Petal by Petal: Cosmo

Being in a creative person, I find it essential to step out and venture into neutral territory, some place that I am not constantly stimulated by the computer screen - Pinterest! Blogs! Instagram! The place that I regain my center is being in nature, whether it is at the beach or spending time in the grass in the country.  One of my favorite things is to be consumed by flower fields, wild or cultivated, there beauty is something that you just cannot get when sitting behind a computer.  Typically I shoot by Petal by Petal series in my studio (rather my Brooklyn apartment that I try to transform and make it condusive to a photo session), but switching things up to step out but if stepping out and being with the flowers in their element is an option then I jump at it.  I took these photographs of towering and incredibly vibrant cosmos a few weeks ago at a farm in Upstate New York.  Shades of purple and pink stood out in a sea of green that was almost unreal (note, typically I may bring the saturation levels up when editing a photo, but not here, these flowers were that green).  Read on to learn more about this summer beauty!

Petal by Petal:: 'Café au Lait' Dahlia

It has been far long since my last Petal by Petal series. Well that is changing now and what better time than summer when flowers are plentiful, especially local varieties that only emerge once a year.  One of my favorite summer blooms is the dahlia. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, like this vampy red version that was featured here last summer.  The flower market in New York is over-flowing with this variety right now and while I thought my process of elimination would be difficult, it ended up being quite easy after seeing the 'Café au Lait' dahlia.  This particular variety is known as a Dinner plate dahlia because it is literally just that, nearly the size of a dinner plate.  The smaller varieties of dahlias have a longer shelf life, unfortunately the larger they are the quicker they begin to wilt.  Even though I only had them for about three days, they still added a dose of happiness to our home.  

Cherry Blossom Wonder

I hope that everyone had a great weekend! We had quite an eventful one, if you follow me via Instagram you might have seen we (legally) got married!  Saturday's weather here in New York felt like a hot summer day that brought with it sporadic rain showers, luckily, the rained cleared and the sun came out long enough to say our vows by the Long Island Sound.  It was a very special moment, but I am looking very forward to our actual wedding this Saturday.  

Ever since my first year living in New York (I am dating myself but it has been 13 years) I have been flocking to the same grassy hill in Central Park to take in the cherry blossoms each spring.  With this past winter being so brutal, there were times that I thought these beautiful flowers would never bloom.  I could sit under the light pink petal canopy for hours letting the light filter in and hearing the bird sing.  Here is a glimpse into the grand finale of spring here in New York, I hope you enjoy!

Magnificent Magnolias

Magnolias, how magnificent you are. You arrive just when we need you but are gone far too quickly.  My favorite season has arrived and the amount of color on the trees makes me utterly delighted.  It begins with vibrant yellow forsythia, followed by magnolias and then ends with the grand finale of spring, the cherry blossoms.  I have been closely monitoring a magnolia tree around my apartment and recently on a spring day, that felt gloriously like summer, it bloomed.  Here is a glimpse at these beautiful pink tinged petals that grace us with their beauty, if only for a few days.  

Petal by Petal:: 'Pink Ice' Protea

Natures beautiful and diverse color palette constantly serves as a major source of my inspiration. Now that spring is here and the flowers and trees are beginning to bloom, I feel in a sense that life begins again, all of the color just awakens me!  While winter is upon us, I take to the flower district for my color fix, hence why I was immediately drawn to the 'Pink Ice' Protea, a gorgeous pre-historic looking flower with a cooling pink hue that is just stunning.  They are one of the oldest flowers known and their structure is something at which to marvel.  From doing my research every single protea is not a single flower, but rather a grouping of flowers surrounded by long broader petals called bracts.  The center of the protea is incredibly soft, it practically feels like cashmere.  

Petal by Petal:: Icelandic Poppy

If there was every the tale of a flower that completely mesmerized me it would be that of the Icelandic Poppy.  After trying for weeks on end to find them in the flower market,  I finally struck gold on a recent Thursday.  Imported from Italy, I find it fascinating that these beauties were once swaying in the wide-open fields of the Italian countryside.  I reveled in their beauty spending hours photographing them, being patient as the light began to change and slowly illuminate their beautiful crepe-de-chine petals.  I adore how they twist and turn and look as if they are destined to be in a still life setting.  The Icelandic Poppy begins as a fairly large fuzzy bud where eventually the petals slowly making their way from the pouch, uncurling into a striking flower in a variety of shades.  Aren't these flowers just beautiful?

