FLOWER N0V•DEC 2026
HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE
Deliciously extravagant and unapologetically joyful www.pooky.com
FABRICUT.COM
Featured: Christmas with assorted gold and white patterns
Celebrate in Timeless Elegance www.herendusa.com
CON TEN TS November • December 2026
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Making Spirits Bright
At Christmas, interior designer Paloma Contreras reveals decorating touches and traditions that bring in another layer of fresh cheer to her personal statement of style.
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Heavenly Hellebores When much of the garden lies dormant, these flowers become the star of the show.
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Homestead Holiday
Every Christmas, designer Young Huh’s 1820s farmhouse becomes exactly what she imagined during its renovation— a house filled with laughter, family, and enough chairs to welcome one more guest.
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Ever Green
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ON THE COVER Home for the holidays: In designer Young Huh’s sunroom, the Christmas tree takes center stage, supported by gloriosa lilies arranged with greenery foraged from the property. Photograph by Jacob Snavely; styling by Kimberly Power
“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly. “One must also have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” —HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN 8 FLOWER November•December 2026
PHOTO BY JACOB SNAVELY
Emeralds have long been prized for their lushness, luminosity, and verdant strokes of color. Today, jewelry designers continue the tradition of transforming these precious stones into wearable works of art that will stand the test of time.
L O N DO N OVER 60 YEARS OF BRITISH CRAFTSMANSHIP
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C ON TE N T S
Departments
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From the Field
We’ve put our own spin on a classic Christmas carol and gathered dozens of gifts to delight everyone on your list.
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Garden Chronicles
In our new column, garden editor Tovah Martin surveys the global landscape and explores the history, design principles, and elements that continue to influence garden styles.
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Sense of Place
In this excerpt from her new book, antiques dealer Barbara Adkins shares how she welcomes guests to her 19th-century Greek Revival farmhouse with her thoughtful, but relaxed, sensibility.
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Entertaining
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46 I N EVERY IS SUE 12 Watering Can What’s Online? 54 Sources 94 Floral Moment 96
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: PHOTOS BY RACHEL WEILL, MELANIE NASHAN, AND DAVID HILLEGAS
Entertaining expert and author Stephanie Booth Shafran hosts a memorable and magical Christmas Eve dinner at home in Sun Valley, Idaho.
www.wildwoodhome.com
WATER I NG CA N A Note from the Editor
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”– MELODY BEATTIE RECENTLY, I WAS WATCHING A SPORTING
event, one of my “not-so-guilty pleasures,” while back of mind pondering my message for this note. I rarely watch commercials, but for some reason I glanced at an ad for a pickup truck and noticed the words “Grateful – Red Clay Strays” on the screen. It seemed kind of surreal. I’ve been following this Alabama-bred raw, country/rock/gospel-y band for a few years and have reveled in their steady surge in popularity. But it was the word “Grateful” that imprinted. That word, appearing like fairy dust, on a Chevy ad— it wouldn’t leave me alone. These days, we hear of so many ways to improve our mental and physical health— wellness, self-care, nutrition, supplements, even a fancy copper drinking bottle (which I did get suckered into ordering off Instagram). I would add gratitude to that list. It occurs to me that we are in the height of the season of gratitude—not only Thanksgiving, but also Christmas and Hanukkah. The first holiday contains the equivalent name and evokes family, food, gathering, hospitality, Norman Rockwell. The others are about giving, light, love, joy, miracles. If gratitude “unlocks the fullness of life,” as Beattie maintains, then I say let us practice gratitude all day long. We can start now in this issue (winky face emoji). It’s impossible for me not to be bathed in joy and gratitude
as I read and reflect upon the pieces inside these pages. They are each packages containing some of my favorite gifts—beauty, generosity, lush landscapes, rich colorful palettes, and thoughtful personal celebration. We feature glimmery gems (which happen to be my favorite color—green), a rescued and restored family home in the country that belongs to Barbara Adkins, and special access to interior designers Paloma Contreras and Young Huh’s homes at Christmas. In Sun Valley, Idaho, hostess and author Stephanie Booth Shafran shares her pro tips for holiday hospitality. We also take a deep dive into hellebores, the hero flower for gardens and gardeners of all stripes, and then a granular and gorgeous look at Italian gardens. My cup runneth over! And since it’s giving season, enjoy this little bundle of some of my other favorite gratitude quotes below. Wishing you joyous and thankful holidays. Love and SDG,
Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“When you drink from the stream, remember the spring.” —CHINESE PROVERB “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” —ALPHONSE KARR
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” —CICERO “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 Please send your comments, triumphs, challenges & questions to: wateringcan@flowermag.com OR Letters to the Editor I FLOWER Magazine I P.O. Box 530645 I Birmingham, AL 35253 Get the FLOWER email newsletter! Sign up at flowermag.com/news
12 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
PHOTO BY DAVID HILLEGAS
“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.”—JOHN ORTBERG
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VOLUME 20, ISSUE 6
MARGOT SHAW FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Karen Carroll EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Julie Gillis MANAGING EDITOR Ellen Shanks Padgett ART DIRECTOR Amanda Smith Fowler STYLE DIRECTOR Tovah Martin GARDEN EDITOR Julie Doll EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT DIGITAL
Jason Burnett DIGITAL GENERAL MANAGER Anna Mahan Black DIGITAL ASSOCIATE EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Alice Welsh Doyle, James Farmer, Marion Laffey Fox, Elaine Griffin, Tara Guérard, Frances MacDougall, Cathy Still McGowin, Charlotte Moss, Matthew Robbins, Margaret Zainey Roux, Robert Rufino, Frances Schultz, Sybil Sylvester For editorial inquiries: editorial@flowermag.com
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DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
A Holly Jolly Gif t Guide
We’ve put our own spin on the classic Christmas carol and gathered dozens of gifts to delight everyone on your list. PRODUCED AND STYLED BY AMANDA SMITH FOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID HILLEGAS
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FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
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ON THE DAY of Christmas my true love gave to me A GOLD-FRAMED PAPIER-MÂCHÉ PEAR TREE... Handmade Papier-Mâché Pear Botanical (inquire for pricing) from Casa Gusto, getthegusto.com • Fig fabric in Geranium (to the trade) from Andrew Martin for Kravet, kravet.com
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FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
ON THE DAY
3rd ON THE
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STERLING SERVERS... Vintage Sterling Silver Berry Spoons (inquire for availability and pricing) from Mirror Lake Antiques, mirrorlakeantiques.com • FRENCH SCENTS... Menthe, Je T’aime, and Miel Triple Milled French Bar Soaps ($9 each) from Averal, averalprovence.com • Fougères and Marguerites Hand Towels ($225 each) from D. Porthault, dporthaultparis.com • WRITING CARDS... Barwick Personalized Stationery (inquire for pricing) from Lee Jofa for Cheree Berry Paper & Design, chereeberrypaperdesign.com • Copper Ginkgo Tray ($275) created by Ben Caldwell for Ben and Lael through Southern Crafted, southern-crafted.com • All fabrics are Club Velvet (to the trade) from Thibaut, thibautdesign.com. 20 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
Vintage Diamonds Reimagined in Modern Heirlooms For a retailer near you visit singlestone.com
FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
ON THE
5
th
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GOLDEN OILS FOR TASTING... FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Grossane Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($65) from Estoublon through Olive Oil Lovers, oliveoillovers.com • Organic Day Olive Oil ($45) from Nobleza Del Sur through Le Gourmet Central, legourmetcentral.com • Gran Riserva Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($70) from Pietre Al Monte, pietrealmonte.com • My Olive Tree Olive Oil ($40) through Olive Oil Lovers, oliveoillovers.com • Don Gioacchino DOP Terra di Bari Olive Oil ($65) from Sabino Leone through Olive Oil Lovers, oliveoillovers.com • The Solstice Collection Wooden Trays (starting at $375) created by Robert Patterson through Southern Crafted, southern-crafted.com • Oakham fabric in Wheat (to the trade) from Scion, kravet.com
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www . modernhistoryhome . com
@ modernhistoryfurniture
FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
ON THE
6
th
DAY
VESSELS FOR ARRANGING... Birdie Vases ($240 for set of 2 small and $320 for set of 2 large) from Made Goods, madegoods.com • Fabric is Club Velvet (to the trade) from Thibaut, thibautdesign.com.
24 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
155 KING STREET
TEL. 843 723 3594
CHARLESTON, S. CAROLINA
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ON THE
9
th
DAY
FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
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ON THE
ON THE
8
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PAINTERS PAINTING... Artwork from Kristin Blakeney (inquire for availability and pricing), kristinblakeney.com • Covey Hedge Wrapping Paper ($24 for three sheets) from Schumacher, shopschumacher.com • PRETTY PLATES A'SETTING... Grand Tour Dessert Plates ($440 for set of four) from L’Objet, l-objet.com • Custom Christmas Cookies (inquire for pricing) from Alley Cake Company, alleycakecompany.com • FLOWERS FOREVER BLOOMING... Persian Fritillaria Plant ($420 each) from The Green Vase, shop.thegreenvase.com • Les Fougeres Wrapping Paper ($24 for three sheets) from Schumacher, shopschumacher.com • All fabrics are Club Velvet (to the trade) from Thibaut, thibautdesign.com.
