It's Gettin' Hot in Here: Summer-Like Temperature Rocks the Spring Garden

From Seed to Salad in a New York Minute

Or

Does Climate Change Impact the Dinner Plate?

With the August heat withering just-planted annuals in the northeast, gardeners can be forgiven for mistaking Memorial Weekend with Independence Day holiday.  

In fact, it was just a little more than month or so ago when the seed catalogs were enticing us to dream of the soon to be sunnier days ahead with glamorous, runway horticulture stars of the season.

I perused the Renee’s Seeds http://www.reneesgarden.com

list like the Bergdorf catalog. 

The offerings would make gilt.com blush.

Colors! Texture! Taste! Style!

Plus Renee’s Seeds are the real deal – Not genetically treated or modified.

I was undeniably difficult to select from the exciting variety of seed offerings. 

The seed packets’ art design alone is enough to send Rodarte-induced bliss.  

By and large, I followed my classic, modern design theme:  edible landscape plants. Accessorized by more than a few stunning ornamental beauties.  Like any hopeless romantic, I want all dates, er, my plant selections, to do at least double duty: i.e. look good and offer an intoxicating fragrance, or turn up the volume with texture and aural tones or light up the garden with soft soothing color or bold, luscious tones and patterns.  Never mind all that effort is to attract the pollinators. 

Garden-lovers are smitten. 

We believe it’s all about, me, me, me!

The day the chosen seed packets arrived in the mail the initial feeling was not unlike waiting for a first kiss.  Oh the anticipation…

I tenderly, eagerly, took out each artful packet, and like a museum patron, admired the botanical art image adorning the front of the packet.

The Two Color Fiesta Mexican Tomatillos – Heirloom, Purple and Toma Verde Green, feature a yellow blossom, two violet-centered tomatoes and a green one on a tender vine, for example. 

Another must-have was the Heirloom Watermelon Radishes. I first tasted these adorable, preppy-looking pink and green beauties last year at the Union Square Greenmarket.  So I didn’t hesitate when I saw the Renee’s Gardens featured seeds complete with still-life cover art. 

All the Renee’s Garden seed packets are floating in front of a greenish white garden gate with the tag line, “Set a table in the garden” – Renee Shepherd quote at the bottom.

I set the seed individual Renee’s Garden seed packets out in some kind of order: a fashion stylist laying out the design and look.

I also Love, love the Kitazawa Seed Company (http://www.kitazawaseed.com)

The quality of their products is supreme and the seed packets are works of art too.    

And who couldn't love Comstock Seeds? 

Next up was the seed preparation. Their spa-like makeover prior to the main event. Placed in cow pots, the seeds are rooted into the manure cups, lined up under the grow lights like beach queen hopefuls in their tanning beds.  

When Garden Supply Company (www.gardenerssupply.com) couldn’t meet the demand for their grow lights, we ordered from HTG.com.  (www.htgsupply.com)

In fact, the HTG grow-light turned out to be less expensive and a success.  

The seeds nestled in their cow pots, under the light where they stayed for a month or two getting gorgeous and healthy.  Did I say “spa?” J

Meanwhile, we prepared the planting beds like ladies in waiting getting ready for the noble visit.

We amended the compost with manure. Raked the garden – no turning.  We are following the advice of Barbara Damarosch, garden expert, garden columnist for the Washington Post: “A Cook’s Garden, (www.washingtonpost.com) and author of many books, including “The Garden Primer.”

I attended a lecture at the New York Botanical Garden  www.nybg.org last year where Barbara spoke her garden work with her esteemed husband and fellow garden expert, Eliot Coleman.  Together they have joined forces to produce garden books that have earned the status of “bible” garden guide or teacher, including “Four Season Farm,”  (www.fourseasonfarm.com)  

Both she and Eliot recommend as little disturbance of the soil as possible. 

So, OK, no double digging or turning the soil.

We couldn’t help rototilling a tad and putting Alaskan fish oil on the garden.  Perhaps when our soil is as lush and rich as Barbara’s and Eliot’s, we can mitigate the need to turn and amend.  Until such time, we are investing in the soil quality.

At the same time, the peas went in first, perfectly timed with the Ides of March.  Right before St. Patrick’s Day, the peas were placed near the lattice border and under the tuteurs patiently waiting for the peas’ tendril embrace. 

Then it snowed! 

“A-Peasingly Perfect! 