Petal by Petal:: Tulip

The tulip is one of those flowers that you cannot help but be drawn to for their twisting and turning stems that play out like some sort of dance in front of your eyes.  Their arrival means that spring really is right around the corner and for that I could not be happier. With their myriad of colors and different varieties (a favorite from last year is the fringed tulip) they are beautiful arranged alone or mixed with other blooms like poppies and ranunculus.  If you are looking for a little tip to make the tulips stand up, drop a penny in the bottom of the vase, this will make them stand up right.  Continue for more...

Petal by Petal:: 'Cloony' Ranunculus

When it comes to flowers the more ruffled and layered the better, hence the amount of roses that I feature on this site in addition to my love for peonies.  Close to both peonies and roses are another favorite the ranunculus, a beautifully layered flower that comes in a variety of colors and is plentifully available this time of year.  Browsing the flower market in New York you are greeted with an extensive selection so it was hard to narrow it down, however, when I came across the 'Cloony' Ranunculus I immediately fell in love.  This particular variety is from France and is beloved for it's faint pink color and the way that it blossoms from a tight rosette to an unbelievably beautiful bloom that is about five inches wide.  The ranunculus is a very hearty flower that when refreshed with clean water every day can last in a vase for nearly two weeks.  

Petal by Petal:: Rosa 'Maria Theresa '

Some might say that the gift of roses for Valentine's Day is a cliché, I might agree but not if they are beautiful, fragrant English garden roses like this variety Maria Theresa. Out of all of the roses that I have profiled in my Petal by Petal series, this might be one of my favorites for the amount of romance that they evoke.  The Maria Theresa rose has a vibrant pink shade and layer upon layer of petals that form a beautiful rosette shape.  They omit a wonderful aroma that is both sweet and floral without being overpowering like the majority of roses can be.  Are you looking for more rose ideas? How about 'Juliet' or 'Pink Piano'.  Speaking of Valentine's Day, do you have anything special planned? Continue for more...

Petal by Petal: 'Juliet' Garden Rose

They say 'A rose is a rose is a rose', but I say a rose is more than a rose when it comes to the garden variety.  I discovered 'Juliet' a David Austin rose in the flower district around the holidays when I was supposed to be looking for swags of garland and vibrant red berries.  Instead I stumbled across this incredibly fragrant blossom with the prettiest hint of peach that I just couldn't resist.  These blooms are great when arranged by themselves or alongside other blooms.   They are one of my favorite David Austin roses that I have come across because of their gorgeous thick layer of petals that form a beautiful rosette and give way to a slightly sweet aroma.  Continue for more...

Petal by Petal:: Narcissus

I first discovered Narcissus, also commonly known as Paper Whites, in high school in the form of a candle.  It had a gorgeous white floral fragrance with green undertones that immediately drew me. I ended up purchasing and burning it shortly there after.  After doing research I realized that Paper Whites are those wonderful bulbs that you can plant, typically in the winter that bloom into pure, white flowers. If you are looking for a natural way to wonderfully fragrance your home, now is the time to purchase the bulbs or the plant.  They are incredibly easy to grow since they do not need to be rooted in soil and can simply grow by being placed on rocks or covered by moss and gently watered.  Paper Whites are a great way to bring the hope of spring back into your home.  Continue for more...

Heart of Gold:: A Year in Review {Petal by Petal}

(Coral Supreme)

If there is one thing that truly makes me happy it is flowers and photographing them.  About seven months ago I started the column, Petal by Petal, which has become one of my favorites on the site.  Not only do I get venture to the flower market and bring a variety of blooms into our home but also I try to photograph them in a way that brings them to life.  Here is a look back at some of my favorites!

(Stargazer Lily)

Petal by Petal:: Charisma Amaryllis

It is that time of year at the flower market when crimson berries and fir greens take over the bustling scene.  Yet, tucked somewhere amidst the holiday flutter I discovered this stunning amaryllis known as 'charisma'.  The amaryllis is a towering flower that is similar to a lily, but without the heady fragrance and it is like the iris in that it blooms with a cluster of buds.  I was intrigued by its white petals and the delicate strokes of red that tinged each petal.  You can buy these blooms in the bulb form or in the stem at local flower markets.  Continue for more...

