Indholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2016 i Victoria

Mail delivery here at the office marks one of my favorite times of day. I like to brew a cup of green tea and settle back to peruse letters from readers like you. I enjoy learning what you love about this magazine, and I pass along your suggestions to our editorial team. Now, there is another way to share your thoughts about Victoria. We have posted a reader survey on our website, and I invite you to use this method to express your opinions about the contents. If you prefer to complete the questionnaire in a more traditional manner and return it to us by mail, please see pages 84 and 85. We have positioned the document, front and back, so that it does not obscure any of our lovely…

“To be overcome by the fragrance of flowers is a delectable form of defeat. ”— Beverley Nichols…

“It is to our own detriment that we underestimate the might of small and simple things”—Richelle E. Goodrich Companies began offering eggcups in their most beloved china patterns during Victorian times, but these charming serving dishes were first noted among culinary traditions generations before. Turkish mosaics discovered in the ruins of Pompeii—the ancient Roman city that was preserved instantaneously when Mount Vesuvius erupted—portray diners using similar vessels as early as 3 A.D.…

While living in Europe for nearly a decade, Southern California native Gina Quatrine fell in love with the relaxed and practical furniture styles prevalent on the continent. Her favored slipcovers made it easy to change colors and textures with the seasons—or on a whim. When she couldn’t find equivalent pieces after returning to the States, she simply designed her own and had them made. Once friends got a glimpse of her creations, they encouraged this former antiques-shop proprietress to open her own design company, and Quatrine Furniture was the brilliant result. Initially launched in California, the enterprise now has five locations, including the chic and inviting Dallas emporium. All offer the bespoke furniture Gina is known for. “Everything you see on the floor is available immediately for sale,” she explains.…

FLORAL SEASONINGS For testing purposes, our test kitchen used edible flowers and flower crystals from Gourmet Sweet Botanicals, which can be purchased at gourmetsweetbotanicals.com . Edible-Flower Bark Makes 2 pounds 1 (16-ounce) package pink vanilla-flavored candy coating* 1 (16-ounce) package white vanilla-flavored candy coating* 4 tablespoons all-vegetable shortening 2 tablespoons finely chopped pistachios 2 tablespoons fresh lavender mint (leaves and flowers) 1½ tablespoons crushed pink peppercorns 1 tablespoon hibiscus crystals 1 tablespoon rose crystals 1 tablespoon dried culinary lavender 1 tablespoon sea salt 1. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat pink candy coating, white candy coating, and shortening on high in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until candy is melted and smooth (about 1½ minutes total). 2. Spread onto parchment paper in a ½-inch-thick layer. Sprinkle evenly with pistachios, lavender…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite March/April features: A Rose Lover’s Paradise The family-owned Russian River Rose Company, in the Sonoma region of California, boasts more than 650 varieties of breathtaking heirloom blooms. Pressed-Flower Works of Art Acclaimed botanical artist Anne Blackwell Thompson preserves exquisite natural treasures to create keepsakes that last for generations. The Glorious Gardens of The Crescent City Benefitting a local Louisiana charity, the annual Secret Gardens Tour of New Orleans gives visitors an insider’s view of some of the city’s most stunning private floral sanctuaries. The Classic Beauty of a Georgian-Style Residence By collaborating closely from the initial architecture meeting to the final construction phase, Georgia-based designer Patricia McLean imbued this Southern château with a sense of timeless tradition. SEE MORE ON THE…

“Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment. ”—Ellis Peters…

“Can we conceive what humanity would be if it did not know the flowers?”—Maurice Maeterlinck…

“Where we love is home — home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. The unique symbiosis between a decorator and a client is a crucial component in the design process—one that spells the difference between a house and a home. An ideal brick-and-mortar illustration of a successful collaboration can be seen in a beautiful Georgian-style residence in Brookhaven, Georgia. Long before the foundation was poured, the homeowners called on Atlanta-based designer Patricia McLean to walk them through the oftentimes daunting construction phase. Patricia brought to the table not only her wealth of experience but also her past relationship with the clients, as this was her third project with them. From participating in initial meetings with the architect and the builder to selecting finishes…