I wish most garden lovers would embrace the late winter and early spring for all its nuanced glory.  Think Cherry blossoms, magnolias. Plant more spring bulbs that can offer a succession of colorful bloom times.

However, most garden lovers wait impatiently for the weather to warm enough to plant.

I always advise waiting until Mother’s Day is past.  

After that, I say the Mother to celebrate is Mother Nature!

Soon enough, the potatoes and leeks and onions went in layers into big container pots.

The Greek oregano was peeking through the soil from last year.  The asparagus was waving its feathery, frothy plumes and dazzling with a few, Mont Blanc-pen-thin spears.

Shortly thereafter the cow pots with green shoots were placed in the garden according to the potager design.  The shisito peppers, tomatoes, kale, tomatillas, cilantro, peppers (hello, salsa!), spinach, eggplant, basil, parsley, radishes, zucchini and Rainbow carrots to start (Red, White, Purple, Yellow & Orange from the Seed of the Month Club, (www.seed-co.com) a gift from family: Jenny & Brian!  This is a perfect gift, FYI for anyone who loves fresh food and gardens). 

The grow cages went on the young tomato plants. 

We gaze lovingly at the grids leafing out, the birds’ frequent pit stops, and curse the baby groundhog that managed to scale the fence and eat all the broccoli before we could shoo him away. 

The last thing we’re sure we saw was his Olympian pole-vaulting sprint out of the garden.  He seemed to have a number pinned to his back… hmmm.  J

Mainly, we waited for the miracle of Mother Nature.

But all too soon, it’s really, really hot!  We need to supplement the watering.  Wasn’t it just so cool that we were wearing coats in early May??

Like Animal Kingdom coming from behind in the Kentucky Derby race of the roses, the heat of August is pressing upon us, roses are bursting out, the yarrow is in full color on the west side of the garden and the Labor Day heat breaks through Memorial weekend by more than a few lengths.

It’s salad time all too soon. 

Delicious, succulent and fresh.  But a little too soon for my taste.

Happy Spring, Darlings! 

Tablescapes as Garden Fantasy

The Horticultural Society of New York (HSNY) Hosted its Annual Floral Design Showcase, Tuesday, April 12^th.  According to HSNY, the event was previously known as Flowers & Design.  This year, the event will “reprise the spirit of The Hort’s famous and historic New York Flower Show.”   

What’s your table wearing this season? 

If those stalwart-looking candlesticks are bearing up too much like last century Buckingham Palace guards or that bowl of fruit plopped in the middle of the table is so ho hum/too van Gogh-ish – you could gasp with awe and inspiration upon entering the Horticultural Society of New York’s (HSNY) appointed landscape showroom held at 583 Park Avenue for a private viewing and a one-night benefit.

Now this is taking tablescape design up a notch or three.  

There were 30 table designs featuring the Who’s Who of floral design in New York City.   

All were asked to interpret the HSNY 2011 theme of Fire & Ice.  

At first look, the room featured a lot more red for Fire than any Ice-looking creations. 

Hmmm.  What does that say about the heart-throbbing New York floral designers?

In fact, decidedly taking the contrarian approach was Riverdale floral and event designer, Diane Wagner: www.dianewagnerdesigns.com who earned an award for her creation. The judges cited her accomplished “Delicate Harmony.”

Looking as cool and serene as her glacial garden tabletop, Diane explained she chose to do “ice” as she accurately figured most of the entrants would work with a fire composition.  (I must remember to ask Diane her thoughts about the lottery or the stock market…)

In any event, her instincts served her well.

She chose a blue-colored theme, explaining it gave more depth to the table.  

I especially liked how she combined a low vase floral design with an elevated one. 

I could readily embrace the pragmatism of talking over the low-look flowers while admiring the soaring floral design above.

Wagner said she does mostly weddings and uses a lot of flowers. 

She described how she also incorporates other intriguing plant material.  She gave a few examples citing a recent vegan bride, in particular. 
“I used a selection of asparagus, thistle, mushroom, and artichoke in the floral design and tablescape.” Sounded deliciously decadent and very creative.

The Answer to What Came First: The Chicken or the Egg

The most amazing story of the show: an it-could-only-happen-in-New York City-kind of story. And understandably a topic of conversation since then, is that of the tablescape creator of the English, hunt-looking table design with its pheasant napkin rings that would make Ralph Lauren rather pea green with envy.

