A Kickstart to Summer Flowers and Reading Inspiration
By Gigi Tseng
Photography by ©Billal Taright
Flowers were my life; they spoke for me when I couldn’t.
— Bunny Mellon, American horticulturist
The planting season is in full swing. What better time to immerse ourselves in nature and the delicate beauty of blooming flowers?
For some, gardening is a form of healing—a time of quiet contemplation to ease the stress of modern life. For others, it’s a joyful hobby that brings people together, where every weed pulled and every beetle found sparks conversation and allows loved ones to bond.
Spending time in the dirt comes with health benefits galore. According to research published in the “Journal of Environmental Horticulture,” just a few hours of gardening can ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It has also been shown to enhance memory retention, boost creativity and productivity, and increase overall life-satisfaction.
So, roll up your sleeves, grab a spade, and take the plunge. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, that’s okay—it’s the effort that counts. Need a little nudge to get started? A quick peek inside “Flower Couture: From My Garden to My House” is the perfect place to begin.
Coffee Table Muse
“Flower Couture,” by Cordelia de Castellane—French tastemaker and artistic director of Dior Maison and Baby Dior—is a beautiful coffee table volume that celebrates the natural world and all its blessings.
A champion of the French art de vivre and an accomplished interior designer, de Castellane shares in this second book personal insights on gardening, floral arranging, and the art of entertaining with poise and grace. Her artistic eye and love of nature are deeply ingrained in both her creative work and daily life.
“I always wanted to work in fashion, in a ‘Big House’, I always felt close to beauty, fabrics, and prints and growing up between Paris and the meadows of Switzerland provided lots of inspiration and I was lucky to have beauty around me,” she said in an interview with The Seedling. “Nature is part of my world and DNA. Finding beauty is key for me.”
After decades of working alongside the world’s elite and leading names in the industry, de Castellane turned her gaze inward for her latest book, drawing inspiration from a muse close to home—her gorgeous garden in the French countryside.
Gardening came to de Castellane at a time when she was mourning the loss of her father. Into the soil, she poured her grief, allowing nature—life’s most patient healer—to mend her heart and reveal the perspective she had been too blinded to see.
“The world of gardening has plunged me into a new life. I’m a woman in a hurry—impatient and controlling—so I’m learning to become patient and to observe what nature decides for me,” she wrote in the book.
Each chapter of “Flower Couture” features a color of her favorite blooms. Turning the pages, readers are cordially invited into her world—brimming with exquisite photos, quaint illustrations, thoughtful notes, and whimsical reflections on life.
“A garden is truly a shared experience that brings great joy to all. That, too, is the power of gardeners. The beauty of nature goes beyond all our expectations, beyond what we may have liked to create ourselves.”
Planted with Love
Now, it’s time to incorporate some of that beauty into your own garden. As we enter the height of summer, two blooms come to mind: rose and honeysuckle—the birth flowers of those born under the blessings of Juno, the Roman goddess of love.
When it comes to the language of flowers, few blooms speak as eloquently as the rose. Each color carries its own message: white for purity and innocence, yellow for friendship and joy, pink for grace and admiration, and the classic red for love triumphant.
Beloved across generations and favored by many First Ladies, the rose has long stood as the epitome of taste and refinement. As de Castellane beautifully wrote:
Jackie Kennedy loved the understated elegance of roses. She worked with Bunny Mellon to restore the White House Rose Garden, choosing pink and white roses for their simplicity and beauty. These flowers reflected her refined taste and brought a classic touch to official events. Roses are a symbol of grace and purity, traits that Jackie Kennedy embodied throughout her entire life.
Summer Gardening Joy
Thriving in USDA planting zones 5 through 8, roses were first cultivated in ancient China over 5,000 years ago for both ornamental and medicinal use. In traditional Chinese medicine, roses are prized for their anti-aging properties and are ingested to soothe the liver, ease stress, relieve pain, and promote blood circulation.
June’s second birth flower, the honeysuckle, brings happiness and good fortune. Its sweet scent made it a Victorian favorite for bouquets, often chosen to compliment the recipient’s sweet and gentle nature. The arching petals of a fully open bloom is also said to represent a warm embrace.
Catching the honeysuckle’s sweet fragrance in the air is a sure sign that summer has arrived. These blooms thrive in zones 4-9, and the best time to plant them is in the spring after the last frost, giving the roots a chance to establish before summer heat sets in.
For those who are hesitant to begin, or have a less-than-stellar record with plants, the cheerful cosmos is a great confidence booster. One of de Castellane’s favorite flowers, she lovingly dubbed them, “the earthly star.”
Flourishing in zones 2 to 11, it’s a foolproof choice for beginners. With ample sunlight and a little care, it will bloom all summer and well into the fall. Water thoroughly twice a week during hot weather, and taper off to once a week as the temperatures cool.
Earthly star, the cosmos dances gracefully. Its light petals open into crowns of infinite color. It whispers secrets of harmony, bowing to the wind. Its presence invites us to contemplate the simple beauty of life and to think about each moment as a tribute to the universe.
— Cordelia de Castellane, The Flower Couture
Lavender is also a wonderful choice. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is prized for its fragrance. According to de Castellane, the Romans used it for wellness, and during the Middle Ages, the flower found its place in both medicine and magic. Today, lavender symbolizes peace, purification, and healing.
Thriving best in USDA zones 5–9, lavender prefers regions with moist, cool winters and hot, dry summers. Plant it in well-draining soil, provide plenty of sunlight, and prune regularly after flowering. You can collect the blooms to make sachets and enjoy the scent of summer all year round.
In many things, the journey matters more than the outcome. As you head into this summer gardening season—regardless of which blooms you choose or whether your efforts come to fruition—may the time spent with your hands in the soil bring you peace, joy, and all the blessings these plants have to offer. Happy planting!
Book Title: Flower Couture: From My Garden to My House
Publication: Rizzoli International Publications
Publication Date: April 8, 2025
Get a copy here