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FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
ON THE DAY
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10 BAKERS BAKING... FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Pan Scrubs ($15 each) made by Sun House Craft through Southern Crafted, southern-crafted.com • Italian Cookies by Domenica Marchetti, gibbs-smith.com • Heirloom Italian by Marguerite Marceau Henderson, gibbs-smith.com • The Festive Baker by Ben Mervis, phaidon.com • Essentially Basque by Ryan Bartlow and Laurie Woolever, abramsbooks.com • Daily Dessert by Caroline Schiff, abramsbooks.com • The Butter Cookbook by Monica Cavarsan, Smith Street Books through Rizzoli, rizzoliusa.com • Eat Everything: Pasta Grannies by Vicky Bennison, rizzoliusa.com • The Mon Lapin Cookbook: De Toute Beauté: From Montreal, With Love by Chef Marc-Olivier Frappier, Chef Jessica Noël, Sommelier Vanya Filipovic, Mireille Silcoff, and Riad Nasr, phaidon.com • Spiced by Priya Mani, phaidon.com • A Story of Gastronomy & Wine Introduction by HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg, text by Pedro Corrêa do Lago, rizzoliusa.com • Hearty fabric in Emerald (to the trade) from Andrew Martin Harvest Moon x Kit Kemp for Kravet Couture, kravet.com • Custom Christmas Cookies (inquire for pricing) from Alley Cake Company, alleycakecompany.com 28 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
AVAILABLE AT
CHARLESTON
FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
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ON THE
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GARDENERS GARDENING... CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Nutscene Heritage Mini Twines ($38 for set of 8), gardenheir.com • Copper 10-inch Magnolia Leaf Bowl ($325) created by Ben Caldwell for Ben & Lael through Southern Crafted, southern-crafted.com• Rose Geranium Scented Pencils ($24) by Imogen Owen through Diddle & Zen, diddleandzen.com • Japanese Multitasker Snips ($28) from Gardenheir, gardenheir.com • Niwaki Higurashi GR Secateurs ($76) from Niwaki, niwaki.com • The Gardener’s Bible by Claire Jones and Rachel Newcombe, abramsbooks.com • Talavera Sisal in Celadon (to the trade) from Brunschwig & Fils, kravet.com • Rolling Hills Wrapping Paper ($24 for three sheets) from Schumacher, shopschumacher.com 30 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
Collect Art. Wear It Every Day. Clara Williams reimagines the way fine jewelry is collected. Each new necklace, centerpiece, or charm expands a collection designed to be mixed, matched, and worn in countless ways using our signature ClaraClasp®. clarawilliams.com
FROM TH E FI ELD | GI F T GUI DE
“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” —HAMILTON WRIGHT MABIE
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FLUTES A’TOASTING... Tommy Champagne Flutes in Amethyst (inquire for pricing) from Saint-Louis Crystal, saint-louis.com • LEFT: Charm Bracelet with Venetian glass intaglios, white and black South Sea pearls, and ancient silver and bronze coins ($26,650) and Horizontal Cushion Lion Ring with a trio of rose-cut diamonds on the shank ($7,450) • RIGHT: Vertical Cushion Hessonite Garnet Ring with four dots on split shank ($8,100), Narrow Bangle with alternating square and round diamonds ($17,350), Small Double Band Bangle with rubies ($15,150), and Wide Bangle with Granulation ($25,300). All jewelry is from Elizabeth Locke Jewels, elizabethlocke.com. • Fabric is Club Velvet (to the trade) from Thibaut, thibautdesign.com.
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G A R DE N CH RON ICL E S
Italian Garden Style
In our new column, Tovah Martin surveys the global landscape and explores the history, design principles, and elements that continue to influence professional garden designers and inspire amateur enthusiasts and travelers alike. First stop, Italy—the birthplace of the Renaissance and home to spectacular gardens. BY TOVAH MARTIN WITH NAN SINTON
I
f you love a straight allée, thank Rome—because that’s where the axis was born. When American landscape architects went searching for inspiration, they turned to Italy. There, design was rooted in the history of the Renaissance when cardinals, popes, and the wealthy first copied ancient Rome to create gardens beyond simple sustenance. And when the Italians added landscapes to their villas and palazzos, splendor and magnificence were the goals. Not only did they infuse architecture into the landscape, but they used every sort of engineering to send water where they wanted it to rush while also imbuing their gardens with brilliant tricks of perspective to maximize views. The Italian garden was a place of incredible awe and majesty where showmanship was omnipresent. Making a similar splash is far beyond the means of most modern gardeners. But the axis, its focal point, and the fantasy live on. Traditionally, Italian gardens feature structure, geometry, greenery, and statuary rather than exuberant displays of flowers.
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G A R DE N CH RON ICL E S
ELEMENTS THAT ENDURE
With so much natural beauty blessed with an agreeable climate, the obvious step was to extend the living space outdoors—after all, Italy is the birthplace of the room with a view. No longer limited to the walled monastery, views could frame the agricultural distance. While researching ancient Roman gardens, Renaissance designers rediscovered the strong central axis— ultimately dissected by cross axes—as a tool to send the eye gazing at a focal point. The rolling terrain led to some spectacular applications. Balance and symmetry were everything. Walls with archways, well-placed columns, and other architectural conceits framed the views. Drama ruled, and statuary told the story. Fountains, pools, and the art of sending water cascading down rills became such a fixation that finding sufficient hydraulics was a competition. Loggias and amphitheaters lured visitors outside to witness the splendor.
LEFT: Villa Lante in Bagnaia is known for its rill shaped like gambero (crayfish), the symbol of Cardinal Gianfrancesco Gambara, who began constructing the gardens in the 1560s. ABOVE: The gardens of Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella feature citrus trees, flowering shrubs, and ornamental hedges planted on terraces that cascade to Lake Maggiore.
THE PLANT PALETTE
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Italian gardens incorporate green architecture, such as the tall, linear cypress (Cupressus sempervirens).
• Boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) defines space and creates a broderie of hedges. • Olive trees (Olea europaea) soften lines and bring elements of the distant “borrowed” landscape into the foreground. • Mediterranean herbs such as sage, sweet bay, and rosemary add texture and fragrance. • Strongly architectural and often grown in accent containers, agave (Agave americana) was introduced to Europe in the mid-1500s and became a symbol of wealth. 36 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
PREVIOUS PAGES: PHOTO BY ALEX RAMSAY/ALAMY; THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ADAM EASTLAND ART + ARCHITECTURE/ALAMY, LIANEM/ISTOCK, SUN/ISTOCK, BONNIE MCCANN/ISTOCK, MATTHIAS RABBIONE/ISTOCK, AND ALLARD SCHAGER/ALAMY
HALLMARKS OF THE STYLE
When legendary American architect/landscape architect Charles A. Platt made his grand tour of Italian Renaissance gardens in 1892, he found inspiration galore. He grumbled that many villas were no longer in perfect repair, but still, enough survived to influence his noteworthy career. In fact, elements of those Renaissance gardens still rule. Although the overwhelming showmanship and blatant display of wealth and power in Italian Renaissance gardens might not be within our reach, concepts born in the 1500s have become part of our vernacular, beginning with garden rooms as a means of segmenting spaces. In addition to the axes that still appear in formal spaces, our penchant for using statuary (particularly gods and goddesses) as focal points, along with our love of water features in their many iterations, can be traced back to a fascination with Italian gardens.
The Other Elizabeth • 17 East Main Street, Boyce, VA Elizabeth Locke Jewels • 968 Madison Avenue, New York City 212-744-7878 Store Locations: 540-837-3088 or www.elizabethlocke.com
G A R DE N CH RON ICL E S
LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI 1404–1472
PIRRO LIGORIO 1512–1583
GIACOMO BAROZZI DA VIGNOLA 1507–1573
NICCOLÒ TRIBOLO 1500–1550
BERNARDO BUONTALENTI 1531–1608
HISTORIC INFLUENCERS LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI Artist/architect/author Leon Battista Alberti ushered in the Renaissance garden. Using his architect’s eye, he suggested exactly how the outdoors should be presented—harnessing the rolling terrain to create landscapes that beckoned outdoor adventure. Envisioning axes, hedges, walkways, and views, he was the father of the formal garden. PIRRO LIGORIO We owe Pirro Ligorio for first creating the iconic Italian water cascades. At Villa d’Este in Tivoli, 20 miles from Rome and on the ruins of what was originally Hadrian’s Villa, Ligorio designed a dramatic fusion of art and nature with ample mythological statuary thrown in. Visitors walked from the bottom of the site through planted tunnels to emerge at dramatic fountains—all part of a narrative in a larger dialogue.
