Exotic Flowers in Boston

If you are a movie goer, I bet you were like me and millions of other people who tuned in to watch the 2018 Academy Awards.  The annual ceremony aired across the country, gifting the little gold man to a multitude of different talented actors including some newer faces we haven’t seen before. You could tell by the extra special glam producers made sure to highlight both on and behind stage that this was show they wanted audiences to remember.  Set décor sparkled, evening gowns glittered and the guest of honor himself (Mr. Oscar Statue) gleamed with perfection in the glow of the lights.  Yes, the details were impeccable from floor to ceiling and that does not exclude the flower arrangements from being part of that list.

photo via Mark's Garden, Los Angeles CA

Mark Held, owner of Mark’s Gardens of sunny California is the go-to guy for Oscar worthy blooms that are year after year displayed majestically at the event.  Never to disappoint his clients, Mark consistently designs floral pieces that are in precise harmony with the prestigious event, which continue to blow guests away with their undeniable beauty.  His vast knowledge and experience within floral design allows him to create unique blooming creations that become part of the set themselves. For example, it’s not surprising when guests are frequently interviewed in front of his arrangements and floral props as well as the perfect place to pose for pictures and web videos.  After taking a peek at Oscar 2018’s featured bouquets and centerpieces, there is no denying that Mark Held remains reigning master florist who can be considered a “starlet” in his own right.

photo via Mark's Garden, Los Angeles CA

Hollywood is known for its glamorous starlets who understand that in order to dazzle fans, they’ve got to talk the talk if they want to walk the walk.  Factors such as wardrobe, home décor and overall appearance is what makes these money maker’s names stick on the silver screen but underneath this manipulated image lies a real a person who loves flowers.

Many famous movie stars possess a hidden talent beyond the scripts they read, which enables them to reach beyond the confines of what their fans expect from them.  Even though we envision performers to be solely connected to the dramatic industry, a few choose to extend their creativity into other areas, particularly floral design and gardening.  For some, it’s a way to release tension and relax while the mix of colors pleasantly stimulates others.   For whatever reason, these A-Listers have been found to be superior not only in cinematography but also within the world of flowers.  Check the list out and see if any surprise you?

Tori Spelling

The actress has been known to set up a garden no matter where she calls “home” and over the last few years, there have been plenty.  Spelling is said to have an infatuation with growing organic vegetables to feed her growing family as well as having a sweet spot for cultivating wildflowers.  

Leonardo Dicaprio

“Titanic” star, Leonardo DiCaprio is openly an advocate for green living and pushes the healthy life style of eating your own grown food instead of store bought.  Sources say that he also habitually requests florists to dress his home before he arrives whether in his LA pad or European abode.  

photo credit via hawtcelebs.com

Jennifer Garner

Garner is a well-known patron to several different Farmer’s Markets throughout California and Boston where she usually picks up bundles of flowers such as gladiolas, sunflowers and delphinium.  She named her daughter after the bloom, “Violet” so it’s no wonder she’s so tightly bound to beautiful flowers.

sporting a bouquet from our friends at Winston Flowers

Tiffani Thiessen

“Saved by the Bell” star Tiffani Thiessen has extended her talents to include her own cooking show where she shares her favorite delicious recipes with friends and fans.  Many of her dishes incorporate freshly grown herbs, which she insists on growing herself as well as a beautiful crop of perennials, succulents and orchids.  Since her pilot requires her to serve the food while filming, she’s always in need of a fresh bouquet of flowers for the dinner table!

A few days ago, I went to see a movie you may of heard of called, “Fifty Shades Darker”, the sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey” that blew box offices away in 2015.  Starring Melanie Griffith’s daughter, Dakota Johnson as Anastasia and Jamie Dornam as Christian Grey, this sexy film is pulling in ticket sales by the millions already grossing over $300,000,000 worldwide.  If you’ve already experienced this pleasantly naughty flick, you’re probably not surprised why it’s doing so well since the screen is filled with at least 100 minutes of pure flesh on flesh erotica.  Leather straps, toys (I found the silver balls quite interesting…) and kinky lingerie tends to grip a viewer’s attention pretty fast but it’s in the rest of the those 20 minutes where the director has to insert (dare I say) a plot.

