New York City:
Yes! You walked by that ugly construction site at 9th Ave and West 14th St. every day ... but the next morning, it was bedecked with sunflowers, cattails, and lavender. It was all the overnight work of florist Lewis Miller, who's been bringing life to trash cans, sculptures, construction sites, bus stops, subway entrances and more -- and much pleasure and happiness to New Yorkers.
Some of his work is now documented in Flower Flash (Monacelli Press, 2021). HIs first flash was at the John Lennon Memorial in Central Park, using more than two thousand flowers recycled from an event the night before. In the dead of night, Lewis creates stunning installations that have shown up in all parts of the city. As Lewis says in the introduction, "Flower Flashes celebrate all the good that flowers embody and have to offer us mortals....Precious sweet peas share company with unloved carnations, chrysanthemums make nice with English garden roses." Those are the kinds of recipes for success, he says, because NYC is built on the same principle. "Like a true Flower Flash, Gotham City is a glorious mash-up of all kinds of people and personalities."
Flowers have personalities, too, and you can enjoy them in all their glory in this book, documenting 90 of his inspiring installations.
I've never seen an okra flower, and I certainly have never tasted one. But in Edible Flowers: How, Why, and When We Eat Flowers (Monacelli Press, 2021), author Monica Nelson lets us know that the petals can accent dishes that incorporate okra, or can be lightly sauteed and eaten.
Nelson profiles 100 flowers that can be used in cuisine, from acacia to zinnia. The entries are organized alphabetically, with a short description of the plant and the parts that can easily be consumed.
There are recipes from famous chefs as well, and yes, a list of poisonous flowers that should be avoided at all costs. Beautiful photos by Adrianna Glaviano accompany many of the entries. The book itself is on the small side, and could easily be tucked into a backpack for reference by anyone who's into foraging.
#Commission earned on book sales.
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