flower farm lecture and workshop

This year we hosted a score of garden clubs for tours of the farm followed by floral carousing at the studio. Here are some photos from the Winnetka Garden Guild’s tour and visit with us. Participants harvested armloads of chamomile, explosion grass, mint, and lisianthus which they squirreled back to the studio. As the flowers hydrated in buckets of water we enjoyed a meal together. Especially for us, the remarkable Chef Didier Durand ( of Marchesa 312)  whipped up a majestic repast complete with Salade Niçoise and whipped butter to spread on warm baguettes which we promptly ravaged. I then gave a lecture on flower farming, illuminating our latest processes and thoughts on what is happening in the floral world.  It is worth mentioning that many of these women—veterans of judged contests themselves—have excellent technical arranging skills already, although the spirit of the day was led by celebration as much as instruction. Then, as a special surprise, one lucky woman won a year’s worth of luxury organic skincare products from our friends at Dr. Hauschka! We spent the rest of the day arranging flowers, looking at each other’s designs, and comparing thoughts and enthusiasm. Everyone left with a little swag: a set of Pâte de Fruits from Vosges Haut-Chocolat, rose toner from Dr. Hauschka—and of course, more flowers than they could carry!