Nestled safely inside the two hour movie is actually a story about rekindling a love affair between Anna and Christian Grey.  After the first movie leads you to believe things are kaput between the feisty partners, they manage to make up real quick within the first fifteen minutes of Part II.  Since they’ve already done the dating thing, of course there’s nowhere else to lead the script accept down the aisle!  That’s right!  The hunky Mr. Grey decides that it’s time to settle down at the ripe old age of 27 and pops the question after a hot night of romping in his playroom.  

It really is actually sweet the two sex birds end up finding each other in holy matrimony but the interesting part (for a florist- you know besides the obvious) is the scene where Christian presents Anna with a whopper of a ring!  During a family birthday party, Grey takes his lady friend into the pool house where the entire space has been filled with luscious blooms covering the sides of the swimming area as well as the ceiling.  Right there, he bends down and proposes his love for her, which of course she says, “yes” to.  One of the only scenes where both of them keep their clothes on for a full five minutes, I would recommend to all flower lovers “Fifty Shades Darker”.  You’ll enjoy this breathtaking display of lovely flowers plus a little titillating fun as a bonus!  

photo credit via Mark's Garden, Los Angeles, CA

As many of you who sat in front of their TVs on Sunday know, The 73rd Golden Globe Awards were telecasted at 8:00pm with Jimmy Fallon hosting the event.  There was a lot of news that generated early in the evening such as celebrity wardrobe, top picks for wins and of course, Meryl Streep’s unforgettable speech about changing the world.  It was the typical Hollywood glitz and glamour you’d expect accept this year’s real head turner weren’t the ones walking the red carpet.  No, the real show stopper were the insanely stunning arrangements that graced each table throughout the room and I’m not talking about Carrie Underwood’s interesting pink rose appliqué gown.  Audiences were supposed to be held captured by the anticipation of who would win the next shining gold trophy but in all honesty, the floral designing was what made the night complete.

photo credit via US Magazine

Mark Helms, owner of Mark’s Garden, was the florist responsible for the amazing massive, globular creations and true to his reputation-his work was once again handed a standing ovation.  For years, he’s been crowned the premier florist to the stars, serving A-List names with an abundance of beautiful blossoms and has grown to become a household name on Beverly Hills.  Mark holds no expense back when it comes to impressing his clients and the Golden Globes were no exception. The floral mogul flew in over 15, 000 roses from Holland and South America, displaying a chic combination of orange hues.  Fashion reviewers are claiming that actors and actresses opted for fabrics toned in metallic and yellow, which Helm’s floral contribution complemented to the “T”.  

If you missed last night’s winners, here’s a complete recap of what was hot in 2017.  

Movies

Best picture, drama: “Moonlight”

Best picture, comedy or musical: “La La Land”

Actress, drama: Isabelle Huppert, “Elle”

Actor, drama: Casey Affleck, “Manchester by the Sea”

Actress, comedy or musical: Emma Stone, “La La Land”

Actor, comedy or musical: Ryan Gosling, “La La Land”

Supporting actress: Viola Davis, “Fences”

Supporting actor: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, “Nocturnal Animals”

Director: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”

Screenplay: Damien Chazelle, “La La Land”

Animated film: “Zootopia”

Foreign language film: “Elle” (France)

Original score: Justin Hurwitz, “La La Land”

Original song: “City of Stars,” “La La Land”

Slide Show

photo credit via people.com

Television

Best series, drama: “The Crown,” Netflix

Best series, comedy or musical: “Atlanta,” FX

Best television movie or mini-series: “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” FX

Actress, mini-series or television movie: Sarah Paulson, “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

