Amy Merrick is a florist and stylist I have long admired.
The way she plays with shape and texture really blows me away and I especially like her use of fruit and berries.
There’s a romanticism to her work and life that is very intriguing.
Check out her blog here.
All photographs by Amy Merrick.
My grandfather Ezio lives in Haberfield. He has always had a green thumb and grows a plethora of herbs, Italian celery, cucumbers, wild strawberries, figs, avocados and citrus with great finesse. The centrepiece of his garden is a gigantic macadamia tree which keeps us all in plentiful supply year after year.
Nonno’s basil comes from his home town of Povoletto. His original seeds have long gone, but the seeds from the plants are always saved, and the cycle continues, keeping this super aromatic strain alive.
His lemongrass is also popular – I like to make a rough lemongrass + sage + parsley tea. It’s especially good at the end of a boozy dinner party.
Completely lacking outdoor space at the warehouse where I live means I really appreciate my time in the garden here. I love the routine of a good weeding, water, prune and then the reward of the harvest.
Photographs by Sophia Kaplan.
Annie Novak is an agriculturalist who started the Eagle Street Rooftop Farm in Brooklyn. The 6000 square foot organic farm looks across the river to Manhattan. It’s a pretty spectacular combination of big city and small scale farming.
The Selby did a great piece on her farm and adjoining shop.
Check out their story here.
Closer to home my friend Sean has just created his own miniature version of a rooftop garden at his place in Balmain.
Sean is currently studying architecture but has also studied landscape architecture and urban design. He’s spent some time working on a farm and has a keen interest in agriculture.
Sean was “interested in growing food in unused space”. He says that he has “always gotten a satisfaction out of growing and eating my own food, and over time also realised the issues in our current food system.” This is his first rooftop garden and he learnt that the exposed nature of the space meant that he needed to create a protection from the wind which he did using found materials, along with the rest of the structure. He’s currently growing chillies, basil, coriander and thyme.
There is a big movement towards urban farming happening at the moment in Sydney and around the world.
If you want to learn more, two local organisations are doing good things:
All photographs of The Eagle Street Rooftop Farm by Todd Selby.
Photo of Sean by Julia Rush.
And thanks to Sean for sharing his garden!
Next month one of my closest friends is getting married and I am helping with the flowers. Last weekend we went to the markets to get an idea of what will be available and make some decisions about the style she wants for the bouquet and arrangements (and flower crowns for us bridesmaids!). Any excuse to get to the markets really.
The bright pink peonies were in full bloom. Too late to buy them but the perfect time to enjoy their splendour. I bought some younger dusty pink ones instead.
Photographs by Sophia Kaplan.
The Secret Garden has always been a favourite film of mine. It is sad and sweet and beautiful.
A young girl is sent from India to an isolated manor in the United Kingdom after her parents are killed in an earthquake. As she explores this seemingly desolate place she discovers two young boys and the keys to a secret garden. Young Dickon teaches her about the nature around them and together they give a new life to the dilapidated garden, in turn introducing it to the sickly young Colin. The process of rebuilding and then enjoying the garden breathes life back into those who had been suffering.
All photographs from The Secret Garden (1993).
The Secret Garden 