If You Love Flowers...

The Library at Robinson Gardens

May is a glorious month for gardens and if you live in Los Angeles you probably know that May is the month for a very special garden event. It is when the Robinson Gardens Tour happens (this year on May 17) and the house that Virginia and Harry Robinson built in 1912 is decorated by florists and designers and opened to the public. It's the best garden party in town!

The Living Room

Part of the event is the opportunity to see four private gardens in Los Angeles. After seeing those gardens everyone arrives at the Robinson estate ready for lunch and festivities. It is always fun to walk through the house first before going out to the great lawn for lunch. If you love flowers, you will be in heaven. Each room is bursting with gorgeous floral arrangements. Here are some of the highlights of  the Robinson Gardens House this year.

The living room was decorated with sumptuous flower arrangements by Sticks and Stone

Interior design by Marcie Bronkar

The Morning Room
Interior design by Kathleen Spiegelman and Hollyhock

The morning room feels old school and could easily be the setting for a tea tray brought in by Mr. Carson from "Downton Abbey." This room's femininity was enhanced by the gorgeous flower arrangements bursting with pink peonies created by Eric Buterbaugh.

Love the blue and white vase filled with peonies

The Library
Floral design by Mark's Garden, Interior design by Mindy Weiss

For me the library was the stand-out room. The theme was books, flowers and enchantment. The designers created a fantasy dreamscape for garden and book lovers. Mark's Garden designed a bridge table made out of roses that was absolutely amazing. The florist created ropes of greenery and roses which he hung on library ladders. These were displayed all around the room and looked very pretty against the leather bound books. This room was magical.

There I am taking a photo of the mantel

Master Bath
Flowers by Beverly Hills Garden Club

Dining Room
Flowers by Mark Byrd

Kitchen Patio
Flowers by Edie Zaratsian
Patio Glassware from Mayfair House

Kitchen
Le Creuset ceramics from Mayfair House
Such a gorgeous shade of green!

"There is material enough in a single flower for the ornament of a score of cathedrals."
-- John Ruskin

If you love flowers and are in Los Angeles next May, be sure to get a ticket for the outstanding Robinson Gardens Tour!

Moments Leading Up to the Big Night

Today

On my kitchen table: one of the beautiful centerpieces created by Hollyflora for the Robinson Gardens Gala

Six days ago

THESE arrived for the gift bags

Five days ago

Taking a look at the spectacular Eiffel Tower and overhead lights delivered by the rental company 

 Four days ago

Assembling the table signs

Saturday morning

Placing the flowers, candles, and chocolates on the tables

Saturday afternoon

Swooning over this stunning arrangement by Hollyflora for the entry of the house

Saturday night
The Gala

Just a few of the magical moments getting ready for the Robinson Gardens Gala. I have been working on this fundraiser with my two wonderful co-chairs and a committee of talented women for months. Our theme was "Midnight in Paris" and our goal was to create the ambiance of Paris in the 1920's. Some of the elements of the night: a silent auction (which included a French dinner for 10 cooked by myself and a friend; you may remember the Italian dinner we donated last year), a band playing songs from Paris in the twenties, can-can dancers, a French-themed dinner which included Gougeres and baskets of French Fries with Aioli sauce for dipping, champagne stations, stylish women wearing Jazz Age fashions, and lots of dancing. We served Juice of a Few Flowers, the cocktail that Gerald and Sara Murphy drank with Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald in the south of France. Last week was the final push to get ready and it went by in a flash! Hard to believe it finally happened. The money raised will benefit the restoration and maintenance of this historic property in Los Angeles. It was a magical night...

Garden Tour Season

Put on your garden hat and enjoy the beautiful month of May. It is garden tour season. If you live in the Los Angeles area, don't miss The Friends of Robinson Gardens Annual Benefit Garden Tour. It is a spectacular event and will give you all kinds of inspiration for your garden. Hope to see you there!

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An Abundance of Flowers

Peonies in the Loggia at Robinson Gardens

If you love flowers, then you would love visiting the Virginia Robinson Gardens estate on the day of the "into the Garden" Tour that happens once a year in May.   Each year the florists who participate in this event seem to outdo themselves. They create arrangements that lend an air of beauty, magic and enchantment to each room of the house. The environments they create are a feast for all the senses.  If you have a chance to go next year, you will be enchanted and inspired by what you see.  Be sure to take your time to walk through each room of the house so you can absorb all the beauty that these florists create.   You will be inspired to go home and add flowers to your house. Here's a little tour of what these talented florists did this year.

The Library by Stephanie Grace

The Guest Bedroom by Botany

Entrance Foyer by Lily Lodge

Dining Room by Marc Byrd Flower Design

Loggia by Eric Solberg Gardens

Mrs. Robinson's Bedroom by Tre' Designs

Kitchen by Teryl Designs Landscaping

Ivo's Office by Bel Air Garden Club

Butler's Pantry by Beverly Hills Garden Club

Kitchen Patio by Cottage Garden Design and The Flower Box

Concierge Special Events by Lulu Powers Food to Flowers

Library Patio by Stephanie Grace

Kitchen Gardens by Dale Witt and Lucia Burke Garden Design

Peonies on the Front Porch by Magical Blooms Flowers and Boutique

This year the florists did a spectacular job creating their floral masterpieces.  I think that everyone who visited Robinson Gardens was transported to a place of beauty and fantasy.  Flowers communicate so much with their color, fragrance and texture.  They light up a room and create a mood of celebration and happiness.  I hope this has inspired you to go out and buy some flowers for yourself.  It will bring you a little burst of happiness and brighten up your day. And it is a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of summer!