Actor, mini-series or television movie: Tom Hiddleston, “The Night Manager”

Actor, drama: Billy Bob Thornton, “Goliath”

Actress, comedy or musical: Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”

Actor, comedy or musical: Donald Glover, “Atlanta”

Supporting actress: Olivia Colman, “The Night Manager”

Supporting actor: Hugh Laurie, “The Night Manager”

When we think of Hollywood starlets, we commonly associate them with glitz, glamour and a whole lot of sparkle.  We figure their job mainly consists of looking fabulous in all places from the red carpet to the silver screen but recently we’ve been reminded that this isn’t true for all of L.A.’s A-listers.  Several very famous actors and actresses including Oscar and Emmy award winners have been know to roll up their sleeves and show their adoration for the great outdoors by using their green thumbs!  

photo credit: hdwallpapershoot.com

Do you find this hard to imagine?  

Well, it seems that gardening has become one of the fastest growing pastimes amongst this crowd because it enhances a spiritual connection to our environment as well as providing an excellent means of relaxation.  Plus it’s way healthy, too!  Stars including Brad Pitt, Rob Lowe, Ellen DeGeneres, Lisa Kudrow and Tiffani Amber Thiessen all enjoy getting a bit dirty in their backyards and produce some, if not all of their dietary vegetables and fruit for themselves and families.  Not only is this new trend in Hollywood excellent for the earth’s natural resources, it’s fun and engaging as they teach their children and the world the value of planting seeds.  

Are you curious about who are the most serious harvesters from our television and movie favorites?  Here are a few of the most vigilant gardeners from the acting industry!

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr is not only famous for her successful career in TV sitcom, but she’s also really into exploring the botanical front.  Reports show that she is an avid grower of nuts on her Hawaiian property, which hosts fields and fields of macadamia trees!

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts is one pretty woman and there is a good reason why!  For decades, the famous actress has raised her own crops, feeding her children from garden to table since birth.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, potatoes and an extensive collection of berries are among the few varieties she takes pleasure in growing on her extensive property.

photo credit: gardenista.com

Sting

Sting is cool all on his own but when you pair him with his love for cultivating natural products such as his own home made olive oil, he’s awesome!   Although he swears there is a garden present surrounding almost all of his abodes, his favorite seems to be his estate in Italy where he is able to enjoy grape growing.  The perfect weather conditions present in Tuscany make this hobby a successful and delicious venture!  

Last Sunday night was the event of the year in California where glamorous stars walked the red carpet in the anticipation of seeing who would win a golden globe award!  According to reports, the ratings reached staggering heights and that was all due to the brilliant staging of props that was organized by the silver screen’s most talented artists.  The clothing, makeup and jewelry were all part of the sparkle adding to the excitement of the evening including the stunning flowers showcased by the best of the best florists in town.  On every table donned a fresh arrangement that was designed specifically to enhance the celebration for those attending and those viewing the ceremony from their own homes.  Characteristics such as color, texture, vase material and height constraints went into deciding just how to design Hollywood’s hottest event.  

photo credit: Nancy Kaye

Since the show aired, there has been an interesting report from those who both liked and disliked the floral displays placed around the room.  Do you prefer this wild collection of color or do you lean towards a more subdued mix of matching hues?

photo credit: Mark's Garden

Varieties of flowers that are included in this arrangement are yellow roses, purple hydrangea, green roses, blue hyacinth, taupe roses and Vanda orchids.  The vase is cylinder in shape with emerald glass set off by silver glitter.  Personally, I think the eclectic shades of bright jewel tones are interesting but may appear confusing to others.  The designer was no doubt going for a flashy splash, which I believe he successfully achieved!

all photos in this blog post are courtesy of Mark's Garden and Nancy Kaye

Did you know that selecting a baby’s name is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when you become a first time parent?  So many first time moms and dads frantically plow down the pages of Baby Name books in the hopes that the perfect title for their child will pop out at them but reluctantly come up empty handed.  So before you find yourself in a tizzy dreading that you’re cute little bundle of joy will be nameless for the first couple of weeks, calm down and take a second to focus on what’s really important to you and your partner.