I was attracted to the table by it’s stellar design, no doubt, and also by the fact that I could see myself setting such a table – as opposed to the more fanciful, red-carpet, over the top designs that punctuated the room.

A woman came up to me asking what I write and I explain I blog and write books about gardens and food. She almost claps with delight and tells me this is just perfect as she has a story about both.

Well, in no short order I discovered a most fascinating tale.

Without knowing who the tablescape designer was, I found myself talking to a most eager, energetic and attractive woman.  It turned out she was the designer.

She launched into her story behind the table’s creative composition explaining that she’d gotten to the show by way of a fan letter to the dinnerware china artist, Lynn Chase, (www.lynnchase.com) renowned for her wildlife tableware designs.  Chase also founded the Lynn Chase Wildlife Foundation dedicated to preserving wildlife and the environment. 

Later, I think that part about the path to the show via the fan letter might have been perhaps somewhat sweetly disingenuous yet convincingly self-effacing. 

I was looking somewhat confused at that point; so the designer went on to explain that she was the “Egg Lady.”  

What?

I hadn’t yet taken in the egg art on the table.

It was only my second table stop after HSNY’s George Pisegna’s icy tabletop design. One of four George created.  

 

The attractive Egg Lady rose to new heights of curiosity in my estimation. 

She points to the egg place card holders and picked up an original egg design, proceeding to tell me what an egg decorator is and how she came to this art.  

“Do you have a moment?” she asked politely before proceeding.

“I was in a very bad car accident in 1993, “ she said.  “I was looking for something I could do (presumably while convalescing). “I took a correspondence course in egg art design that was not unlike TV’s Bob Rose.” She paused.  “Do you know who Bob Rose is?” observing my blank stare.  

Never mind, we mentally agreed. 

She said it took her more than a year just to learn to use a dentist’s drill to cut the fragile top of the egg to better create her designs.

It was then I delightedly discovered she had ample access to an egg inventory for rendering her egg art.  

Her husband was none other than Frank Perdue!  

She grinned with delight as she said with a well-practiced dramatic flair, “So.  We can surely answer the question of ‘What came first, the chicken or the egg.’  It was the chicken!” she pronounced gleefully.

A widow now, Mitzi Perdue moved to New York City after Frank died.  “There’s so much to do here, “ she said rapturously.  So where she’d made up to 30 or so egg art creations that sit like jewels in her home display case, she now makes one or two.

There were a variety of egg art designs on the table I observed. 

There was a fold-out one that featured trees.  

Mitzi explained that she and Frank often took walks and Frank loved trees.  I couldn’t help but say, “Yeah for Frank for loving trees.  We need more of them. I love trees too.” 

She shows off the hand-painted trees on the egg art’s fold out screens.  

I ask if she ever took watercolor classes. I did and can appreciate her talent. Turns out she just has the gift, no training.

Returning to the egg art, Mitzi was now holding a Faberge-looking diorama.   

I commented how we live somewhat cater-corner to the Forbes building downtown and would often take out of town guests to see Malcolm Forbes’ distinguished Faberge collection and before I can say more, she says, “My cousin Astrid married Kippie Forbes!” 

(I wanted to tell her that I’d often received those ad-marketing invitations from Kip to join the magazine staff on the Highlander yacht.  Maybe we can talk about this when we go for tea soon.)

But what I do say is, “This is getting creepy,” referring to all the coincidences and things we have in common! 

Without missing a beat she says, “You mean creepy in a funny way, right?”

“Right.”   J

I am so loving my new friend..

Back to the table design, I’m now a bit confused about the china connection…

“Do you have another moment?” she asked with utter courtesy. 

By this point, I was now completely smitten and gave myself over to Mitzi even though I had planned to skate through the exhibit. I found I was rather nailed to the spot.

“One year when Frank I attended Wimbledon,” Mitzi began.  “We’d pass a lovely shop there that displayed this china in the window.”  She recalled how every day she would comment on the china’s superlative design and secretly hoped she might somehow buy a few place settings. To no avail. Frank didn’t acknowledge her object of desire.

On the last evening there, they were going to dinner.  At a restaurant that was right next door to the shop. Curious, she thought. The shop was closed. Her heart sank. 

