(In a new column, Matt is attempting a challenging double axel with a half twist, tracking down flower resources and flower knowledge in the urban jungle. We aren't sure of the title yet, but thought we'd try this on for size.)
Having grown up in a town that had ONE lone florist, I am humbled by the variety offered up in NYC. As distinct and personal as your choice in clothing or hairdressers (or friends), if you search you can find one that is just right for you. For this reason I love the distinct personality of the good, small flower shops throughout the city.
I needed flowers for a small vase and decided to stop by Century Florist, a small shop on Lex and 80th that is carefully curated by two sisters, Barbara and Audrey. They do not have everything; but they are careful about what they do select, a combination of regular favorites and surprises.
Walking by this shop is a good way to see what the season has to offer, and they normally display these in-season picks right in the windows. At present, they have containers of fresh lillies.
What attracts me to their shop is their choice of wall color (I am a sucker for fresh green) and selection of baskets and vases.
Some shops have containers as an afterthought, with uninspired and dusty selections for purchase. But these sisters collect baskets and hangers as they find them, and they all look at home in their cozy shop. The vases are made by a ceramic artist friend of the owners. Lined up on the wall, they create a beautiful effect.
By the door is a collection of bamboo rods that are used to support sagging branches and flourishing orchid stems. As someone who is looking for ways to have plants coexist in his apartment, bamboo rods seem like a useful choice that could easily be overlooked as decoration.
This morning's suggestion for a delicate flower for my vase? Lisianthus. They have crepe-like petals, gathered like a loose sketch of a rose. They do not need much fussing to look good in a vase, and seem to invite the wind into our apartment. MN
Great idea for a feature, and we couldn't pick a better reporter up to the task!
Er, um, the title still needs work. ;)
My all-time favorite florist in Manhattan is Bloom. Jane Packer (operating out of The Terrence Conran Shop) is a close second, and Spruce in the Village is a contender. Had a bad allium incident with Seasons on 8th so I've never gone back there, although I love the shop and selection.
But these are definitely more of the special occasion providers.
I'd also love to hear people from parts non-NYC mention their favorite "special occasion" florists in their towns...
in berkeley, we just walk around and snip neighbors' flowers for our vases- and i've never gotten in trouble for it. almost every house on my block has a huge front garden with amazingly beautiful and fragrant flowers. we also get our rosemary, lemons, figs, etc from the neighbors.
there's one house about a block away that has a big lemon tree and a laminated sign stuck in the branches that says "if we have less than 5 ripe lemons, please leave them for us. if there are more than 5 ripe lemons, please help yourself to some!"
The title is just gross, guys.
Do these neighbors know you snip their flowers? To just take them is rude. You say you've never gotten in trouble for it but I bet the people who've put their time and energy into a garden probably curse a little when they see a yard of stems.
we usually only take one or two, depending on how many there are- never enough that it's noticeable. i really don't think they mind b/c there is such an abundance.
Do you have a garden yourself, where your neighbors can, um, "return the favor"?
The title -
Extreme heat causes silliness. We are tossing around a few titles (you'll be happy to know the above is not one of them) and would not turn away input. Since the site loves surveys, maybe we can convince Maxwell to let the voting public decide from the final three.
As for the situation in Berkeley, that doesn't seem like it would work here in NY. There is a flowerbox on the UES that has actual strawberry plants. NO ONE has dared to pluck one yet. Although, I am all for sharing and in that spirit we exchange apples and other seasonal foods that we get from our farm visits with tour city friends and neighbors. In my mind Berkeley is a very friendly place.
In the coming year we plan on starting plants and gifting them off to willing neighbors as well. I am much better at starting the flowers than I am at keeping them :)
oh, geez, i realized that it sounds like i just steal my neighbors flowers-- we have flowers too, that anyone is welcome to share. i'm a renter, so i haven't planted all that much in the front yard, but we have lots of different types of lavender and these pretty orange flowers (on vines that i forget the name of) in the front. and yes, we sometimes notice that there's lavender missing, and that's fine.
How about "Petal Pushers"? :)
How about Fleur du Mal?
"flowers of evil", ladies and gentlemen, FLOWERS OF EVIL
(egads, where did THAT come from?)
er, Dirty Fingernail Departement?
Another possible title: Petal to the Mettle.
"Urban Jungle"?
"Urban Bouquet"?
"City Stems"?
"Sepals and the City"?
"Pistil Whipped"?
"In Your Vase"?
"Florabunda"?
"Flower Scour"?
or, um...
"Florists"? :)
Ummm. It is stealing. I would assume that the flowers weren't put there to "share." Even though you have no problem with missing plants, I wouldn't assume that your neighbor feels the same way. S/he may, in fact, feel the same way. But as I once was told, everyone likes to be asked. So I would ask if it's ok to take flowers from time-to-time, perhaps in exchange for a bit of weeding or some flats of perennials. Your neignbor may say no problema or not, but I think it's better to ask.
Thank you for the input, guys! We shall see...in a neighborhood thick with planters and flowerboxes I can imagine a place somewhere in between ali and ebrown's, where the plants are what bring people together. Alas, my neighborhood is not one of those.