Watering can
A Note from the Editor
“Blessed is the season that engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” —Hamilton Wright Mabie
sense of fear, subterfuge, negativity, and—let’s face it— a bit of crazy. That doesn’t mean that there are not conspiracies afoot, for good or for ill. However, I am enamored by Mabie’s use of the term here. What would it look and feel like for the whole world to simply drop arms, prejudices, grudges, fears, malice, and condemnations and ask for our hearts to be filled with love? Not just love for our friends, family, and others who are easy to love, but love for those who act and think and believe differently from us. I have a vision of people whispering, “Psst, I love you; pass it on.” To this dream, let’s add a healthy dollop of gratitude as we gather this holiday season at the Thanksgiving table and around football games on television while bouncing our children or grandchildren on our laps, welcoming college students home, swapping gifts and stories around the tree, taking long walks, and delivering provisions to those in need.
As you peruse the pages of our holiday issue, my hope is that the festively dressed houses—a designer’s warm and chic home in New Orleans; a cheerfully self-confident Birmingham house; and a peaceful, elegant Long Island residence—will add joy and inspiration to this season. We also invite you to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of iconic American Master Gardener Frederick Law Olmsted with us as we visit one of his lovingly restored gardens outside Philadelphia. Sending much love for the holidays and beyond,
Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Please send your comments, triumphs, challenges & questions to: wateringcan@flowermag.com OR: Letters to the Editor Flower magazine I P.O. Box 530645 I Birmingham, AL 35253 Get the Flower email newsletter! Sign up at flowermag.com/news
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FLOWER
November•December 2021
PORTRAIT BY DAVID HILLEGAS
FOR THE MOST PART, the word “conspiracy” instills a