Suddenly, Frank took her by the arm and said, “Look, the shop is glowing.”  She turned to see the shop was lit from within.  A butler of sorts was holding a silver tray studded with a candelabra, a bottle of champagne and three glasses.  (At this point, I might’ve thought I’d had too much champagne during the day and my eyes were deceiving me.  But this is not my story…) 

Frank said, “Let’s go in.”  Turns out, it was the owner as butler.  Frank had made arrangements for the shop to stay open for Mitzi.  The merchant asks if there’s anything she’d like, and she says haltingly, “Umm yes.  The dinnerware.” She’s asked how many she’d like.  She says she didn’t want to appear greedy so she politely asked for four place settings whereupon Frank turns to the shop owner and says, “My wife would like a dozen place settings, please.”

Mitzi still looks incredulous. 

I ask if Frank was always such a love bug.  She demurs, saying he did indeed often do sweet things like this…

I love that.

This is the story she sent to Lynn Chase as the fan letter just a few weeks ago. It is indeed a great story made all the better as it brought them together for the HSNY Tablescape exhibit. What a team.  www.bhealthy.com and www.mixedgreenevents.com

I hate to leave this cheerful, happy woman and her world of design.  We exchange business cards and I tell her I will let her know when I post the story. She smiles with welcoming warmth and says we will be Friends on Facebook where she’ll link the story and will Tweet about it too. 

Twitter and Tweet from Mrs. Perdue the chicken and egg lady?! 

You know how the next sentence went. Tweet, tweet.

Floral Designers

Back to the magic of the show. There were plenty of fantasy worlds to explore.

I especially respected the work of #27 GreenHouse, HSNY Rikers Island designers.  http://tiny.cc/e3waa

Their dragon-topped red design was well done and thoughtful. 

Flowers by Daye, #8, received a Certificate of Award for mixed greens event design.  It was a bold contrast and elevated heights.  www.flowersbydaye.com

I especially loved the table design by HSNY George Pisegna, #30.  It was cited by the judges for seasonal creativity.  The cool blue eggs were striking next to the seasonal flowers.  George was explaining to the TV camera how he wanted to use a lot of materials one would find at home to create the tablescape, such as the cake stands and floral blue stones.  

The Plant Fantasies Incorporated, www.plantfantasies.com #6, was an exuberant look.  

 

I liked the little ice candles and French tulips on #5, Laura Clare, Floral Design & Event Décor, www.lauraclaredesign.com  

Rod Winterrowd Inc, #9, www.rodwinterrowd.com  was a refreshing tartan look that supported a topical narrative:  Elizabeth Taylor – with Richard Burton – at their Gstaad retreat. It was all snow bunnyish -- skis gracing the tabletop’s snow-dipped conifer, postcards as place cards.

Chestnuts in the Tuileries, #16 won a certificate award. It boasted lavish textures to create a perfectly frothy setting. www.chesnutsnyc.com  

Rebecca Cole’s GROWs www.rebeccacoleGROWs.com was a rustic looking ice-themed design.  She used wire cages filled with logs topped by covered cushion seating.  Two white tables on either end of a center, birdbath fountain filled with candles, burlap and red-twigged dogwood stems.  The tables were abundant with white and purple-eyed anemones.  

Fleurs Bella, #3,  www.fleursbella.om deservedly earned a certificate award for Most Distinctive Horticulture.  The table was swathed with a rich variety of orchids, swirling up the tree that anchored the table.  

 and the napkin rings were spectacular were a floral spark. 

I didn’t really like the design that much for #23, Douglas Koch Designs Ltd, but I did appreciate the concept of using a fire pot or Sterno cooking fuel in a tabletop design. 

A different execution would have worked better for me and I made a note to try this in a future home design, along with candles.

I did love the orange and pink colors and use of lots and lots of floral displays in the Moroccan themed #25, Plant Fantasies Incorporated. Beautiful.  

And the classic Renny & Reed, #21, was glorious and elegant. www.rennyandreed.com

Jerry Rose Floral & Event Design was a standout too.  www.jerryrose.com  

Some years ago I wrote a feature piece about Jerry Rose for the now defunct magazine, MAR, that I will resurrect and post, given this inspiration. 

Like Cinderella, I scooted out just as the HSNY was announcing the close of the show.  Earnest preparations were on for the evening’s cocktail benefit fund-raiser.

What a glamorous setting for the evening ahead …

Stop and Smell The Roses

If the late winter snow and rain has you feeling blue, you’ll be in the pink just by taking a stroll along the New York City's Park Avenue mall from 57^th to 67^th Street!

