ONE: Hyla Dewitt “Winston Sweetheart” Necklace, $150
TWO: Valentino: Valentina Eau de Parfum, $80
THREE: Jonathan Adler Pink Elephant Bank, $78
FOUR: Benefit Cosmetics “Dandelion” blush, $28
FIVE: Ray Ban New Wayfarers, $129
SIX: Elizabeth Street Tourmaline earrings, $900
SEVEN: iPad Smart Cover, $39
EIGHT: Archipelago “Peony” soy candle, $30
NINE: Restoration Hardware “Fog”  chenille throw, $59

Photo via Bravo

Tastemaker Eddie Ross has an impeccable talent for adding style to the home. His ability to sift through flea markets and antique stores for diamond-in-the-rough design makes his method as exciting as it is stylish. What’s more, his background in interior design, culinary arts, and floral design make him a serious force in any lifestyle medium. We’re so excited to sponsor his lecture this Saturday at 10AM at the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville. He’ll be giving advice on how to breathe new life into antique china and we can’t wait to hear all the tips he has to share. Also, be sure to look for him in our Varieties department in our Summer 2012 issue!

Learn about more exciting lectures and attractions at the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville here.

ONE: Coach “Dora” flat, $138

TWO: Michael Kors “Bradshaw” Chronograph watch, $250

THREE: J.Crew “Carnation” ring, $35

FOUR: Tory Burch “Amanda” tote, $495

FIVE: Native Union “Pop phone” handset, $29

SIX: Yves Saint Laurent “Le Rouge” lipstick, $30

SEVEN: Kate Spade New York “Japanese Floral” iPhone case, $40

EIGHT: Nikki Baker “Scarab Onyx” Earrings, $150

NINE: Diptyque “Rosa Mundi” candle, $65

Wisteria initially bore the label of “runner up” in my quest to settle upon my favorite flower. As a new member to the flower girl team, I was quickly given the task/privilege of choosing one budding beauty to be immortalized as the bloom that will forever be dubbed  “Pamela’s favorite flower.”  A bit presumptuous, maybe; overly dramatic, no doubt; but my over-the-top semantics are an accurate representation of the pressure that I placed on myself in selecting the flower graphic that would mark my email signature.

My obvious first choice was the peony.  The peony stands out from her peers and exudes such awe-inspiring beauty that I would feel no remorse in singling her out as the victor.  However, upon my knee-jerk announcement, I was informed that another flower girl has carried the iconic peony emblem for quite some time.  I needed to add a fresh pick to the flower email signature bouquet.

The next image that sprung to mind in my frantic brainstorm was one of violet abundance: Wisteria all along the side of Alabama highways during the few short weeks that the plant blooms in springtime. She briefly overthrows greenery and trees with a vine that grows like wild and yields the most gorgeous purple blossoms that demand the spotlight in nature.

Ironically, the abundance of such loveliness is a direct result of the vine’s tyranny. This juxtaposition of brawn meets beauty, aggression meets aesthetic allure, drew me. She was as tenacious in her rise to number one on my consideration list as she consistently is in crowning herself as the most breathtaking spring plant for her brief reign each and every year.

So you see, the “runner-up” has climbed her way to an elevated, permanent status as heroine and I could not be more pleased that this symbol of equal parts boldness and grace will mark my signature throughout my days as a flower girl.

A glimpse of Nashville Antique and Gardens Show 2010

It’s always so much fun to pack up our flower gear and get on the road for floral events across the country. We love being able to share our magazine with new faces, meet up with old friends, and get inspired by our surroundings. Every trip is always an adventure!

Next up on our schedule will be the Nashville Antiques and Garden Show the weekend of February 10-12. In addition to being one of the largest Antiques and Garden shows in the country, this show is featuring some truly fantastic speakers. We’re thrilled to be sponsoring celebrated designer Eddie Ross‘s lecture and look forward to sitting in on flower friend and interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein’s ‘Ask an Expert‘ time with guests. And if past experience is any indicator, the Show itself is bound to boast several exhibition gardens and countless booths full of fine antiques, home accessories, and garden goods.

We’re counting down the days and we hope to see you there. We’ll be handing out magazines and selling copies of Not So Primrose. Look for the booth with the flower banner and come say hello!

See where else we’ll be in the upcoming months by checking out our event calendar.

Photo by Tina Hager, Courtesy of the George W. Bush Presidential Library | flower Fall 2011 "White House in Color"

Read more about Nancy Clarke’s career as chief floral designer at the White House in our feature, “White House in Color”