Daisy Duke via imdb.com

The meaning of a name relies heavily on the historical significance and then again on any ties it may have to a language such as Irish, German or Swedish dialect.  This might be important if you hope to keep a family name in existence or simply want the child to be tightly connected to their ethnic or cultural roots.  For other parents, their baby’s name must be thematic after a feeling or positive characteristic such as “hope or “joy”.  In this case, a baby book might really come in handy since most of them are organized in this manner.  

Rose McGowan via rose-mcgowan.com

But what if you’re looking to pass on a certain hobby, fascination or interest that you would love your child to represent?  Maybe something that is a part of you that you want instilled in your baby?  Something that you want remembered by them every time you hear their name?  What if you’re a flower lover….

It might come as a surprise, but choosing a name that is based on a flower is really quite common and not just for girls, but for boys, too!  Whether you’re a florist, grower, farmer, designer or simply a person who loves a beautiful bouquet of blossoms, take a peek at these names that might fit perfectly for your flower child!

    Sage Steele via People      

  Dahlia Antonia (“Anthos” meaning flower in Greek)

   Zinnea Ren (“lotus” in Japanese)

      Rose Jarred (“Rose” in Hebrew)

      Iris Kunal (“Lotus” of Sanskrit origin)

    Daisy  

Saffron (“Saffron” a flower used as a spice)

   Azalea  

  Narcissus (Used as a boys /girls name)

    Clover Basil (Fragrant herb)

   Rosemary  

  Indigo (Purple Plant commonly used in India)

    Poppy            

  Sage (aromatic herb)

Rosemary Clooney

Just because they’re Hollywood starlets doesn’t mean that they don’t like getting down in the dirt for some gardening fun!  I bet you assumed that just because they wear fancy dresses and attend extravagant dinner parties that they don’t let their hair down once in awhile for some healthy outdoor activity?  Well even the rich and famous need to have fun too, even if that means rolling their Christian Dior sleeves up and getting a little messy.  Many are in disbelief as to why they would choose gardening as a hobby when there are more luxurious pastimes such as croquet, polo, sailing and hang gliding.  Well, I’ll have you know that several silver screen icons depend on their backyard vegetable and fruit beds to provide them with the healthy nutrition their bodies need!  They bank serious bucks on looking their best and that begins with having an A-List diet.  Sure, they could outsource this responsibility to someone else but what better way to micro manage your food than to grow it yourself?  Gwyneth Paltrow certainly falls within this category and has made it clear that fresh produce is a necessity, which describes in detail within her cookbook start.  Here’s the buzz on some more of Hollywood’s hottest healthy foodie actors!

Gwyneth Paltrow

This actress loves her fruits and veggies but her favorite is cantaloupe!  You might remember seeing the evidence of this a few months ago during her media frenzied trip to the supermarket.

Jenny McCarthy

This athletic actress loves her squash and she swears it’s a huge role in maintaining her fit and glowing body!  Her top picks include zucchini and butternut squash for tasty soups and grilled recipes.  

Tori Spelling

Ms Spelling is all about good food and she particularly enjoys the summer selection available during the month of August.  Rhubarb seems to be her favorite this year which she uses as the major ingredient in rhubarb pie and rhubarb chutney.  

Brad Pitt

I bet you didn’t know that Pitt goes bananas for bananas!  That’s right!  This hunky actor thrives on the yellow sweetest of the fruit but unfortunately has to cut back when training for films since they contain a lot of starch.  

Channing Tatum

This cutie is in great shape for sure but lo and behold he’s not exactly a fan of veggies at all.  He does consume green smoothies packed with spinach and kale plus he loves yams.  Looks like his diet is definitely paying off!