Artist Will Ryman has created red and pink rose sculptures that take your eyes soaring up, along with your spirits.  

You can’t help but smile at the 25’ blooms that seem to have sprouted in the planting beds, like something out of Gulliver’s Travels. 

From cows to roses, The Sculpture Committee of the Fund for Park Avenue and the New York City Parks and Recreation Art Program have their finger on the pulse of public art displays to be enjoyed by all, with the few with big wallets buying the one-of-a-kind art to help fund programs.  This year more than 30 rose art sculptures are already spoken for.  Take that David Austin!

While a rose by another name may smell as sweet, these loooongg stemmed beauties are made of stainless steel and fiber glass resin.  

The artist Ryman is quoted as saying he hoped the rose art sculptures offer an escape to city dwellers and visitors.  

They do. 

They are transporting – taking you into a Dr. Sueissical, fantasy world, even if it’s just for the time it takes to cross the wide street.  

You may have to rub your eyes – this is New York, after all, where dreams are made and anything is possible.

So while a tree may grown in Brooklyn; roses are in bloom on Manhattan’s Park Avenue until May 31st.

The Rose Sculptures as reported by Examiner.com Culture reporter:

http://tiny.cc/ebtku

Girls Night Out At Sickles Market

I will be the Garden Expert and Author featured at Sickles Market Second Annual Girls Night Out!  

This is a joyful, fun, educational girl friendly evening that is a benefit for the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center.

The women who attend are amazing: so eager and keen to support their community. And to learn about wellness and gardens and food and -- to kick up their kitten heels and have a good time too.

I am honored to have been asked to return to participate in this extraordinary event.  

Thank you, Bob and Tori Sickles and Karen Irvine. 

Sickles Market is unmatched for food, entertaining objects and party items, and garden plants and objets of art.  I am all too often there buying unique plants for my garden clients, including topiary and herbs and container pots.  The cheeses and farm fresh food are too tempting and I am seduced more times than I can count.  I wrote in the Introduction to my first book, "Homegrown Long Island" how I had scooted over to get my buffalo mozzarella one Saturday only to be told by the cheesemonger that she'd sold the last one.  I sighed (or was it screetched??) to high heaven, whereupon she admonished, "You have to fight for your food!"  I was stopped dead in my high drama.  It is true.  Good food is worth going to the mat for.  And Sickles is THE place.  

I learned my lesson.

I write about food and drink for Examiner.com and also on my blogs: Garden Glamour and Master Chefs and Their Gardens (http://celebritychefsandtheirgardens.blogspot.com).  There is just too much news about the edible landscape and homegrown food and food issues and gardens -- so I Twitter with both Chefsgardens and GardenGlamour too!

I am completing the Homegrown Long Island cookbook and will be talking about the inspired gardens that help the "Field to Table" and "Fin to Fork" Chefs I selected for the book create delicious recipes that are made from fresh, succulent, just picked and just caught fish.  

The book is an intimate profile of each chef - 28 chefs in all.  The book also includes four exciting, seasonal, locavore recipes from each chef, drop-dead luscious color photos of the chefs in the kitchen, of the plated food, and of the chefs with their farmers or in their gardens. I render their gardens in a garden design water color and provide a plant list for every garden and farm, too.  It's an informative cookbook you can use in the kitchen, in the garden -- and display on the coffee table!

For Girls Night Out, I will be signing the two Caroline Seebohm books that feature my garden designs and input:  Cottages and Mansions of the Jersey Shore                 

It’s always a thrill to open this gorgeous book and see all the great houses and gardens, especially my two garden designs:  Joe DiMattina -- and now Uncle Bob :) in Atlantic Highlands; and Mary Rogowski in Monmouth Beach. Two beautiful, enduring gardens that get better every year

And Great Houses and Gardens of New Jersey   

I will also provide a handout for the goody bags :) with four recipes from some of my female chefs featured in the book - a sneak peak!  shhhh...

In addition, I have put together a list of some of my favorite plants to inspire seasonal garden designs.  All blue-ribbon beauties. 

