Calla Lily

Calla_lily6 x 8, oil on canvas board.  Bidding starts at $9.95.  Click here to bid.

When I was working on Flower Confidential, I developed a habit of going into flower shops anywhere I went.  Sometimes I’d ask a few questions in hopes of finding a good interview subject for the book, but usually I’d just browse, maybe buy a few flowers if I was on my way to meet somebody, then leave.

One of my favorite shops was at Flowers of the World, a florist that did end up in the book.  They own a few flower shops in Manhattan, including one at Takashimaya department store on Fifth Avenue.  This is a very expensive piece of real estate, and the flowers aren’t cheap, either.  They are all on display on a table in the middle of the store, like jewelry. 

A white calla lily at Takashimaya can cost $25 or more, depending on the season and the quality.  These flowers grow like weeds in my garden.  On the other hand, I can’t grow a peony to save my life, and I know people who think of them as being almost weeds.  Well, the trick is to appreciate what you have, yes?