 If you are not familiar with the term, Going Viral: becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the Internet:

Last Friday at Fenway Park, Athletics 3B Brett Lawrie broke his bat. The piece flew into the stands and put fan and mother, Tonya Carpenter in the hospital with a fractured skull. More importantly than anything, Tonya is recovering and doing much better.

On Saturday, my contact at the Red Sox reached out to me on behalf of Lawrie to send her flowers and a card. At the time Carpenter was in serious condition and unable to receive flowers. By Tuesday, her condition had improved and we were able to deliver the flowers along with Lawrie's card message " Sending my thoughts and prayers, Brett Lawrie "

By Tuesday evening, Carpenter's family had sent a message of thanks to Lawrie along with pictures of flowers and the card, where we were prominently showcased on WCVB News, WBZ News and FoxNewsBoston.

This act of kindness then caught fire and was picked by the Boston Globe,  Boston Herald, CNN, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, NECN, NESN, US World News, and ABC News. It was posted and liked on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ by tens of thousands which in turn created millions of consumer impressions.

By the time Wednesday morning came, our friends, clients and colleagues were all talking about it and sending us messages and mentioning in the flower market and SAF also picked up the story for their weekly newsletter.

This act of kindness is great for the entire floral industry. But most importantly she is recovering. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tonya as well. 

New Englanders aren’t the only ones preparing their raised beds for a successful season of gardening, heck no!  Hollywood starlets are also rolling up their sleeves and getting down in the mud with their own preferences of vegetable and flower harvesting.  Contrary to popular belief, some of the most famous actresses and actors forgo the service of professional landscape artists and rely solely on their own creative capabilities when designing pots, window boxes and garden plots.  Some of which, are so beautiful that we all could take a lesson or two from their impressive green thumbs.  Did you know that several big named thespians try to match their persona with varieties of plants and shrubbery?  Did you know that some even request months and months beforehand certain breeds of poppies and sunflowers from nurseries around the world?  We all could learn a few tips that have been discovered from these silver screen talents and hopefully incorporate some of their ideas with ours!  Here are a few of my favorites that I will surely be intertwining throughout my gardening efforts this summer. 

                         photo credit: torispelling.com

Tori Spelling is known for her naturalistic adoration for the outdoors.  Recently she acquired a piece of property that hosted its own farm complete with chickens, goats and rabbits.  Along with these adorable animal inhabitants, the actress also has a fondness of agriculture, reaping crops of vegetables such as heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots.  Although the successful entrepreneur and heiress has no shortage of local greenhouse expertise, Spelling has managed to develop her own techniques of fertilizing soil with seaweed and coffee grounds.  Having a strong belief that people should grow their own organic fruits and veggies for optimum health, she has also been believed to grow outstanding fields of gigantic pumpkins for Halloween.  What a lucky bunch of kids she has to have such a fantastic farming mom! 

Sarah Jessica Parker may live most of the time in her posh Manhattan flat but little do most know that she has built her own victory garden on the rooftop!  Containing a stunning eclectic assortment of multicolored ceramic pots holding green beans, spinach and eggplant, the Sex in the City icon has managed to grow sunflowers in the shades of yellow, orange and red in iron urns, which line the edges of the garden.  Word has it that she prefers colors that reflect the New York skyline at sunset, so she cleverly incorporates varieties of gerbera daisies, cabbage roses and nasturtiums to match the preferred palette of glowing spectrum.   

Sandra Bullock is another impressive gardener who has been speculated to adore native southern growth typical to her hometown of Virginia.  Wistful spikes of soft wildflowers are often photographed throughout her ranch as well as massive plantings of blue hydrangea and weeping willow trees.  Bullock also contends to leave on the property naturally growing dandelions so that her son, Louie can enjoy blowing the petals off once the plant has fully matured.  Sandra’s taste has been paired to being “free spirited” and unfettered by the popularity of contemporary design.