A Rose Illuminated

I recently had no choice but to update my camera body from a Nikon D3100 to a  D5200 after the former broke in an unfortunate accident.  Since having my new body, I have been experimenting a lot and playing around with varying intensities of light as you probably might have seen here.  A few weeks ago I came home from work and I stepped out to my porch to see the sun illuminating my Gentle Hermione English garden rose.  It looked magical and I had to capture it.  I wasn't sure that I would be able to see the difference in quality from the two different cameras (I still consider myself a novice that is desperately learning at every chance I can get) but I definitely feel like I am more in control when I am using it. Anyways, here are some of the photographs that captured this fleeting moment.  

Petal by Petal:: Mimosa

Mimosa is one of those trees that I desperately wished bloomed here in the Northeast, but alas these brilliant yellow blooms are typically found in California and the South of France.  The mimosa tree typically blossoms in July through November in the United States and in February in France. I recently was visiting and flower market here and New York and was delighted to see them, in fact I incorporated them into these arrangements.   Their is aroma is unlike anything else - slightly green and soapy and can fragrance any room while not being over-powering.  Mimosa is also a common note used in perfumes - one of my favorites is L'Artisan Parfumeur Mimosa Pour Moi, which melds sweet mimosa with violet leaves and blackcurrant buds.  Are you lucky enough to live where these wonderful blossoms bloom, if so, envy you for both their scent and the way their bright yellow shades can color the landscape.  Continue for more...

Petal by Petal:: The Progression of an English Garden Rose {Gentle Hermione}

I love watching beauty unfold, whether it be a sunset that slowly starts out with a beam of orange and red and eventually nestles into a purple sky or a flower starting to bloom. I cherish small moments like these.  In the beginning of spring, I purchased two small English garden roses and did not think that they would grow that much during the summer season or even bloom; however, I was pleasantly surprised when my Gentle Hermione rose began to bud and has continued to do so over the warm summer months.   It  begins with a slightly pink bud and slowly opens into a pinkish-white bloom with many layers. This type of rose is incredibly fragrance - it has a large floral presence with a bit of sweetness that lingers on the tip of your nose. I hope you enjoy watching this beauty bloom as much as I did.  Continue for more...

Petal by Petal:: Gladiolus

Gladiolus, also known as Sword Lillies, are one of those darling flowers that appears during the late summer months and when they arrive they definitely make their presence known. They have beautiful towering stems with flowering buds that cascade and gently bloom from the bottom to the top and each stem can produce up to two dozen blossoms.  The gladiolus come in a variety of shades from vibrant fuchsia with white flecks to a pale, peachy bloom as seen here.  If you are looking for a bloom to add height (and to not empty your wallet) this is an excellent choice. Continue for more...

**Today is the last day to enter the Spoonable Caramel giveaway! If you already entered feel free to enter again. Three lucky winners will win a jar of Salty Caramel and Brooklyn Butterscotch! 

Petal by Petal:: Delphinium

 The color of the delphinium, also known as larkspur is mesmerizing, almost like a painters palette combining bits of cerulean blue with flecks of violet and a tinge of mossy green.  This blooms first makes an appearance in spring, but can be purchased all-year at floral markets. The delphinium works well in a bouquet, especially if height is needed, as these beauties can grow up to seven feet tall! Continue for more...

Petal by Petal:: Vermont Wildflowers

Our recent trip to Vermont allowed me to tap into my inner flower child.  As I mentioned, the cabin we stayed in was surrounded by field upon field of fragrant wildflowers, so I was able to roam free among the rolling hills decorated with such beauty.  All too often, they might be considered weeds, as they take over empty lots here in the city or line the busy highway, but these flowers really help create a beautiful landscape.  Here are a few photos that I snapped while away.  

Petal by Petal:: The Dahlia

The dahlia is one of those flowers that says, summer is here and in full swing.  These hearty blooms come in a multitude of colors and sizes that will please any floral palette that you might have.  I picked up these rich ruby beauties at the Flower Market here in New York  and was enamored by their hypnotic shade.  Continue for more...