The award-winning Sickles Market is on Facebook and Twitter ad on the web at http://shop.sicklesmarket.com/ 

Menu

Appetizers

Alexian Pâtés & Terrines

  

 Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli

 Mini Shrimp Cocktail

 Grilled Petit Filet with Tzatziki

 Black Bean Fritters with Guacamole

 White Bean & Spinach Quesadillas

 Braised Shitake & Leek Crostini

 Smoked Salmon Blini with Crème Frâiché

Vegetable Ratatouille

Cheese

  A Selection of Fine Cheese & Accompaniments 

Brebirousse D'Argental

France Sheep

Accompanied by

ChocoLove Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate

Parmigiano Reggiano

Italy Raw Cow

Accompanied by

Pink Moscatel Grapes

Point Reyes Farmstead Blue

California  Raw Cow

Accompanied by

Herbertsville Honey Co. Walnuts in Honey

Montchevré

Wisconsin     Goat

Accompanied by

Fourth Creek Sweet Red Pepper Relish

Dessert

Sickles' Own Cakepops

Vanilla & chocolate cake dipped in white chocolate

Daisy Chocolates

A mix of chocolate pretzels and cookies

Wine Bar Provided by Rumson Wine & Spirits

Services, Door Prizes, Giveaways, and Treats from:

 Milagro Spa at The Atlantic Club

Mini facials, mini massages, mini makeovers

Leeann Lavin, Garden Expert & Author

Tips on gardening & landscape design

Brad Wolff, Ph.D., P.A. and Certified Life Coach

Relaxation demos & tools for "living your best life"

Salon Concrete

Hair care secrets

Elizabeth Ebner, M.S., R.D. 

Medical Nutrition Therapy

New Balance Shrewsbury

New Spring collection

Switchflops by Lindsay Phillips

Spring trends in fashion footwear

Halia Fashion Jewelry

Latest looks in "add-on" jewelry

Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center

Health assessment checklist

Sickles Market

Fresh herb tasting & tips for growing

Flipping Fun

Photobook favors

6 Degrees of Celebration, LLC.

Fabulous Door Prize

________________________________________________

Many thanks for supporting the Jacqueline M. Wilentz Comprehensive Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center.

We'll see you Friday, March 18th!

Stephen Orr's First Book: "Tomorrow's Garden" Book Launch in New York City

“Tomorrow’s Garden” Book Launch in New York City

February 17, 2011

I can’t think of another, more anticipated garden book than Stephen Orr’s first tome, “Tomorrow’s Garden.”  

Hailed as a design and inspiration for a new age of sustainable gardening, the book is a spot-on, sensual, inspirational tour of what Stephen’s visionary eye sees as “…the gardens of the future.” 

He describes his idea of pleasure gardens as an aesthetic that cannot deny the urbanization of our world and the “green movement.”

The book joyfully and respectfully illuminates amateur gardeners and their work.

That alone is a refreshing nod to his at-the-gate-position in the e-volution of home gardens. How Stephen is that?! 

He says, “These gardens not only concern themselves with reaching their own best level of sustainability in water usage, plant choices, local ecology, and preservation of resources, but they are also aesthetically delightful.” 

I’ll say. And then some…

First scheduled to premiere in the fall of 2010, garden enthusiasts packed the Wave Hill-sponsored lecture in the spring of last year to hear Stephen tell the story of the making of his first book.  

His funny, self-effacing, and very intimate, personal introduction to the motivation and making of book was equal parts garden tour, horticultural tutorial, how-to guide and pure magic.

Not unlike the man himself. 

If you don’t already know Stephen, you must get the book.  Trust me. 

If you know Stephen, you will be like me, buying multiple copies for family and friends.

Whether new garden friend or me-gusto admirer, when reading the book you will have the sense of taking garden tours with your dearest friend; talking garden design and sharing homegrown tips over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, while discussing that day’s garden exploration. 

He is the kind of gardening guru you want to spend time with.  

You find yourself smiling or nodding your head as he describes a garden narrative.  

He can be provocative, but he won’t go all fancy pants on you.  

The book is rather a pure, unadulterated ode to the emerging garden of tomorrow (that is today!) as a cultivated space that is beauty, utility, and creativity that also respects a sustainable, local aesthetic. 

Don’t be surprised when every other garden lecturer references “Tomorrow’s Garden” and Stephen’s seemingly prescient garden spaces. 

He is a pioneer.  

A reluctant one I imagine but nevertheless...
Stephen has energetically and thoughtfully curated a collection of exciting, cutting-edge gardens for us to explore.