NICCOLÒ TRIBOLO Niccolò Tribolo specialized in massive dramatic statuary. When Cosimo de’ Medici came to power in Florence, he immediately hired Tribolo to design Boboli with not only a confection of mythological statuary and hydraulics but also as a pageant of rare plants including quantities of trees forming block-like groves. All was meant to convey Medici’s affluence.
TOP: Italy’s romantic nature is on full display at the Garden
of Ninfa, where medieval ruins were transformed into a botanical sanctuary by the Caetani family. BOTTOM: Sculptor Stoldo Lorenzi’s “Fountain of Neptune,” Roman god of freshwater and the sea, at the Boboli Gardens in Florence. 38 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
BERNARDO BUONTALENTI Also working for the Medici family in Florence, Bernardo Buontalenti was the brilliance behind the phenomenal grotto at Boboli. Showcasing the talents of the Renaissance’s finest sculptors (including Michelangelo) and artists, Boboli’s grotto is a showpiece of mystery and magnificence with a combination of faux barnacle-encrusted walls and dreamily painted domes dramatically lit from above. In addition to his contribution to art and garden design, Buontalenti also invented gelato.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARLEE MIMS, TOP PHOTO BY NGOC MINH NGO
GIACOMO BAROZZI DA VIGNOLA Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola had much to do with the brilliance behind Italian Renaissance gardens. One example is Villa Lante, where he masterminded a dramatic water chain through a series of carved shells with loggias and colonnades to offer rest to the weary and provide vantage points. With symbolism galore, it was all meant to convey the power struggle between art and nature.
Brunschwig & Fils Les Paysages Murals
G A R DE N CH RON ICL E S
LEFT: “Avenue of the Hundred Fountains” at
Villa d’Este in Tivoli features nearly 300 waterspouts across three channels. ABOVE: At Sacro Bosco, monstrous 16th-century carvings were intended to be astounding rather than pleasing, although visitors today delight in flocking to Orcus, known as “Mouth of Hell.”
VILLA D’ESTE IN TIVOLI Only 18 miles east of Rome, the town of Tivoli dives deep into history. Villa d’Este, the palazzo of Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, began in 1550 when d’Este hired architect/landscape architect Pirro Ligorio. Beautifully restored, it’s a sterling example of the Italian genius for terracing and the use of waterplay with waterworks and fountains aplenty amid the loggia.
BOBOLI GARDENS IN FLORENCE If classical sculpture speeds your heart, go to Boboli Gardens in Florence, home of the Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Niccolò Tribolo began work on the gardens in 1549, followed by Bernardo Buontalenti. Although this garden isn’t highly floral, it boasts 11 acres of phenomenal statues. You’ll find all the mythical greats—including Neptune and Bacchus—in addition to Buontalenti’s ornate grotto.
SACRO BOSCO IN BOMARZO In his grief at the death of his wife, Italian military leader Vicino Orsini hired architect Pirro Ligorio to orchestrate a Parco dei Mostri—a park of monsters. Created from 1552-1585, the woods are home to a truly remarkable collection of grotesque statues, the most memorable being what has become known as the “Mouth of Hell”— a gaping mouth sculpture built into the hill.
ISOLA BELLA ON LAKE MAGGIORE, NORTHERN ITALY In 1632, when Carlo III of the House of Borromeo decided to build a palazzo to honor his wife, he opted for an island as the setting, resulting in a confection of terraced gardens accented by flower-filled parterres. Niches are filled with statuary, waterlilies float in ponds, and seashells are a recurring motif.
VILLA LANTE IN BAGNAIA Forty-seven miles north of Rome and home of the magnificent world-renowned Pegasus statue as well as an iconic scrolling water chain, Villa Lante was created in 1568 when Cardinal Gianfrancesco Gambara hired architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola. Vignola then called in a hydraulics expert to make the complex water magic happen. The thrills are many, including water features galore, a grotto, surprise water jets, impressive statuary, and parterres. 40 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
GARDEN OF NINFA Picture wisteria vines lazily draping over medieval ruins along with bridges arching over the rosefestooned banks of streams and you’ve captured the essence of Ninfa, located southeast of Rome. Known for 2,000 years as the place of running water, Ninfa was transformed from mosquitoinfested ruins into a garden in the 20th century. If you see an English influence, that’s the input of Brits who married into the Caetani family, bringing their love of plant rarities into the picture and earning Ninfa the designation as a plantsman’s paradise. For more information, see Sources, page 94.
PHOTOS BY (LEFT) AA WORLD TRAVEL LIBRARY/ALAMY, (RIGHT) MELANIE NASHAN
PLACES TO VISIT
Find something special. www.thefrenchtangerine.com
SE NSE OF PL ACE
Receiving Guests In her new book, Past Forward, Barbara Adkins recounts her preservation, decoration, and ongoing stewardship of the 19th-century Greek Revival farmhouse generations of her family have called home. In this excerpt, the beloved antiques dealer shares how she welcomes guests to Chancellor House with a thoughtful, but relaxed, sensibility. | PHOTOGRAPHY BY HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ
“This house is layered with the love and energy of the ones who lived here long before me. It holds me and calms me like no other place,” says Barbara Adkins, owner of Chancellor House and proprietress of Black Sheep Antiques in Harpersville, Alabama. 42 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
© PAST FORWARD: REVIVING AN OLD SOUTHERN HOUSE WITH COLLECTIONS, ANTIQUES, AND PASSION BY BARBARA ADKINS, RIZZOLI, 2026; IMAGES © HECTOR SANCHEZ UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED • PORTRAIT BY SEAN BEAM
BY BARBARA ADKINS
J E W E L S
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SE NSE OF PL ACE
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aking guests feel warmly received is a traditional Southern way of life. Good manners and friendliness came in part because of the isolation involved in rural living. Hosts were happy to see visitors—maybe even relieved—and turned the house inside out to greet them. Galleries are fresh-air parlors that afford a certain kind of hospitality particular to the South where guests can relax while enjoying a cool drink. Dinner would be served inside on the best china that could be had, even if it wasn’t perfectly matched. Greenhouse flowers were not available in the past, but flowers from the property would have celebrated the seasons, with fragrant blooms of magnolia in summertime or cedar garlands in winter. I love for guests, especially those who are new to the house, to walk through the gates of the picket fence, come up the brick walk, and enter through the front portico to the double doors. My garden is always welcoming for guests at any time of year. For evening parties, it is illuminated with string lights, candles placed around the garden and in the chandelier beneath the arbor and standing candelabra in the potting shed. Before parties, it takes about twenty minutes to light them all. From late fall until early spring, I use a large cast-iron washpot as a firepit to warm guests from the outside while their beverages—hot or cold— warm them from the inside. At twilight, the summerhouse glows from one end of the garden, inviting guests to enjoy food and drink and find respite from inclement weather. At Christmas, I hang wreaths on its glass doors, light a fire, and serve hot cider. It’s especially beautiful to be in the garden at night, watching through the windows of the house as a party unfolds inside. There’s a magic to seeing the glowing lights and silhouettes of people moving to and fro while listening to the sounds of laughter, music, and conversation from within. Whatever the occasion, when guests enter the house, we invite them to sign a guest book left open on the butler’s desk inside the front door. This sends a message that every guest is part of the history of the house. When the rooms of Chancellor House are filled with the sound of music and conversation, I think the walls absorb it and gain another layer of life. I don’t care if drinks are spilled on the floor and glasses are broken. They are meant to be used and lived with. It’s the sign of a good party. A truly warm welcome invites guests to be carefree, imperfect, and who they really are. 44 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
ABOVE: The garden is always illuminated with string lights for parties. BELOW: A 19th-century baker’s table with
a patinated iron-and-brass base and Carrara marble top provides a beautiful place to set up the bar in the summerhouse, which anchors the garden and serves as an extension for entertaining as well as an art studio for Barbara.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: A bird’s-eye view of the dining table set with Wild Rose English transferware, Old Paris porcelain, Italian faïence, etched goblets, and damask napkins that have been indigo-dyed by Barbara’s friend, Scott Peacock. • Heirlooms and curiosities abound, including an 1830s portrait of Barbara’s great-great-great-grandmother that hangs above a Victorian wax fruit basket protected by a dust dome. • A Christmas party in full swing, as viewed from the garden.
For more information, see Sources, page 94.
