Home + Design

Martha Stewart On Gardening, Tricky Flowers and Summer Weddings: The Lifestyle Queen Opens Up Before Her Dallas Visit

BY // 05.07.18

One week before arriving at the Dallas Arboretum to discuss her book, Martha’s Flowers: A Practical Guide to Growing, Gathering, and EnjoyingMartha Stewart calls me from her farm in Bedford, New York. “We’re having a really hideous heatwave right now,” she says. “It was 100 in New York yesterday, and 100 the day before. It’s terrible for the gardens.”

Weather aside, it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows who Stewart is (isn’t that everyone?) that her blooms are thriving in each of her four gardens in Bedford, East Hampton, New York City, and Seal Harbor, Maine — peonies, roses, lilies, poppies, tulips, hydrangeas, and more.

Martha’s Flowers, Stewart’s newest project from her lifestyle empire that spans home and kitchen products, TV shows, magazines, and dozens of books, is not just a beautiful tome packed with photos of elegant arrangements. It’s also a handy resource, offering tips from Stewart and her longtime colleague Kevin Sharkey on how to best nurture a garden and craft your own bouquets.

As the Great Contributor to Art Award honoree, Stewart will speak and sign copies of the book at the arboretum’s Rosine Hall this Friday, May 11. During our 15-minute chat, Martha revealed what first sparked her passion for flowers and which French château she thinks has the most magnificent verdant park.

When did you first start to develop an interest in flowers?
It’s something I’ve been doing ever since I was a child. It started with my dad. I got my own garden at 19 and proceeded to grow more and more and more.

Who are your biggest gardening influences?
My dad was a very good gardener, and probably his mother, who was a rose grower. I like experts. Dan Hinkley from Heronswood in Seattle, has been a big influence and also a good teacher. I read a lot. I have a vast gardening library that I refer to all the time.

Set your Easter Table with Bering's

Swipe
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024
  • Bering's Gift's Easter 2024

Please share your advice on growing flowers in the brutal Texas heat.
I would absolutely take a course at the local botanical garden. Talk to garden centers where they sell plants that are indigenous to your area so that you’re not trying to plant something that won’t grow. Don’t try to grow delphiniums in Texas.

What floral arrangements are you drawn to for a summer wedding?
I always go for what’s in season, rather than trying to find flowers that are out of season, which are more expensive. I go for local. I go for luscious blooms.

Because I’m a gardener and I grow so many things, it makes it easy for us to do lavish arrangements that you see in the book. But if you’re on a budget and don’t have access to a lot of different variety, as you would if you had your own garden, you have to work with a really good florist who will help you.

Is there a particular fond memory you have that’s attached to a certain floral scent?
The most fragrant garden I ever had was in East Hampton. I had about 900 roses on one acre. It was really special. People would come from everywhere just to walk down the street and smell the roses because the scent was so intense. That’s the kind of memory that stays with you for a long time.

The most beautiful gardens you’ve seen?
I like landscape gardens, those big, old, fabulous, maintained gardens. There’s a château in France called Courances. It has the most beautiful cascading pools. I’ve visited all the gardens in Japan. They have some very beautiful landscape gardens in China. England, Scotland, France, Italy, Russia, Germany, Greece… I’ve been to a lot.

Trickiest flower to grow? Easiest?
Really, really tall delphiniums are tricky. You have to have great conditions. And pillar roses. Those are both difficult. Daffodils are pretty easy. [With daffodils], you get a lot of bang for your buck, as they say.

To purchase tickets or a sponsorship starting at $300 (limited availability) and up, click here, or contact Missy Whisler, [email protected], 214.515.6688.

Hop into Bering's this Easter for Egg-citing Finds!
Shop Berings
SHOP NOW

Featured Properties

Swipe
X
X