The Happiest Flower
Winter blooms that chase away the gloom: Anemones
You’re looking out amongst a sea of green. Yes, California can be so beautiful in late winter as the rains green-up the hills (which are brown and fallow the rest of the year). But between the grasses, and those darn invasive oxalis, finding color is rather difficult this time of year. But wait, something catches the eye. Something tall, and strange is rising out of the ground. It’s almost alien-like the way they emerge. Moving in closer, it’s clear it’s one of the very first coveted blooms of late winter. A true signal that spring is on its way, and that '“the happiest flower” will lead us down that path.
Wait, why am I saying “the happiest flower?” When speaking to a fellow artist about what was about to come into bloom, I heard her use this description. It struck me. I’ve always known flowers create sensations and emotions for people (one of the reasons I love to grow them), but to hear another artist talk about those emotions, I knew I needed to hear more. I asked for her story, and she so graciously provided me with one of the most moving stories I’ve heard around memories of flowers:
“Growing up my grandmother always had a bunch of silk anemones in her painting studio. Occasionally when in season, a bunch of real anemones, vibrant and perfect, would take over, instantly making the room bright and beautiful. I always loved these flowers. The rich, dark, almost black, maybe indigo centers, the velvety texture, the beautiful, peacock purple stamens in a crown, and the billowy bright petals. I would look at them and instantly feel joy, happy something so beautiful was here.
I always felt confused, why did people love roses so much? Clearly anemones were the most beautiful, the ones that could light up a room. I bought my grandmother a bright blue glass vase specifically for her anemones, it still has anemones in it to this day. I went to my brother’s wedding to find purple anemones hiding in-between rocks on a walk through the local countryside, I knew this was a good omen and promise of happiness. Anemones are the color of jewels.
They're reds, purples, blues, so bright, so happy.
They aren’t a complicated flower, there aren’t layers of intricately edged petals, they are bright and beautiful, bold and perfect, just the way they are. Anemones are the happiest flower, happy with who they are, no pretense, just glowing brightly, a jewel wherever they grow.”
Julia has captured the essence of this flower in a powerful, yet simplistic way. Julia’s art reflects her eye of the world, and personally, I’m a HUGE fan. Her work is incredibly detailed, and it’s actually quite complex with several steps! First she completes the watercolor work, and then delicately adds gold leaf to the original work using a water based adhesive. After a few hours, this becomes tacky, and she then applies 23k gold, burnishes it, and then adds two coats of varnish. The result is just stunning, and astonishing work of art.
Julia Esdaile is a watercolor artist living in the Monterey Bay. She gains inspiration for her art from the local environment, her paintbrush and art demonstrating her love and respect for this land. The magical beauty of local scenery and wildlife are depicted in a way that shows their nature, the respect they deserve, and hi-lights their beauty and grace, with the goal of sharing appreciation for our beautiful local lands.
Okay, so now you want to grow your own happy flowers??? Well, lucky for us in this area, these are a set it, and forget it flower. Plant it in the right place, they will flower again each year, and continue to bring years of happiness at the end of each winter.
One thing about the happiest flower that catches growers off guard is stem length. Initially they start out very short… the newer the corm, the shorter the stem. Don’t be alarmed if you see awkward heads on top of disproportioned stems. It’s very normal for the corm to push out short stems initially. Just and cut those off, and place in a tiny bud vase to enjoy!
Anemone Coronaria is the varietal that is typically sold by florists. This varietal, unlike others, wants to be grown in the full sun. They need well draining soil, as they are like ranunculus, and are prone to rot if left in too wet of conditions. These corms can be pulled up if they need to be moved, but they typically do best left in one place to continue to flush out and grow.
Cutting these stems is easy, however, when you do cut, be aware of other heads that are coming up behind the initial bloom. It can be easy to accidentally nick the next heads that are emerging from the ground. These blooms open with warmth and light, so be sure to cut early in the bud stage for the maximum vase life. Once opened, anemones have a vase life of about 5-7 days, which can be extended by placing them in a cooler during warmer periods. Otherwise enjoy this beauty for the time you have her, and know that spring is on it’s way soon!