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E N TER TA I N I NG
A Family Affair Entertaining expert and author Stephanie Booth Shafran shares food for thought on hosting a memorable and magical Christmas Eve dinner at home in Sun Valley, Idaho. BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX
| PHOTOGRAPHY BY RACHEL WEILL FLOWER: You are the consummate hostess—with a book on entertaining and a second one coming in 2028. When did you first truly discover your love for sharing hospitality? Stephanie: As newlyweds, my husband and I would frequently host one or two couples for a nice but simple supper. We were in our early 20s and would do everything ourselves, from cooking to cleanup. My dinner parties and hosting style have evolved since those days, but they still come from the heart. Entertaining is my love language and favorite form of creative expression—every bit as much as interior decorating or landscape design. What do you love most about entertaining? It’s two-fold. First, it’s bringing people together, whether by reuniting old friends or facilitating new introductions. Second, I enjoy creating a beautiful table and environment. You could say I love to gather and collect—both people and pretty things! I derive so much joy from compiling guest lists, menus, themes, and special touches that delight the people who matter to me the most. You have certainly perfected the art of the tablescape. What is your approach? I create a scheme that complements colors found in the fabrics, artwork, and accessories throughout our interiors. Green is prevalent in this house. I consider it a neutral with much more pizzazz than beige or taupe. Of course, it also happens to be a classic Christmas color. To change things up each holiday season, I’ll add in an unexpected accent color such as French blue, which we used last year. We love the idea of building on your everyday interiors. You recently worked with designer Mark D. Sikes
Every year, Stephanie selects an ornament for each guest that carries special meaning. Her King Charles Cavalier ornament is reminiscent of her beloved four-legged family members, Oliver and Emma. 46 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
The gift they’ll keep forever.
For more information or to start the portrait commission process, contact 1 800 476 1223 • I N F O @ P O R T R A I T S I N C . C O M • W W W. P O R T R A I T S I N C . C O M
E N TER TA I N I NG
ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Stephanie and Steve Shafran’s family home, “Alpine Lane,” in Idaho. • “Christmas Eve has always felt like its own singular holiday,” Stephanie says. “No one is anticipating what’s under the tree, only who’s around the dinner table.” • Snow-capped evergreens and the iconic Sun Valley sign welcome guests to the resort town.
to redecorate your Sun Valley house—talk about a beautiful foundation! What are some of the specific design elements you use to guide the holiday décor? The textiles in the dining room played a really big role. The window and wallcoverings both feature Brunschwig & Fils’s ‘Bellary,’ a Jacobean floral in shades of aqua and taupe. To break it up, we incorporated a few solids and small-scale prints on the dining chairs and banquette. I do want my holiday décor to work seamlessly with my interiors, but I also want to make a festive statement. I’ll incorporate a few extra-special layers like embroidered nutcracker linens, ribbons, shiny silver pieces, and sparkly votives. Christmas is the time of year your home and table should look its merriest. My mother was known for her high-spirited tables—now it’s my turn to create them for my children and grandchildren. The gift of hospitality is one of the greatest things we can pass down to the next generations. We know you’re a bornand-bred Southern California girl. Now that you spend the holidays in Idaho, we bet the family loves the magic of a white Christmas. I’ve been coming to Sun Valley since I was a child, and I met my second husband here over 15 years ago. We now have a large blended family—seven adult children and their significant others plus four grandchildren and another on the way—who travel from Los Angeles, Austin, Palm Beach, New York, and London. We always hope they get the sweet treat of arriving to snow, but they can always count on being greeted with a flute of Champagne or a 48 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
mug of hot cocoa, the sound of Christmas carols, and the delicious scent of a holiday candle. It takes a lot of effort for everyone to make the trip, so we roll out the red carpet for them. Given your passion for dinner parties, may we assume that’s your main event? Yes! Nothing fills my heart more than seeing three generations of our families around the table. I prefer to hold our more formal dinner on Christmas Eve so I can pull out all the stops when no one is rushed. And then the little ones can enjoy being in the magic and chaos of the moment all throughout Christmas Day. No kiddie table for the littles? The under-six crowd sits around the kitchen island, but it’s set just as lavishly as the dining room table. While the grown-ups indulge in a cocktail, the kids enjoy Shirley Temples followed by an early dinner and a Christmas movie in their new matching pajamas—gifts from my husband and me. That sounds like a lovely tradition. Speaking of traditions, is there a certain “something” you incorporate into your Christmas Eve table setting year after year? I always select an ornament for each guest that serves as their place card. The ornament commemorates a milestone achieved during the past year like an anniversary or a graduation, or it represents a skill they’ve learned or a hobby they’ve started. It’s just a little gesture, but it holds a lot of meaning and evokes wonderful memories.
E N TER TA I N I NG
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Although it’s not a typical wintertime cocktail, the ‘Shafran Margarita’ has become a traditional
libation served at family gatherings year-round. The hand-embroidered napkins are by Sharyn Blond. • Snowy white bouquets by Yellow House Floral in Ketchum are strewn through the house. • Potato chips topped with crème fraîche and caviar make an elegant and unexpected appetizer. • Interior designer Mark D. Sikes wrapped the walls and windows in Brunschwig & Fils’s ‘Bellary’ to bring warmth into the lofty dining room. 50 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
205-871-7060
E N TER TA I N I NG
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PARTY ESSENTIALS Stephanie shares a few things she always keeps on hand in her party pantry. LOCALLY FARMED CAVIAR Caviar from Hagerman, Idaho, served with Cape Cod potato chips and Cristal Champagne makes a quick-and-easy app that is unexpected and sophisticated. EMBROIDERED LINEN COCKTAIL NAPKINS I have motifs for just about every occasion. At Christmastime, I bring out Aerin’s “Skier” cocktail napkins and continue to use them all winter long. They’re festive without screaming “holiday,” and they nod to our family’s love for the Sun Valley slopes. SILVER TUMBLERS The unbreakable barware fits right into the hands of our smallest family members so they can enjoy their own version of a fine-dining experience. My set, designed by Elsa Peretti for Tiffany, is also ideal for containing low-cut flower arrangements that trail down the dining table. SATIN RIBBON A hand-tied knot or bow made with high-quality ribbon elevates the look of just about anything. I keep bolts of May Arts double-faced satin ribbon in varying colors and widths to wrap gifts and hang ornaments. MICRO-FINE INK PENS I always keep a stash of Le Pens in different colors for writing place cards, gift tags, and holiday cards. To me, having a pretty penned name is just as important as having nice cardstock. If timing allows, I’ll call on Calligraphy Katrina in Los Angeles for personalization.
Shades of white, silver, gold, and green give the formal tablescape a feeling that’s fresh but unfussy. Accent plates in Wedgwood’s Winter White collection are layered atop Herend fish scale plates and green Anna Weatherley chargers. Custom linen napkins by Sferra feature whimsical nutcrackers surrounded by Stephanie’s monogram. For more information, see Sources, page 94.
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W H AT ’S ONLI NE Trending Now at FlowerMag.com
A Tropical Escape In her new book, Tropical Living (Vendome 2026), photographer Carmel Brantley shares a collection of images as a love letter to tropical design. Carmel has captured the color, light, and details in scores of beautiful Florida and island houses from esteemed designers who share their thoughts on what makes interiors tropical. Enjoy an excerpt and preview at flowermag.com/tropical.
and the doorways, windows, mantels, and trees! Find inspiration for your Christmas décor, or just gather a little seasonal spirit browsing our roundup of decorations at flowermag.com/holiday-decor.
THE FLOWERS OF CHRISTMAS
Christmas flowers, including paperwhites, amaryllis, and poinsettias, shine amidst elegant interiors to celebrate the holiday season. We take a look at the lore of each of these flowers and share tips for conditioning and arranging with them. Read about it at flowermag.com/ Christmas-flowers. 54 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
PHOTOS BY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT) CLIVE NICHOLS, JENN VERRIER, NATHAN UNDERWOOD, AND CARMEL BRANTLEY
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MAKING SPIRITS
brıght
At Christmas, interior designer PALOMA CONTRERAS reveals decorating touches and traditions that bring in another layer of fresh cheer to her personal statement of style.
BY ALICE WELSH DOYLE PHOTOGRAPHY BY FERNANDA RIVERA
DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS has an endless variety of avenues, byways, and back alleys to go down, and each stroll takes you in a different direction. For some, the season is a reason to go over the top with themes and classic red and green, while others choose a more minimal path. Perhaps the best journey springs from the merging of both thoughts, as interior designer Paloma Contreras demonstrates in her Houston home. “This is our third Christmas in this house, and it has proper places for entertaining, a perfect spot for our tree, and plenty of spaces to adorn,” says Paloma. “And while I do take a somewhat edited approach when it comes to holiday decorating, much like I do in the home’s décor, I pay a lot more attention to the magical side of the season—especially now that our daughter Margot is five.” Paloma’s everyday décor reveals classic elegance and overall feminine leanings with soft hues such as lavender, vanilla, rose, and pistachio, but she also includes tailored edges, French influences, luxurious textures, and some unexpected details in the mix. “I like to bring in different styles and periods to create a bit of tension between them with more graphic elements like modern art or lighting,” says the designer. “I want layered rooms that are still timeless.” She embraces botanical prints but tempers them with more buttoned-up selections such as ticking stripe and solid linen. “While I use floral fabric in just about every room, I do take a very studied approach. I’m conscious about what surrounds it. I want the print to be the hero without overwhelming the room with too much pattern.” For the holidays, Paloma stretches her everyday palette to embrace stronger hues such as fuchsia, raspberry, and burgundy. “I find these colors so engaging. There is something romantic and traditional about them,” she says. However, the color choice
is not random—the fuchsia shade is found in the floral tablecloth in the dining room. Paloma stayed away from lipstick reds to avoid too much of a contrast and instead hung velvet burgundy ribbons from dining room sconces and the brass shelving in the lacquered butler’s pantry. A basket for the centerpiece bursts with deep crimson peonies and magenta ranunculus paired with graceful white anemones, fluffy hydrangeas, and seasonal greenery. Joining in the festive mix are gilded touches in pine cones, ornaments, and vases. “At the end of the day, I like fancy and elegant things—but since our family is easygoing and casual, I have reflected that in the holiday décor,” says Paloma. “It’s a balance of glamorous moments and more humble ones.” For example, in the dining room, pomegranates give off the feel that they have sprung from the arrangement and found themselves strewn across the base. Small brass vases reveal unstudied groupings of blooms that bring charm, while the tree is a study in opulence. “I have a busy life with a young child and a business to run, so ease is important,” the designer says. “I don’t believe it needs to be a massive undertaking. There’s something to be said for exercising a little restraint and still having your rooms feel beautiful and festive—and your sanity intact!” For Paloma, it’s the road best traveled.
PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: Interior designer Paloma Contreras in the dining room of her Houston home decorated for the
holidays. The design includes a custom tufted banquette perfect for lingering and mother/daughter chats. The wallcovering is de Gournay. • A color-drenched pomegranate-infused holiday cocktail. THESE PAGES, OPPOSITE: Off-the-cuff groups of cheerful florals, such as these peonies, bring a stronger depth of color and engagement to the entertaining spaces. FOLLOWING PAGES: The dining room is an ode to the joy of florals with Paloma’s favorite chinoiserie wallcovering, ‘Portobello’ from de Gournay, along with a lively Tuckernuck tablecloth and a large-scale peony photograph by Paul Lange. A brass-and-glass light fixture from Visual Comfort adds a modern touch.
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A CONTRERAS Christmas THE PALETTE I like the nostalgia of traditional red and green, but for my home, I strayed from the classic pairing and instead migrated towards variations of raspberry, fuchsia, and burgundy. These colors work so well within the existing palette but also add a little more pop and dimension. The more natural and subdued mossy green shades come in through the seasonal garlands and magnolia leaves. THE TREE Our tree is almost entirely in gold and silver tones. Even though a lot of it is curated, we also tuck in sentimental ornaments— ones picked up on special trips together or that remind us of a family member. It’s important to incorporate personal details. WRAPPING PAPER I don’t look for anything specific. I usually happen upon a paper or two that I love, and this year’s is from North Carolina artist Inslee Fariss. We had a trunk show for her in my shop, and I was drawn to the whimsy and colorations. One pattern is blue with a celestial motif, and the other is a pale pink woodland animal paper that is more childlike. They are distinctive but coordinated with ribbons and tags. FRESH ACCENTS Adding flowers and greenery into the mix is paramount to infusing energy and life into a room. A natural garland wrapped with ribbon and some magnolia is an easy way to bring in that feeling. I also love fresh florals presented in a looser, less-arranged fashion to bring down the formality but still add that layer of fragrant luxury. Some of my favorite blooms are burgundy and pink peonies, fuchsia ranunculus, and white anemones and hydrangeas. CASUAL DETAILS Since our architecture is formal and traditional, I want my holiday decorating to be a bit of a foil to that, so I include small moments of cheer that have an unstudied attitude. These include hanging silver balls on top of a gilded mirror, grouping petite brass and glass vases with mixes of blooms, placing little ceramic Christmas trees, and tying pots of topiaries with satin ribbons. THE TABLE I think setting the table is a wonderful opportunity to bring in complementary but perhaps stronger colors. I don’t use special Christmas china but instead dress the table in my favorites and include gold flatware. Then I fold in florals, pomegranates, and greenery. I do use the dining room wallpaper and the tablecloth prints as my inspiration. TRADITIONS When I was growing up, my mom would bake cookies—dozens of different varieties—for teachers, the mail carrier, and anyone else who showed up at the house during the season. My daughter and I have taken up the initiative. We don’t have the same stamina as my mother, but we are continuing the tradition. And just like it was for my childhood, The Nutcracker is now part of the annual Contreras festivities. We also host our families on Christmas Eve and serve a classic beef tenderloin and a variety of sides that my husband Fabian and I make. It’s a people-pleasing, elegant meal.
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ABOVE: The living room shows off a metallic-infused Christmas tree with an edited mix of family ornaments topped with a simple sheer bow. Windows are dressed in feminine balloon shades in a whisper-pink silk for a dose of glamour tempered by more clean-lined upholstery. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Paloma’s daughter, Margot, is dressed for the holiday festivities. • The foyer features a treasured 19th-century Louis XVI marquetry inlaid commode—the first antique Paloma purchased— joined with a peacock blue ceramic lamp and white Chinese Chippendale side chair with a mossy velvet cushion. The wall color in the downstairs living spaces is Benjamin Moore’s ‘White Dove.’ • The naturally delightful blue-lacquered bar with its brass detailing is accented with ribbons, florals, petite Christmas trees, and pomegranates for the holidays. • Paloma loves contemporary art and chose the mantel piece by New Orleans artist Alexis Walter to add movement and texture in the living room. A classic cedar garland is adorned with gilded pine cones and velvety magnolia leaves.
For more information, see Sources, page 94.
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THIS PAGE: PHOTO BY CLIVE NICHOLS/JACKY HOBBS, RIGHT: BY JANNE FORD
Heavenly
b
HELLE ORES When much of the garden lies dormant, these flowers become the star of the show. BY TOVAH MARTIN
Just when everything is on pause outside, that’s when hellebores unfold, mastering the art of the unexpected. Given the timing of their floral performance, you’d expect something small and timid. Instead, hellebores are the floral equivalent of Haydn’s “Surprise Symphony.” showy, colorful sepals (often called tepals) swell and fold, and the petals have evolved into tubular nectaries ringing the stamens. Those nectaries are a boon for spring’s earliest flying insects. Another hellebore trait that has won gardener’s hearts is its ability to grow beautifully in dappled shade. While deep shade might dissuade the flowers, full sun is not needed. Constantly soggy roots are a killer, but besides that demand, hellebores tolerate a variety of soils. However, they don’t perform well outdoors in hot regions of the country. Sometimes the weather is more than a little forbidding when hellebores pop into flower, so you couldn’t be blamed for wanting to snip a few blooms to bring inside. Most hellebores are perfect candidates for cutting. Long, strong stems make your work easier, and breeders are striving to enhance that attribute. According to Floret Farm in Washington’s Skagit Valley, the trick to a long-lasting hellebore bouquet is not to cut when the flowers first burst open; instead, wait until the flower stamens have dropped and the seed pods are just beginning to form. Then sink the stems into cold water and enjoy a unique performance that evolves as the tepals gradually age to varied shades of green. Or try floating hellebores in a shallow dish to display their glory. The good news is that breeders are increasing the bud count, offering plenty of opportunities to cut while also leaving buds on the plants. To snip or not snip hellebore foliage is a heated topic. Some gardeners wait until the leaves detract from the floral glory. David clips off leaves around Christmas to allow flowers to emerge without risking snipping off buds as they pop from the base. The goal is not to jeopardize those flowers. Barbara Pierson, nursery manager at White Flower Farm, agrees as she references her favorite hellebore—‘Snow Love,’ a chartreuse charmer in the Winter Magic series. It opens creamy white and then slowly (hellebore flowers linger for weeks) fades to chartreuse. “It’s everything you could hope for,” she says. If hellebores have their way, gardeners will never have a down time again.
PREVIOUS PAGES: LEFT: Whether in the garden, an arrangement, or a still life (such as this one captured by Clive Nichols), hellebores bring botanical drama when little else is in bloom. RIGHT: “My arrangements are garden-inspired,” says floral designer and photogra-
pher Janne Ford. “Cutting a small bunch of hellebores on a cold day to team with dried ornamental grasses from the studio seems completely natural, but the contrast in line and form makes it feel contemporary too.” She approaches photographing flowers as portraits, adding, “I always look for their best side.” THESE PAGES, OPPOSITE: Clipping hellebores just beneath their blossoms to float in water ensures their full faces can be appreciated, as seen at Ashwood Nurseries, a pioneering breeder of hybrids in England.
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For more information, see Sources, page 94.