It is no surprise that children believe with their whole hearts in the existence of fairies. But husband-and-wife artists Debbie and Mike Schramer, of Salt Lake City, Utah, have assembled a chimerical menagerie of cottages and castles that just might make people of all ages wonder if pixies are, in fact, real. Using organic materials, such as flowers, roots, leaves, and seeds, the couple painstakingly craft these petite dwellings and all the furnishings, right down to the last elfin detail. “There is already such amazing artistry in every part of nature,” Debbie says. “It is a humbling experience to create from something that has such beauty and spirit.” A childhood spent exploring the California coast and the mountains of Oregon opened her eyes to things that those less attuned to…

COVER Table runner and yellow napkins from Bromberg’s; 205-871-3276, brombergs.com. Footed flower vase, call for availability, from Village Firefly; 205-870-4560, thevillagefirefly.com. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 7 , 16 , 21 , 79 , and 97 : To view more of Mary Shira’s work, visit maryshira.com. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14 : For more information about author Frances Mayes, visit her website, francesmayesbooks.com. Look for Frances’s latest book, Under Magnolia: A Southern Memoir (Broadway Books), on amazon.com. TOUCHES OF SPRINGTIME SPLENDOR Page 15 : Gien Millefleurs Teapot, $250, Millefleurs Tea Cup and Saucer, $138 for set of 4; from gien.com and Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276, brombergs.com. Coastline Imports Purple Butterfly Sugar and Creamer set, $10; 909-680-2797, graciechinashop.com. Oohlong Market Gold and Silver Bird Spoons, $38; from Mothology, 404-351-6484, mothology.com. William Yeoward Crystal Buzzy…

During the long Massachusetts winters, when the landscape is blanketed with piles of snow, I need flowers to brighten my home and erase cold weather from my soul. Because I am an avid gardener, blossoms hold a special place in my heart and fill me with joy. Just gazing at nature’s little jewels brightens my mood effortlessly. The color palette I use in my gardens includes whites, soft pastels, and rich pinks and purples (my favorite colors) to bring indoors to decorate my home all summer long. When I am fatigued by a seemingly never-ending winter, I visit my local florist shop. As I enter, a huge display of tulips greets me, enveloping me in a riot of hues—yellow, orange, red, and breathtaking combinations. I gather massive quantities of the…

A delicate, blue lacecap hydrangea stands poised on a pristine white background, its serrated leaves outstretched like the graceful arms of a ballerina. Although at first glance it may appear to be a watercolor painting, upon closer inspection, the finespun veins and subtle gradations of color reveal its true essence. This beautiful floral composition is the work of botanical artist Anne Blackwell Thompson, a native Texan who resides in Richmond, Virginia. Her travels throughout her adopted state, from the Shenandoah Valley to Chesapeake Bay and the Piedmont plain, supply endless materials for her aesthetic endeavors. “My goal is to give an almost ancient art form—the pressing of flowers—a modern, fresh spin that engages the imagination,” says Anne. “I consider my pieces to have a sculptural element beyond their obvious botanical…

Jan Tolmasoff—proprietress of the Russian River Rose Company, in Healdsburg, California—rises before dawn to admire her prized blossoms. At daybreak, the horticulturist begins tending the more than 650 varieties of heirloom roses that grow throughout Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay grapevines, as well as an additional eight hundred plants that blanket fields of perfume roses. These quiet hours provide treasured moments of introspection. Jan says she is often reminded that small steps can lead to grand results when carried out faithfully over time. She and her husband, Michael, aspired to become diligent stewards of this 15-acre property when they moved to Sonoma County forty years ago to pursue wine making. During a subsequent trip to France, the vintners noticed rows of grapes punctuated with roses. Back home, Jan discovered a local…

“The sun has come out … and the air is vivid with spring light. ”—Byron Caldwell Smith…