Monthly Archives: May 2009

Filoli Flower Show :: May 2009

I was delighted to be invited to participate in the Filoli Flower Show this year. I have had to say no before because of timing or staffing but happily this year worked out.

Mother’s Day weekend has got to be the busiest time for florists but I was very lucky to pair up with Teresa Sabankaya of Bonny Doon Garden Company BonnyDoonGardenCo.com. I think she is an artist whose medium is flowers, she probably does work in paint or other materials, but this is what sets her apart from florists. We have collaborated before for events at my store and she never stops surprising me with her endless original ideas.

My biggest concern was how my table would measure up against the competition of some well known designers. I thought to myself “What do I have that nobody else there has?” I answered my own question with, “A warehouse full of Annieglass.” I decided to wow them with volume and set a table for 12 that was 16 feet long.

The Water Lily pattern seemed like the obvious choice for a Mother’s Day brunch but when I got to the Grand Ballroom and looked at the magnificent gilded fireplace and murals where the table was to be, the obvious choice changed to the Gold Ruffle pattern. I had really wanted to do something different to highlight one of the many other designs that I do without gold, but there was no fighting it. I am delighted with the combination of the two patterns.

The Filoli estate is truly awesome with a wide variety of gardens, flowers, trees and settings over 654 acres. The Georgian country house (36,000 sq. feet) is as magnificent as the gardens. The English renaissance garden covers 16 acres. It was the home of Lurline Matson Roth of the Matson Lines shipping company. I thought they were so ingenuous, when airlines threatened the end of the steamship trade to Hawaii they started hotels. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, lovingly referred to as “the pink hotel” in Waikiki and the first Outrigger Hotel were started by her family. The steamship that transported many to Honolulu bore her name. www.filoli.org

You must see Filoli! It has been the backdrop for the Dynasty TV series as well as several films, most notable Heaven Can Wait. I was lucky enough to get a tour which included the upstairs wood paneled den and bar and I felt like Ellie Mae Clampett the whole time, nearly speechless as well as witless. I think my favorite part is the rose garden, particularly the very old ones. There shape is as exotic as their scent. Thanks to Toni Sutherland for showing those to me and helping me set up.

At the opening I got to meet Mr. See of See’s Candies- not really his name. I told him how I dare not visit customers anymore without bringing any. I’ve got them hooked on it in the Deep South. Can you imagine living without See’s Candies? Heaven can wait!