PHOTO BY CLIVE NICHOLS
While some begin flowering in November, the hardiest hellebores bloom in late winter. These immense blossoms happen at ground level when patchy snow is still visible, the grass has yet to green up, and maples are just a hopeful haze of color overhead. Part of a hellebore’s magic is the element of disbelief. How could this flower be possible? Early winter blooming hellebores (Helleborus niger; native to the Alps; Hardiness Zones 3-8) are known as the Christmas rose, while the late winter/early spring blooms (Helleborus orientalis; native to Greece, Turkey, and Russia; Hardiness Zones 4-9) are the Lenten rose. But these are only the tip of the iceberg. What we have available now is a complex fusion of many species composing the Helleborus x hybridus brews that are the newest darlings of garden centers throughout the land. Not only do these flowering plants cover a broad swath of time from November through May, they also are believed by many to have their namesake roses beat by a mile. Poetic and complex, the blossoms are massive and swoon-worthy just when you least expect a performance—no thorns involved. David L. Culp, creator of the gardens at Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, helped bring hellebores into the limelight in this country. On a trip to Britain decades ago, he visited Ashwood Nurseries during their revolutionary hellebore hybridization. Impressed and enlisted, David began a cross-Atlantic dialogue, followed by 15 years of intensive breeding that involved venturing outdoors in winter to hand-pollinate the flowers. In 2015, he introduced the ‘Brandywine Hybrid’ hellebores, but that was just the beginning. A grab bag of singles and doubles, the Brandywine hellebores offer an array of colors spanning the gamut from butter yellow to nearly black. On purpose, the Brandywine hellebore blossoms are not upward facing. “That would be like someone telling you all about themselves in one moment,” says David. “I like subtlety.” But a very practical reason also steers his preference. “Upward hellebore flowers are ruined in sleet,” he says. Gaping wide open in the sun and partially closed when cloudy, hellebores have weather variables covered. Their
garden varieties The Newbies
‘ Vibey Velvet’
Barbara Pierson, nursery manager at White Flower Farm, has her finger on the pulse of hellebore introductions. Among her favorites is the FrostKiss series (Zones 5-9) due to its adaptability. She can recite a list of loves such as ‘Anna’s Red’ and the newest novelty (2023) ‘Vibey Velvet,’ featuring flowers held on elongated stems above the leaves. (Heads up, flower arrangers!)
‘Pink Frost’
The Versatile
Hellebores have also added another application to their job suite—they make incredible potted houseplants in an east-, west-, or south-facing window, blossoming in late winter on your sill when you desperately need a thrill. The HGC (Helleborus Gold Collection) ‘Pink Frost’ was bred with containers in mind. However, all parts of a hellebore are toxic, so avoid growing where children or pets may grab hold. Outdoors, this trait protects the plants from deer.
The Showstoppers
‘Honeymoon, Spanish Flare’
The Honeymoon (single flowering) and Wedding Party (double flowering) series, developed by Hans Hansen of Walters Gardens, have expanded their color range while also enhancing their floral markings to include striping, speckling, and cranberry markings. The ‘Brandywine Hybrid’ from David L. Culp also turns heads with its wide range of hues.
‘ Wedding Party// Blushing Bridesmaid’
The Unexpected
‘Brandywine Hybrid’
Another trend in hellebores is to add color to their foliage. Brittle purple-, red-, and silver-patterned leaves thrill even before the fascinating flowers unfold. The Rockies Helleborus series (Zones 6-9), newly introduced from Must Have Perennials, also emphasizes flashy elongated foliage with striking leaf colors in their profile. Varieties include ‘Table Mountain,’ ‘Mount Nebo,’ ‘Grand Teton,’ ‘Pike’s Peak,’ and ‘Snowshoe Mountain.’ “Foliage is the main attraction,” says Justin Wisniewski of Must Have Perennials. “Blooms are an added perk.” Justin suggests removing the foliage around Thanksgiving to keep the plant tidy over winter.
‘ S nowshoe Mountain’’
OPPOSITE: “Hellebores are nodding flowers. There is something so appealing about that modesty,” says floral designer Max Gill. “They
are lovely when you see their face, but they also provide a beautiful profile when they bow. I pair them with anything woodsy or textural, which I’ll often use to help prop their heads up. I do a lot of fiddling with hellebores when I need them to bend to my will.” For more on arranging hellebores with Max Gill, visit flowermag.com/morehellebores.
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HOMESTEAD
HOLIDAY Every Christmas, designer YOUNG HUH’s 1820s farmhouse becomes exactly what she imagined during its renovation—a house filled with laughter, family, and enough chairs to welcome one more guest. WRITTEN AND STYLED BY KIMBERLY POWER
I PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACOB SNAVELY
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HOLIDAY TRADITIONS HAVE A WAY OF
evolving. Passed from one generation to the next, they are shaped by where we come from, where we settle, and the homes that gather us together. For celebrated interior designer Young Huh, Christmas is about creating a place where family feels at ease and every guest feels welcome. Those traditions began decades ago in suburban Detroit, where Young’s parents, who immigrated from Korea, built a life that blended the customs they brought from home with those they embraced in America. Christmas became a celebration uniquely their own. “I remember my mother’s collection of musical carousels and dancing Santas,” Young says. Christmas Eve was spent with close friends, presents waited patiently beneath the tree until morning, and holiday dinners evolved from Korean specialties to roast beef, homemade baked goods, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate. Those early celebrations laid the foundation for the traditions the designer continues today, now set against the rolling landscape of New York’s Hudson Valley. Just outside Millbrook, New York, Young’s 1820s family farmhouse sits quietly on 140 acres. Once a working dairy farm, the property includes the original house, a weathered barn, a caretaker’s cottage, winding streams, a pond, and rolling fields that disappear beneath a blanket of snow each winter. It’s captivating in every season, but when December arrives, it looks like something out of a storybook. When Young and her husband purchased the property, they weren’t simply restoring an old farmhouse. Over the course of three years, they created a home that reflects the many influences that have shaped her life—her Korean heritage, Midwestern upbringing, East Coast sensibilities, and deep appreciation for traditional interiors viewed through a fresh lens. More importantly, every design decision answered a single question: How will our family live here? That philosophy reveals itself the moment you step inside. A custom Fromental wallcovering inspired by Korean folk art introduces the home’s layered and worldly narrative. Antiques, contemporary furnishings, and treasured collections mingle with the quiet confidence of a house assembled over time. The renovation offered Young a rare luxury. “I had no client to please but myself,” she says. “And I knew exactly
PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: Snow settles on the
1820s farmhouse Young shares with her husband just outside Millbrook, New York. • Family Christmas presents sit atop a vintage chair upholstered in Pavoni’s ‘Athena Sunshine.’ THESE PAGES, OPPOSITE: A custom Fromental wallcovering designed by Young envelops the entry with warmth and color. The antique Italian console purchased in Parma, Italy, is flanked by antique chairs. ABOVE: A garland of deep pink poinsettias carries the palette from the entry to the living room. An antique mirror sits between sconces purchased from Doyle Auctions.
what I wanted.” For someone accustomed to solving everyone else’s design problems, Young finally had the opportunity to indulge her own instincts. If she wanted saturated walls, another layer of pattern, or one more antique, the answer was always yes. Architectural updates quietly support modern family life without compromising the house’s history. A new glass atrium fills the once-dark kitchen with natural light, while the library was thoughtfully reimagined with contemporary touches. Elsewhere, wide paneled oak floors, original millwork, and the farmhouse’s honest imperfections remain beautifully intact, preserving nearly two centuries of history. Yet what makes the house memorable extends well beyond its interiors. Young often says she wants guests to feel “charmed and cared for, but also relaxed and comfortable.” It’s more than a design philosophy; it’s the way her family lives. The warmth f l o w e r m a g .c o m
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of the house comes as much from their generous hospitality as from its beautifully layered rooms. That same sense of quiet abundance shapes Christmas. “For me, it’s about having lots of beautiful flowers and evergreens,” she says. Rather than transforming the farmhouse each December, Young allows the season to gently settle into the rooms. Cedar, pine, and magnolia gathered from the property fill antique vessels, mantels wear loose evergreen garlands instead of elaborate displays, and the smell of paperwhites lingers from room to room. At the center of it all stands the family tree, decorated with collected ornaments, some handmade and some gifted. Christmas Eve brings the farmhouse fully to life as grandparents, cousins, nieces, and nephews fill every room. “When we renovated the kitchen, I opted for a very long table instead of a center island,” Young says. “I always imagined large family gatherings here where people filled the center of the room. Flowers, candlelight, and evergreen branches provide the backdrop, but it’s the company that truly makes a table beautiful.” Christmas morning unfolds at an unhurried pace. Fires are lit, jazz drifts softly through the house, and everyone gathers in the sunroom before settling around the tree for what Young laughingly admits is a very serious gift exchange. Brunch follows, typically an egg-andbread-pudding casserole, and then the family comes together once more for an elegant dinner in the dining room. Holiday afternoons are blissfully unscheduled. If snow blankets the property, the frozen pond becomes a pathway to the island beyond, inviting long walks through the woods. Otherwise, family members play games of cards and pool, or they simply enjoy the rare luxury of nowhere else to be. One tradition everyone eagerly anticipates is the annual family performance, organized by Young’s grown children. It’s a joyful finale to the holiday weekend. “I can’t imagine ever leaving this house and the traditions we have created here,” Young says. “It’s definitely my forever home.” ABOVE: In the sunroom, a delft tulipiere holds stems of gloriosa lilies atop an antique table. OPPOSITE: The family gathers in the sunroom each Christmas morning on a custom banquette by JP Upholstery in a Pierre Frey fabric and skirted armchairs in Cowtan & Tout ‘Poppies.’ The coffee table is covered with an antique suzani gifted by a client.
