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

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

As seen in flowermag.com Winter 2012 issue.

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

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

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

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

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

As seen in Winter 2012 issue of Garden Design magazine.

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

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

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

As seen in January 2013 issue of Southern Living.

From their online gallery, bbrooks member Cebolla Fine Flowers in Dallas, TX, showcases a lush, textured all white arrangement in a unique white ceramic vase.  The use of hydrangea, amaryllis, star of bethlehem, tulips, artichokes, succlulents, roses and accents of magnolia leaves brings together a stunning winter-white display.

In her forthcoming volume, “Flowers”, Carolyne Roehm describes being so devoted to tulips that some years she plants as many as 10,000 bulbs.  Gardening is her passion, and her photographs of its blowsy stars are reverant works of art.

The West grows the most Christmas trees, but, it has also helped to spawn the artificial tree revolution.  One thing remains the same:  The choice of tree is an emotional decision.  Do  you seek robust A-line perfection, or does a forlorn Charlie Brown pine tug at your heart?  Perhaps this fascinating article in the December  2012 issue of Sunset magazine will help you to decide.

West Coast business owners, Tom Norby of Trout Creek Tree Farm in Corbett, OR, and Thoms Harman of Balsam Hill in Redwood City, CA, share insight into their real and artificial tree companies.

bbrooks membr Neil Leeson Decor

in Akron, OH, has been nominated for CBC Magazine’s

 Connectors Choice Award

“Floral Design Company

of the Year”!

 Cast Your Vote!

bbrooks member Centerpiece Napa Valley in Napa, CA invites all to join them on November 29th for a festive Holiday Workshop!

Participants will  learn to create three design elements- a wreath or swag, a centerpiece and a unique tree decoration.

The registration fee includes all supplies, as well as, expert instrucrion and assistance in crafting. To complement the evening, Venge Vineyards will feature two of their  fabulous wines.

For more information see Centerpiece Floral & Home Workshops.

Heather Pando of L.A. design studio, Little World Design, use botanicals in a whimsical fashion—a style translated to this wreath.  With her team—including Manuel Acosta, who put together this piece—she fashioned “blossoms” out of scallop shells and glued them to a manzanita frame that resembles driftwood. littleworlddesign.com

To get this wreath project kickstarted, Hank Jenkins of  SF Bay Area firm, Lushland, simply took a walk. “What’s here is what grabbed my attention in my own garden and on hikes.” Despite the fresh take on materials, he keeps the color palette traditional with green eucalyptus pods and red pincushions (leucospermum).

Zenaida Sengo of Flora Grubb Gardens and Susie Nadler of Cutting Garden in San Francisco, created this colorful holiday wreath of  kumquats, dried palm stems, red leucadendron, green citrus leaves.

As seen in December 2012 issue of Sunset magazine.

Cindy Wigglesworth, of the The Huffington Post, travelled to the East Coast despite warnings of an impending Hurricane.  She survived.

Her appointments were cancelled, her conference postponed. Yet she was glad to be there in Manhattan for the week.  Why?  Because it was a chance to experience (not just think about) life, and what really matters.

To read of her experience please see We Survived Hurricane Sandy. Now What?” as found online.

Flower arrangement  by bbrrooks member, Elan Flowers, in NYC.