Scene: March-April 2020

Three new books by florists • Chantecaille’s rosy collaboration with artist John Derian for Mother’s Day • Flowers underfoot at The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach • Colorful fabrics from Kendall Wilkinson

Reading List

Book covers for On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist (Artisan, 2019) by Amy Merrick; Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers (Chronicle Books, 2020) by Erin Benzakein; The Art of Wearable Flowers (Chronicle Books, 2020) by Susan McLeary
From left: Illustration by Giulia Garbin, photo by Chris Benzakein, photo By Amanda Dumouchelle

In On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist (Artisan, 2019), New York florist Amy Merrick shares in essence a love letter to flowers, from hardworking tips to more romantic notions. Floral farmer and designer Erin Benzakein’s second book, Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers (Chronicle Books, 2020), is chock-full of inspirational arrangements organized by season. In The Art of Wearable Flowers (Chronicle Books, 2020), florist Susan McLeary teaches the secrets of her craft—fashionable rings, headpieces, necklaces, and more—with step-by-step instructions.

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A Rosy Pairing: Chantecaille & John Derian

Chantecaille’s rosewater, face oil, and a bloom of the Rose de Mai sit on a rose-covered tray by artist John Derian.

Chantecaille is introducing a Mother’s Day set that includes their coveted Pure Rosewater and Rose de Mai Face Oil, plus a lipstick in a limited edition shade, all presented in John Derian–designed packaging. Derian, a celebrated decoupage artist, has beautifully captured the essence of the flower, harvested only in May in Provence. $348 for the set, chantecaille.com


Flowers Underfoot at The Breakers hotel

floral rug in the arched lobby of The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach
Photo courtesy of The Breakers Palm Beach

closeup of the floral rug pattern at the BreakersIn Palm Beach, the already glorious 200-foot-long lobby of The Breakers hotel is now even more so with a new floral carpet inspired by the vivid paintings of French Symbolist Odilon Redon. The intricate creation, woven in one piece by 35 weavers using 70 colors, brings to mind a garden bursting with blooms of lilies, amaranths, irises, and other flowers native to South Florida. As The Breakers designer Adam D. Tihany observes, “the captivating new carpet transforms the space into a beautiful, charming garden—an eternal spring in peak bloom.” thebreakers.com


Colorful fabrics from Kendall Wilkinson

Kendall Wilkinson fabrics
Photo courtesy of Fabricut

Jardiniére—one of three color-themed groupings of fabrics, trims, and tapes in Interior Designer Kendall Wilkinson’s  second fabric collection for Fabricut (fabricut.com)calls to mind a garden of wildflowers with a rich mix of berry hues and dark greens. See the full story.