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In the dining room, Élitis wallpaper provides a paneled backdrop to a classic red-and-white Christmas tablesetting. A white linen tablecloth by Schweitzer Linen drapes the table covered in Frances Palmer ceramics, Wedgwood place settings, and place cards from Mr. P’s. The buffet is antique French Art Deco with Vaughan lamps complete with shades from Birdie Fortescue. A tablescape of anemones and tulips fill Frances Palmer vases for Christmas dinner, while pomegranates and cherries are covered in “snow.”
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An antique baker’s table from Creel and Gow is covered in delftware, Chinese pots, paperwhites, amaryllis, and ferns from Orangerie Garden + Home. Chairs are from Christie’s auction house. 78 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
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“I can’t imagine ever leaving this house and the traditions we have created here. It’s definitely my forever home.” —YOUNG HUH
The primary bedroom is swathed in Soane’s ‘Scrolling Acanthus,’ accented with millwork in Benjamin Moore’s ‘Avocado Green.’ Antique chairs upholstered in ‘Les Groseilles’ by Décors Barbares offer a quiet spot for morning coffee with landscape views. A tree cut from the property is draped with delicate strands of ornaments. For more information, see Sources, page 94.
f l o w e r m a g .c o m
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EVER GREEN
Emeralds have long been prized for their lushness, luminosity, and verdant strokes of color. Today, jewelry designers continue the tradition of transforming these precious stones into wearable works of art that will stand the test of time. PRODUCED AND STYLED BY AMANDA SMITH FOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MONICA BUCK PAINTINGS BY AK HARDEMAN
GARDEN of EARTHLY DELIGHTS
Nearly all emeralds have internal inclusions, such as trapped bubbles or fissures, which are referred to as jardins as they replicate intricate patterns found in a garden.
PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT:
Rune One-of-a-Kind Gold & Emerald Flower Earrings from Gurhan • Wave Cuff from Belperron • Vertigo Gold Emerald Beaded Necklace from Gurhan • Muzo Emeralds Grape Cluster Earrings from Victor Velyan THESE PAGES, OPPOSITE, TOP TO BOTTOM:
Emerald & Diamond Pavé Gold Bangle and Emerald Three-Stone Bezel Set Gold Bangle from Croghan's Jewel Box • Emerald Bracelet from Oscar Heyman • Emerald & Diamond Inlay Gold Bangle, 1.76ct Emerald & Diamond Channel-Set Gold Bangle, and 1.78ct Emerald & Diamond Channel-Set Gold Bangle, all from Croghan's Jewel Box THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Betsey Emerald & Champagne Diamond Drop Earrings from HOWL through Department Nashville • G-One Emerald Princess Circle Earrings with Diamonds from Goshwara available at Croghan's Jewel Box • LPL Collection Earrings from Laura Pearce Ltd.
f l o w e r m a g .c o m
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HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
Throughout history, emeralds have been considered a symbol of hope, renewal, and eternal youth—perhaps not surprising given the oldest emeralds have been around nearly 3 billion years. Legend has it that Cleopatra adored these gemstones so much she purchased rights to Egypt’s emerald mines to ensure she would have her pick of the best ones.
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OPPOSITE: Bouton Earclips from Belperron • One-of-a-Kind Gold & Emerald Necklace from Gurhan THIS PAGE, TOP ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Beaux Ring from Single Stone • Obo Emerald Eternity Band from HOWL
through Department Nashville • Reign Emerald Wrap Ring from Lionheart • Estate Collection Cushion & Emerald Ring from Laura Pearce Ltd. MIDDLE ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Amelia Ring from Single Stone • Oval Emerald & Round Diamond Cluster Platinum Ring from Croghan's Jewel Box • Eleni Ring from Single Stone • G-One Emerald Cushion Bezel Ring in Gold from Goshwara available at Croghan's Jewel Box • Estate Owl Ring from Laura Pearce Ltd. BOTTOM ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Colombian Emerald Ring from Oscar Heyman • JB Star Emerald & Diamond Band from Laura Pearce Ltd. • Art Deco-Style Emerald Gold Bezel & Diamond Platinum Ring from Croghan's Jewel Box • Unico Gold Ring with Emerald from Marco Bicego • Emerald Classic Temple Ring from Temple St. Clair
LEFT TO RIGHT: Emerald Cushion Bezel Pendant in Gold, Emerald Tumble and Beads Long Ribbed Frosted Chain Necklace, Green Beryl Necklace, and Carved Emerald Rondelle Gold Beaded Necklace, all from Goshwara available through Croghan's Jewel Box • Emerald Eternity Necklace from Temple St. Clair
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PRECIOUS GEMS
Emeralds are roughly 20 times rarer than diamonds. They’re also softer, which makes them more challenging for jewelry designers.
For more information, see Sources, page 94.
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931.686.5459 letembloombulbs@gmail.com www.amaryllisflowerbulbs.com
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United States Postal Service 2026 Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation 1. Publication Title: FLOWER. 2. Publication Number: 1941-4714. 3. Filing Date: 09/30/2026. 4. Issue Frequency: Bimonthly. 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 6. Annual Subscription Price: U.S. - $19.99. 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication (Not Printer): Peony Publishing, LLC, 58 Vine St, Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35213-3749. 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher (Not Printer): Peony Publishing, LLC, 58 Vine St, Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35213-3749. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: Jennel O’Brien, 58 Vine St, Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35213-3749; Editor: Margot Shaw, 58 Vine St, Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35213-3749; Managing Editor: Julie Gillis, 58 Vine St, Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35213-3749. 10. Owner: Peony Publishing, LLC, 58 Vine St, Ste 100, Birmingham, AL 35213-3749. 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None. 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 months. 13. Publication Title: FLOWER. 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: 09/01/26. 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: a. Total Number of Copies (Net press run): Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months—74,394; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date—74,775. b. Paid/Requested Circulation: (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months—61,548; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date—63,154 (2) Mailed In-County Paid/Requested Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months—None; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date—None. (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid/Requested Distribution Outside USPS®: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months—6,401; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date—6,073. (4) Paid/Requested Distribution by Other Mail Classes of Mail Through the USPS: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months—149; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date—146. c. Total Paid/Requested Distribution: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months—68,097; No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date—69,373. d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541: Average No.
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SOURCE S Who Did It & Where To Get It Any items not listed are unknown.
