Photo credit: www.gardenista.com
Renowned as the preferred florist for some of New York City’s trendiest design boutiques, including Roman and Williams, Shop Quarters, and Somerset House, Alex Crowder has gained recognition for creating floral arrangements that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also carry a poetic quality. Growing up in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, she spent her childhood constructing fairy homes from natural materials like sticks, leaves, wildflowers, and mud. Today, through her venture, Field Studies Flora, she infuses that same sense of joy and wonder into her floral designs.
Now, her creative canvas spans the entirety of the New York City area. “We strive to produce arrangements that reflect our environment in real-time, sourcing almost entirely from within a 200-mile radius of the city. This approach allows us to connect with various small-scale and thoughtful vendors, from foragers and farmers to dedicated gardeners,” she explains from her studio in Brooklyn. She emphasizes her commitment to celebrating the often-overlooked wonders of nature. “We incorporate wildflowers, weeds, seed pods, branches, and an abundance of grass, aiming to create compositions that resonate with the ecosystems from which the flowers originate instead of adhering to conventionally perfect arrangements.”
In the following sections, Alex shares insights into her passion for flowers.
Your first garden memory:
My grandparents owned a farm in rural Missouri, a legacy from my great-grandfather. While much of the land was leased for corn and soybeans, some areas remained untouched: a lush forest where I was captivated by a glen filled with bluebells, two ponds lively with cattails and snapping turtles, and my great-grandparents’ gardens, which were enveloped by grass and weeds. These overgrown patches were adorned with lilies and irises, framed by fallen stone borders. I’ve sought to recreate that charming, wild aesthetic in my work ever since.
Garden-related book you return to time and again:
The Book of Wildflowers by William Joseph Showalter, published in 1924, is a cherished resource. Showalter’s blend of informative and humorous writing has made our studio’s copy—carefully wrapped in craft paper to preserve its cover—a favorite among visitors who share our passion for plants. I love to showcase its colorful illustrations and witty descriptions of various flowers.
Instagram account that inspires you:
Describe in three words your garden aesthetic.
Overgrown bug hotel.
Plant that makes you swoon:
Queen Anne’s lace, especially when seen in large quantities during sunset or just afterward.
Plant that makes you want to run the other way:
Monocropped roses typical in the floral industry. They lack personality, with straight stems and no scent, while their cultivation often involves labor practices that are exploitative and careless regarding chemical use. This method of production is more extractive than collaborative, contrasting sharply with the complex beauty and fragrance of wild or garden-grown roses.
Favorite go-to plant:
Mountain laurel! I’m enchanted by it as both a tree in the wild and as a cut branch in arrangements. Its beautifully twisted branches move with a naturally graceful rhythm, and its distinctive cup-shaped blooms leave a memorable impression.
Hardest gardening lesson you’ve learned:
I’ve come to understand that I’m not in control.
Gardening or design trend that needs to go:
The obsession with control! Overly rigid floral or garden designs come out looking forced and artificial, lacking the organic charm that nature provides.
Every garden needs a…
Space to sit, allowing for moments of reflection amid the small miracles that happen in nature. Observing these wonders offers a soothing counterbalance in challenging times. Witnessing nature’s resilience is a remarkable experience.
Source
www.gardenista.com