Cultivated by Christin Geall
As Heard on The Daily Gardener Podcast:
This book came out in 2020, and the subtitle is The Elements of Floral Style.
From the verdant mind of Christin Geall, renowned gardener, floral designer, and Instagram sensation, comes a botanical bonanza that transcends mere flower arranging. Cultivated is a symphony of color, form, and fragrance, a visual feast that invites you into the world of a true floral artist.
With each page, Geall unveils her secrets, drawing inspiration from the masters of art and music. From the bold strokes of the Baroque to the delicate hues of the Impressionists, she weaves a tapestry of floral design that is both timeless and utterly contemporary.
Whether you're a seasoned florist or simply a flower lover, Cultivated will ignite your imagination and elevate your arrangements to new heights. Discover the art of choosing the perfect blooms, mastering the techniques of composition, and capturing the essence of a flower's beauty.
Here's an excerpt from the book's introduction, in which Christin shares her unlikely path to becoming a florist.
If you'd asked me at the time what I was doing in that shed in Scotland, the professor in me would have had an answer, but I myself might not have believed it: I was serving as a florist in residence on the estate.
What does such a person do? I didn't know entirely, even after I pitched the idea to the owners and head gardener. They just let me get on with it, assuming I knew what "it" was.
So I roamed around with a borrowed bucket and wheelbarrow looking for flowers to pick in the dark days of October. I begged vessels and an old folding card table from the house manager. I tried to put together color palettes. I sought out places to photograph my arrangements. And I silently questioned my every move.
One thing in my favor: I knew plants. I'd spent thirty years learning about them, growing them, selling them, and loving them.
So I made a deal with myself to do at least one arrangement a day, no matter what, and photograph it as best I could. I had no tripod, SO most of my pictures were blurry, and because of the latitude and time of year, there was very little light. I had no idea where my designs might take me from one day to the next, but no matter what, I got started. And that starting, that instinct to begin without a doubt, is what matters most.
That's predominantly what this book is about-discovering how to see flowers. My magpie tendencies have thankfully suited me well; in this book you'll find color theory and discussions of fashion, form, and style but also ruminations on gardening and seasonality that I feel are fundamental to an appreciation of the art.
This book is rated a best-of-DIY book on Amazon. It is 224 pages of a fresh and thoughtful guide to flower arranging for gardeners.
SI HORTUM IN HORTORIA PODCASTA IN BIBLIOTEHCA HABES, NIHIL DEERIT.