GARDEN CHRONICLES
Pages 34-40 Boboli Gardens, giardiniboboli.it/en; Garden of Ninfa, giardinodininfa.eu/en; Isola Bella, terreborromeo.it/en/isola-bella; Sacro Bosco, sacrobosco.eu; Villa Lante, cultura.gov.it/luogo/villa-lante Villa d’Este, https://villae.cultura.gov.it/en/ the-locations/villa-deste/
SENSE OF PLACE
Pages 42-45 Past Forward: Reviving An Old Southern House with Collections, Antiques, and Passion by Barbara Adkins, Rizzoli, rizzoliusa.com; Black Sheep Antiques, shopblacksheepantiques.com
ENTERTAINING
Pages 46-53 Host: Stephanie Booth Shafran: stephanieboothshafran.com; Interior designer: Mark D. Sikes, markdsikes.com; Floral design: Yellow House, yellowhousefloral.com; Christmas tree hand-embroidered napkins: Sharyn Blond, sharynblondlinens.com; Chandelier: Currey & Company, curreyandcompany.com; Custom dining chairs: Mark D. Sikes, markdsikes.com; ‘Bellamy’ cotton wallcovering and fabrics: Brunschwig & Fils, kravet.com; Silver tumblers: Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Company, tiffany.com; Chargers: Anna Weatherley, annaweatherley.com; Dinner plates: Herend, herendusa.com; Accent plates: Wedgwood Winter White Collection, replacements.com; Custom monogram nutcracker napkins: Sferra, sferra.com; Napkin rings: Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com; Silverware: Christofle, christofle.com; Wineglasses: Waterford, waterford.com, and Riedel, riedel.com
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Pages 56-63 Interior designer: Paloma Contreras, palomacontreras.com; Select furniture, vases, candlesticks, and décor: Paloma & Co, shoppalomaandco.com; Wall color throughout house: ‘White Dove’ by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com; Dining Room: Wall covering: ‘Portobello’ by de Gournay, degournay.com; Drapery fabric: ‘Incomparable Moiré’ by Schumacher, schumacher.com; Draperies: The Shade Store, theshadestore.com; Peony photograph: Paul Lange Photography, paullange.com; Rug: ‘Skiros’ by Patterson Flynn, pattersonflynn. com; Dining chair fabric: ‘Mauve Suede’ by Jerry Pair Leather, jerrypairleather.com; Host chairs: House+Town, houseandtown.com; Host chair fabric: ‘Lino Zig Zag’ by Casa Branca, casabranca.com; Chandelier: ‘Brigitte’ by Visual Comfort, visualcomfort.com; Credenza: ‘Monroe’ by Century Furniture, centuryfurniture.com; Tablecloth: Tuckernuck, tnuck.com; Dinner plates: Christopher Spitzmiller, christopherspitzmiller.com; Living Room: Pillow fabrics: Scalamandré, scalamandre. com, and Colefax and Fowler, cowtan.com; Pleated sofa: ‘Grady’ by Serena & Lily, serenaandlily.com; Armchairs: House + Town, houseandtown.com; Silk shades: The Shade Store, theshadestore.com; Art: Alexis Walter, alexiswalter.com; Bar: Paint Color: ‘Prussian Blue’ by Fine Paints of Europe, finepaintsofeurope.com
HEAVENLY HELLEBORES
Pages 64-69 Page 65: Floral designer: Janne Ford, janneford. com; Page 68: Floral designer: Max Gill,
94 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
maxgilldesign.com; Ashwood Nurseries: ashwoodnurseries.com; David L. Culp: davidlculp. com; Floret Farm: floretflowers.com; Helleborus Gold Collection: helleborus.de; Must Have Perennials, musthaveperennials.com; Walters Gardens, waltersgardens.com; White Flower Farm, whiteflowerfarm.com
HOMESTEAD HOLIDAY
Pages 70-81 Interior designer: Young Huh, younghuh.com; Dining room: Wallpaper: Élitis, elitis.fr; Vintage chairs: reupholstered by Stitch NYC, stitchnycinc. com, and refinished by Rene Escamilla, @r.e.fine_painting; Fabric on chairs: ‘Athena’ by Pavoni in ‘Sunshine’, pavoni.com; Tape trim: Samuel & Sons ‘Aristotle Greek Key’, samuelandsons.com; Tablecloth: Schweitzer Linen, schweitzerlinen.com; Lamps: Vaughan Designs, vaughandesigns.com; Lampshades: Birdie Fortescue, birdiefortescue. co.uk; Ceramics: Frances Palmer Pottery, francespalmerpottery.com; China: Wedgwood, wedgwood.com; Place cards: The Punctilious Mr. P’s Place Card Co., mrpsplacecards.com; Entry: Sconces: Soleil Twin Sconces from Remains Lighting Co., remains.com; Wallpaper: Soru Collection by Young Huh for Fromental, fromental.com; Rug: La Manufacture Cogolin, manufacturecogolin.com; Vase: Frances Palmer Pottery, francespalmerpottery. com; Living room: Antique mirror and sconces: Doyle at Home Auction, doyle.com; Sunroom: Custom banquette: JP Custom Upholstery, jpcustomupholstery.com, in fabric from Pierre Frey, pierrefrey.com; Lamps: Vaughan Designs, vaughandesigns.com; Ornaments: Anthropologie, anthropologie.com; Pillow fabrics: Ferrick Mason, ferrickmason.com, McLaurin & Piercy, mclaurinandpiercy.com, and Robert Kime Ltd., robertkime.com; Trims: Samuel & Sons, samuelandsons.com, and Sanderson Design, sanderson.design; Braided jute rug: Stark Carpet, starkcarpet.com; Skirted armchairs: ‘Poppies’ by Cowtan & Tout, cowtan.com; Vase on coffee table: John Derian & Astier Villate; Antique baker’s table: Creel and Gow, creelandgow.com; Delftware, Chinese pots, paperwhites, amaryllis, and ferns: Orangerie Garden + Home, orangeriegarden.com; Chairs: Christie’s Auction House, christies.com; Primary bedroom: Wallpaper: ‘Scrolling Acanthus’ from Soane Britain, soane.co.uk; Window treatments and custom bedspread: fabricated by Stitch NYC, stitchnycinc.com, in ‘Louisianne’ fabric by Madeleine Castaing through Edmond Petit, edmond-petit.fr; Carpet: La Manufacture Cogolin, manufacturecogolin.com; Custom bed: JP Custom Upholstery, jpcustomupholstery.com; Fabrics on bed: Temple Studio, templestudiony.com, Cowtan & Tout, cowtan.com, and Kravet, kravet.com; Antique chairs fabric: Décors Barbares Fabric in ‘Les Groseilles’, decorsbarbares.com; Dresser: Chaddock Furniture, chaddock.com; Side tables: painted by Rene Escamilla, @r.e.fine_painting; Fireplace tile: Balineum, balineum.co.uk; Bench: fabricated by Stitch NYC, stitchnycinc.com, in Clarence House fabric, clarencehouse.com, with Houlès trim, houles.com; Paint color: ‘Avocado Green’ by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com.
EVER GREEN
Page 82-89: Rune One-of-a-Kind Gold & Emerald Flower Earrings ($67,690) from Gurhan, gurhan.com; Wave Cuff ($62,500) from Belperron, belperron. com; Vertigo Gold Emerald Beaded Necklace
($14,650 for 16-inch, $33,700 for 36-inch) from Gurhan, gurhan.com; Muzo Emeralds Grape Cluster Earrings (inquire for pricing) from Victor Velyan, victorvelyan.com; Emerald & Diamond Pavé Gold Bangle ($9,775) and Emerald ThreeStone Bezel Set Gold Bangle ($6,900) from Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; Emerald Bracelet (inquire for pricing) from Oscar Heyman, oscarheyman.com; Emerald & Diamond Inlay Gold Bangle ($8,960), 1.76ct Emerald & Diamond Channel-Set Gold Bangle ($6,785), and 1.78ct Emerald & Diamond Channel-Set Gold Bangle ($5,175), all from Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; Betsey Emerald & Champagne Diamond Drop Earrings ($19,400) from HOWL through Department Nashville, departmentnashville.com; G-One Emerald Princess Circle Earrings with Diamonds ($14,500) from Goshwara available at Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; LPL Collection Earrings ($14,000) from Laura Pearce Ltd., laurapearce. com; Bouton Earclips ($73,500) from Belperron, belperron.com; One-of-a-Kind Gold & Emerald Necklace (inquire for pricing) from Gurhan, gurhan.com; Beaux Ring ($22,000) from Single Stone, singlestone.com; Obo Emerald Eternity Band ($9,400) from HOWL through Department Nashville, departmentnashville.com; Reign Wrap Ring ($16,850) from Lionheart, lionheart. com; Estate Collection Cushion & Emerald Ring ($39,000) from Laura Pearce Ltd., laurapearce. com; Amelia Ring (inquire for pricing) from Single Stone, singlestone.com; Oval Emerald & Round Diamond Cluster Platinum Ring ($35,000) from Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; Eleni Ring ($48,000) from Single Stone, singlestone. com; G-One Emerald Cushion Bezel Ring in Gold ($23,000) from Goshwara available at Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; Estate Owl Ring ($4,000) from Laura Pearce Ltd., laurapearce.com; Colombian Emerald Ring ($160,000) from Oscar Heyman, oscarheyman.com; JB Star Emerald & Diamond Band ($17,000) from Laura Pearce Ltd., laurapearce.com; Art Deco-Style Emerald Gold Bead & Diamond Platinum Ring ($12,000) from Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; Unico Gold Ring with Emerald ($7.750) from Marco Bicego, us.marcobicego.com; Emerald Classic Temple Ring ($15,000) from Temple St. Clair, templestclair.com; Emerald Cushion Bezel Pendant in Gold ($18,000), Emerald Tumble & Beads Long Ribbed Frosted Chain Necklace ($14,500), Green Beryl Necklace ($13,500), and Emerald Rondelle Gold Beaded Necklace ($6,500), all from Goshwara available through Croghan’s Jewel Box, croghansjewelbox.com; Emerald Eternity Necklace ($65,000) from Temple St. Clair, templestclair.com
VOLUME 20, ISSUE 6. FLOWER Magazine, ISSN 1941-4714, is a bimonthly publication of Peony Publishing, LLC, located at 58 Vine Street, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35213. Periodicals postage is paid at Birmingham, AL, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to FLOWER Magazine, P.O. Box 8538, Big Sandy, TX 75755. For subscription inquiries and customer service, please call 877.400.3074. All unsolicited materials will not be returned. Printed in the U.S.A.
Explore Flower Tours Upcoming 2027 Tours
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New for the holiday season, our hand-painted Herend Candy Cane pieces are designed to make every celebration a little more merry. Shop our holiday Herend collection:
FLOR A L MOM E N T
“This sculpture, titled ‘Wreath,’ is made of tiny pieces of porcelain, each individually carved, pinched, and pulled into shapes inspired by the beautiful flora I find around me in the Lake District National Park in England. I love to observe the patterns and textures found in nature as well as its mathematical forms—repeated numbers of petals and perfect symmetry.” ELIZABETH PRINCE, CERAMIC ARTIST @ELIZABETHPRINCECERAMICS
96 F L O W E R N o v e m b e r • D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 6
To learn more about Elizabeth Prince, visit flowermag.com/elizabethprince.
Rewriting the Rules CHELSEAHOUSEINC.COM
@CHELSEAHOUSEINC