on a tight budget. “When you’d rather spend money on plants than mulch, you have to get creative,” he says. Here, Charlie shares how he creatively reused materials.

To view slideshow of Charlie’s Salvaged Garden visit:

www.southernliving.com

Williams-Sonoma now carries a limited edition collection of Barbara’s striking images featuring gorgeous fresh produce.  Congratulations Barbara!

Jose Cabada is obsessed with bees!

Listening to the 52-year-old businessman talk about them—especially the indigenous, stingless varieties belonging to the melipona genus—it’s hard not to become infected with his enthusiasm.

To learn more about his eco-tourism private reserve in Costa Rica, which utilizes the native bees as remarkable pollinators,  please read more in March 7, 2011 issue of Garden Design.