The Surprising Life of Constance Spry by Sue Shephard

Today's book recommendation: The Surprising Life of Constance Spry by Sue Shephard

I love love love the cover of this book! It shows Constance arranging flowers - ever the influential floral artist (and, btw - founder of the Cordon Bleu cooking school!)
 
Let me read from Sue's introduction:
"Constance possessed a rare combination of talents: As writer,innovator, gardner and above all of the florist and above all as a floral artist.
She was a gifted lecturer and at different periods in her life headed schools for the richest and for the poorest.
At a time when most women's expectations were still limited, she believed in instilling in girls from all backgrounds the confidence and freedom to create beauty.
The fact that Connie served high society never meant that she wish to be part of it  nor that she was impressed by the breeding and wealth of her clients.
She was never a name dropper.. .
Her friend the writer and gardener Beverly Nichols once described the art of flower arranging as pre-spry and post-spry.
She was brilliant at improvisation and enthusiastic user of new materials such as plastics and sticky tape – And, she invented the use of scrunched up chicken wire well hidden to anchors ring stands and branches that would seem to fly out of her arrangements without the benefit of gravity.
Instead of the priceless crystal, silver, porcelain or other heirlooms that she might be invited to use at her clients homes, she preferred baking tins, meat plates or junk finds to put her flowers in. Her genius for creating beauty of the cheapest and simplest materials was legendary."
 
What a story - a riveting biography.
 
You can get a used copy and support the show, using the Amazon Link in today's Show Notes for under $3.