This is a book about flower arranging from the perspective of a gardener.
Harvesting from the garden means short, wonky stems, bruised petals, insects crawling out of blooms and the open invitation to claim a weed or vege as vase fodder. Unlike the demands that florists are under to produce perfection, we at home are only out to please ourselves, or if they are lucky, our friends.
It's easy to lose ourselves in the fast pace of life, family, work and global events beyond our control. Moments of meditation, creativity and connecting with nature are often difficult to find, but we are well reminded of the benefits when we do - the pinching of 30 minutes in a day to wander with secateurs in hand and the calm comfort in playing with foliage and flowers to be enjoyed during daily, domestic life.
Flowers for Friends is both a reflection, and story of the seasons brought indoors by Julia Atkinson-Dunn when harvesting from her garden and foraging in Canterbury, New Zealand.
Written in her signature casual tone (as seen in her first book
Petal Power), Julia offers an accessible guide to picking, conditioning and arranging home-grown treasures, celebrating their quirks and encouraging unexpected combinations. Seasonal chapters profile arrangements she has made, detailing plants in season and inviting readers to play without the hunt for perfection, or restraint.
All the flowers and plants used in F
lowers for Friends can be grown in any temperate climate across the globe, including the US.
Julia Dunn is an established and trusted voice in the online creative community with her design blog and social channels; Studio Home, created as the first of its kind in NZ in 2008. A former interior designer, she shares her relaxed and casual nesting style with readers, encouraging personalized spaces and an exploration of art (including sharing her own flower-inspired artworks). Her focus from interior to exterior happened swiftly with a move to a Christchurch villa complete with garden in 2017. With no previous gardening knowledge, she began her adventure of transforming the largely shrub-filled backyard into a seasonal, floral haven that reflected her personal style. Photographed and written by Julia in her own garden over the last year, Flowers for Friends is presented with a modern, friendly tone in reflection of her voice and writing enjoyed by her followers online. She is excited to share her passion for gardening and arranging, reflecting the immense benefits and release she has discovered in reconnecting with the seasons.
