Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style

As so many other reviewers have written, this is a wonderful book. Rarely does a floral-inspired book include outstanding writing, valuable information, interesting musings, and gorgeous photographs. Christin is a gifted writer, a talented floral designer, and an accomplished gardener. This book is a beautiful collection of her talents. She teaches about color theory, art history, photography, floral design, and more. I joined 4 other floral designers in reading this book (re-reading in my case) together for an impromptu book club. It is well-organized with interesting narrative and lessons. We could have spent weeks discussing Part Three, Thinking About Color and we poured over the section on Vessels. Our group enjoyed the book immensely and learned so much. We all have our fingers crossed that Christin will write another book soon!

You know that feeling when a book is so good, you just don't want it to ever end? I recently treated myself and *ordered a book* instead of checking it out from the library (I know!) and I was not disappointed. I was charmed and delighted. Best of all? I closed the book informed, inspired and feeling like I'd made a lifelong friend (books can be lifelong friends). Christin Geall's (IG: @cultivatedbychristin) Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style struck multiple chords in my flower and word-loving heart, which all reverberated down into my soul. I'm not exaggerating. First, and oh-so-refreshingly, Cultivated is not a step-by-step recipe book on how to reproduce the gatherings Geall has created. Instead, the author reaches deep to the roots of what it means to arrange flowers from the bounty of nature that surrounds us, especially blooms, branches and bracken from the garden. She writes on designing with the seasons in mind, with what we have on-hand in the moment we begin to create. She dives into color theory, into the history of flower arranging (!!!), into finding our styles and strides as designers, and more. Geall is a writer by first vocation; I so appreciated her well-crafted words and the stories woven into and throughout this work. She writes and designs from a gardner's perspective, someone who intimately knows soil, sweat, plants and pollinators. She shows how this all comes together in a work of art that can be shared with others: a flower arrangement. She has confidence that you can do the same. If you're like me, you've checked out every floral how-to book from the library, have flipped through all the offerings on the shelves of your local bookstore. But maybe you've been looking for something more, something that digs deeper into the broad spectrum of floral subjects. I devoured it in two days, read it with a pencil in hand, underlining and peppering the margins with hearts and wow faces and exclamation points. Have you read Cultivated? Not yet? If we were neighbors, I'd let you borrow my copy but then you wouldn't want to give it back. I recommend you buy your own copy of this remarkable book.

I originally purchased the kindle version of this book. I enjoyed it so much I purchased the physical copy too. I knew that I would want to go back to it again and again, and I wanted to have that tactile experience and to see the photographs in print. Full of wonderful insights and references that are relevant to, but also span beyond the realm of floral artistry; it’s a solid investment for anyone also interested in art history, design, photography, and bringing joy to what is sometimes the chaos of creativity. I learned more about color theory and its application here than in an entire semester of college.

This is better than I thought! Just unbelievable for any person looking to learn more about floristry. A must have!

If you want to be inspired by some beautiful arrangements, this is the book! So many ideas and explanations as well. Learned many things about style and arranging flower concepts thus far. Highly recommended, it is not a huge book in size but quite captivating if left out on your shelf or coffee table

Interesting book. For those who want to improve their flower arranging, it does have a few good tips. It's really hard to find good information about various cut flowers, i.e., which are long-lasting (or how long before they look terrible), which are only good for a photo, etc. Most of us do not know the botanical names, nor do we feel we really need to, so books like this are somewhat cumbersome as we're left to research the names given to know which flowers are which according to what we already recognize or not in the photo. And this book really only touches VERY briefly on the essential points, so not really comprehensive, it's more a picture book and a personal journey. But still nice.

I wholeheartedly agree with all the wonderful reviews. I’ve had this book on my coffee table for almost 3 months now (got it right when it came out!) and it is fantastic! One of the best I’ve read and reread, numerous times already! Not only is Christin Geall, the author, a phenomenal floral artist, she is a gardener who understands her medium intimately well. She is also a lyricist (yes!) and poet who has an incredible and intelligent way with the written word. Her writing style brings depth and charm to her life lessons and anecdotes in the book. I just can’t get enough of all the lessons in there—she draws from history, her own experiences, literature and art and so much more! There is just so much valuable knowledge and insight shared! This book is a beautiful achievement and is a true chef-d’oeuvre✨ I’ve enjoyed every bit of it!

I have been following Christin on Instagram and could not wait for this book to be published....if you love the writing of some of the great garden writers and floral designers, you need this book! Every page has substance and is a great study in not only flowers but color theory and design principles. I have read every one of the books by legendary floral designer, Constance Spry, and I would put this book in the same category. Not just a collection of pretty flower arrangement photos, but also one of great substance for all designers.

Ein ungewöhnlich schönes Buch mit traumhaften Fotos von wunderschönen und modernen Blumenarrangements. Außergewöhnlich gut auch durch die behandelten Themen, die alle möglichen Aspekte eines Blumenarrangements ansprechen: u.a. Farbtheorie, verschiedene Farbpaletten, Konstraste, Form, Rhythmus, Wiederholung, Stile verschiedener Epochen, Design, Fotografie, Beschaffung, Pflege ... FAZIT: Ein optischer und intellektueller Genuss!

Es un libro muy útil para quienes estamos interesados en aprender sobre los principios y elementos del diseño floral. Muy recomendado.

This review is from Jane Barber, as she doesn’t have an account. Every so often a book comes along that has a profound impact on my life. Years ago I read “The Colour of Heaven” a novel by James Runcie, in it a painter is searching for the perfect ultramarine blue. The book made me fall in love with Venice, it’s artists and artisans. In 1995 I was given “The New Floral Artist” by Paula Pryke. That book made me want to be a florist. Fast forward 25 years later and “Cultivated” makes me want to be a better florist. One with a conscience, one with a deep connection to the natural landscape and what it gifts us. Reading Christin’s text is like talking to a kindred spirit. She’s an inspiring, generous, knowledgeable and amusing writer. But she’s not just a writer, she’s a storyteller. Like all good storytellers she draws us in so we want to know more. I like how she refers to historical style and design and also tells her own flower story. I like that she is not a ‘flower snob’ , allowing statice, begonia leaves and even thing’s ‘on the turn’ to be noticed alongside their prettier vase mates! The photographs in this book are spectacular and need to be looked at again and again to be fully appreciated. I feel like this is probably the wrong adjective to use, in view of the world’s current events, but this book is simply breathtaking! Jane Barber. Florist.

Pensavo fosse un libro sui fiori con bellissime foto di composizioni. Invece è un interessante racconto su come nasce una composizione raccontato da una fotografa con dettagli e consigli sulla scelta dei colori delle forme delle luci dei fiori... niente, niente è casuale.

My copy of Cultivated: The Elements of Floral Style just arrived this afternoon. I love it! The book is lovely in so many ways: the photographs are gorgeous, the writing is informative yet intimate and the book itself is beautiful. Christin Geall's book isn't just about flower arranging (though lovers of that craft will be especially well served) it is also about creativity and how to bring beauty and nature into our lives -- told in fascinating short essays inspired by art, history, color theory and even mathematics. And along the way author takes us into her delightful, unpredictable personal journey to becoming an international leader in floral design. I highly recommend this book that is beautiful in many ways.