We shouldn’t all want an English country garden.  Or an Italian or Chinese garden --any more than our meal preparation should mimic some overzealous desire to import an ill-conceived attempt at recreating something that doesn’t celebrate the very essence of what makes each and every place unique and special…

His book seeks out gardens that teach us how to be sustainable and glamorous… 

Stephen captures this feeling and wraps it up in a garden opus that you won’t put down.
Likewise, you will use the book as a working reference: there are plant lists, hardscaping ideas and soil amendment tips.

I’ll review the book in more detail later.  I couldn’t help showcase a bit here to give a context for the book launch. 

Stephen is garden friend from um, I can’t remember J  I do know I was thrilled when he not only attended botanic garden events at the two amazing NYC Gardens when I worked there but also agreed to be a judge for the community gardening program when I was the director of communications.

It was a loooong day, visiting neighborhood gardens, judging streetscapes and container gardens and he was as enthusiastic and eager and encouraging to the citizens at 4 pm as he was at 10 am. 

He loves this garden stuff and it shows!
In Chapter 12's Gardening the Street, you can see some of the judging day's green-garden streetscape images and learn about the urban gardeners' successes and challenges.

From that time to now, Stephen has delightfully and deservedly explored the world of gardens on every level.  Recently he was named the Gardening Editorial Director at Martha Stewart Living magazine. http://www.marthastewart.com

The March issue – with the in-your-face, Crayola-colored basket of vegetables cover shot, features a review of his book.  

At the same time, this issue marks Stephen and his team’s first garden guide editorial. The premiere garden feature is not unlike the book’s classy, practical no-nonsense, inspirational style. 

It is a gob-smacked wonder.

You find yourself devouring the exciting segment and yet breathlessly asking, ”Why haven’t garden stories been like this before?”

He and Andrea Mason, Gardening Editor, The Martha Stewart Show (TV), who I worked with on more than a few gardening segments, along with Shaun Kass, Martha’s head gardener, Bedford are the garden experts who have contributed to the pulse-quickening “Vegetable Garden Primer.” 

Wowsy!

Tomorrow's Garden Book Party

It was a perfect evening for the book event. Nice, clear weather.  For a change. No snow. There were a lot of parties on the block, so there was an overall festive appeal and spark on the street.

Tomorrow’s Garden party was an overfilled, living room-styled party whose happy guests hailed from the worlds of horticulture, publishing, design, edible landscaping and garden design, TV and photography. 

All have touched Stephen in a supportive, dynamic way in all the star-filled points of his life.  

Take that Facebook! 

Martha attended the book launch event.  What a boss…

As did Andrea:

    

And Melissa Ozawa, a former colleague of Stephen’s at House & Garden, a noted manuscript reader who Stephen acknowledges in the book was a co-host of the event. 

I have to add that I have also worked with Melissa and she is a delight: an unassuming talent with a marked aesthetic. I admire her. 

Melissa wore happy Dorothy-like, Wizard of Oz shoes on the night of the book launch J
How transporting!

Here is Stephen and Melissa – what a dynamic duo.  

The books were for sale, ready for Stephen to autograph.  

No signing table; and I thought that was nice.  He was mingling with the swelling guest crowd.  

The party food hit just the right note.  

As I was tasting a treat or two, I was surprised to see my garden friend Tom Christopher at the food table. He joked he does take the hay seeds out sometimes to visit the big city.  

Tom  has just released his latest book, “The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design” co-authored with James van Sweden. I told him I Tweeted (@gardenglamour) news of his book after reading in Architectural Digest. http://www.architecturaldigest.com

I also chatted it up with New York Botanic Garden's Marc Hachadourian, Manager of the Nolan Greenhouses for Living Collections who runs the much-idolized Orchid Collection.  He was deservedly a bit breathless, as he was busy preparing for the annual Orchid Show at NYBG, scheduled for March 5-April 25 http://tiny.cc/sy93k
http://www.nybg.org/tos11/the-orchid-show.php

I did ask an admiring guest to take a picture of Stephen and me. But sadly, she was no Annie Leibovitz.  In fact, there is no image at all of the two of us. L  sigh…

But look what Stephen wrote in my book! 

“It’s so nice to have garden friends like you.”

How sweet.  Right back ‘atcha. 

Gardens are about beauty and sharing.  And every great garden tells a story. Stephen has curated the most fascinating and gorgeous garden stories to share...

"Tomorrow's Gardens" illuminates and celebrates the designed garden's sensual and spiritual elements in an exciting and refreshing way.

Cheers, darling.