FLORAL & BOTANICAL

At th end of winter, it soothes your spirit having around you the first

colors of spring to come. just try a neat composition of different vases

with bulbs and add some shrub cuttings that will be forced to bloom

inside your home.

And below are the stages of how to prepare this kind

of bulbs landscape in one of your side tables.

Fall bouquet with Parthenocissus quinquefolia

An elegant bouquet made just with foraged branches of Virginia creeper,

Parthenocissus quinquefolia, creates a dramatic arrangement in a vibrant red fall

colors and a contrasting acid green vase. A sober and delicate, yet luxurious balance for a bouquet.

Still life botanical statement: Heirloom Artichoke

Artichokes are beautiful flowers and when you find heirlooms like this,

they make a perfect portrait.

Le Jardin Extraordinaire - Nantes

The city of Nantes was named green capital in 2013 and has been working to

keep that designation by introducing many laws and regulations and especially

urban renovations and new projects. Some of them are initiatives for the summer

arts evens “Voyage a Nantes”. Others are real urban projects that include

regeneration of some areas of the city.

This is the case in these photos, the former quarry (and other things) Misery is

becoming a new garden for the city, maybe more like a park or a kind of forest

experience, the Jardin Extraordinaire is in development and will open this September

with mini forests, waterfalls, paths, green areas, etc. With the aim of building a

sustainable area. And is very close to the Musee Jules Verne, another cute visit.

Soft tones for fall season

You can use dried flowers foraged in summer to match the soften tones of fall interiors.

Interiors with nature Danish style

Elegant wildflowers bouquet Eindhoven

Bouquets Alsatian floral style

The last wildflowers of summer make a nice arrangement

for a dinner alfresco on the last days of warm weather.

Here the Amaranthus is a colorful statement for vintage dining room.

Roses bouquet Provencal style

Roses and vintage decanters from a brocante in a village in the Luberon, Provence.

Impressionism inspired summer landscape

Winter into spring

We are still in winter season though past days it felt so spring that

going back to cooler temperatures, rainy and windy nights, feels unseasonal,

but truth is that we still have some weeks to enjoy wintery trees and use

their branches in floral arrangements.

This image is from a Danish interior, a living room where I created

a very humble and minimal arrangement, with some branches of

Corylus tortuosa, and patches of moss on a crystal vase, creating
a very powerful yet delicate shape on a candle light evening.

The layout of a contemporary garden in Manacor, Majorca.

A geometric layout for a contemporary garden in Manacor, Majorca by designer Andi Lechter.

The chosing of the parterres, trees and all range of plants have been inspired by sustainability

concepts on water management, temperatures and hours of insolation, native plants best adapted

to land properties and seasonal conditions. It is a work-in-progress to evaluate the design and to

find flexibility enough for improvement or changes in its shape. The project is intended to reach

maturity after few years of growing aftera careful management, and that is another of the

conditions of sustainability, a long lasting interest and beauty.

Happy Holidays, Glaedelig Jul, Feliz Navidad!!!

One of the Danish traditions for Xmas Season or Juletide is that you light the Kalenderlys, Advent candle, every day from the 1st December until the 24th or Christmas Eve, as a countdown to Xmas celebrations.

May the light bring peace to the world.

I wish you Happy Holidays, Glaedelig Jul, Feliz Navidad!!!

Friland. Nature, architecture, creativity, a community in Denmark

Friland, is a community in Jutland, Denmark, where creativity is shown in every corner.
Friland Association was founded in 2002 with a small population that has expanded
to 40 households with adults and children. they define as "a town where people
experiment with changing their lives differently, focusing on sustainable living,
debt and self-employment".

The community's main interests are: Sustainable construction, experimental methods
in building and use of materials. Developing their own regulations. Debt-free values
to avoid speculation and aim of financial freedom. Goals of zero waste, use of
renewable energies, recycling and reuse of resources. Developing businesses to create
a living town. Diversity in all aspects of community building, culture sharing and care
for the land, owned by a fund managed by members of the association.

The guided tour I was invited to showed us the sections of the village, with creative
architecture and gardens. Each one using different building techniques, developing
sustainable applied design. The same approach is used to gardens and potagers.
In recent years, Restaurant Moment has designed and develop an organic vegetable
garden and greenhouse, that provides with all ingredients for its menu, and is already
serving to other businesses in the area.