Victoria

Dear Friends In “The Horologe of the Fields,” Charlotte Turner Smith compares the magnificence of a French timepiece to the ever-changing wonder of her surroundings: “Time will steal on with ceaseless pace,/Yet lose we not the fleeting hours,/Who still their fairy footsteps trace,/As light they dance among the flowers.” The poet relates the daily habits of favorite blossoms—such as water lilies opening in the morning and closing as evening fades—to the rhythms that one observes in the landscape as months pass. In doing so, she reminds the reader not only to observe the shifting of seasons but also to cherish each moment of loveliness. Reflecting on the cycles of nature, this special Victoria Classics issue invites you to embark on a year brimming with blooms. We begin with the delight of “Spring…

“THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE IN A LITTLE FLOWER AND SO MANY FLOWERS IN A LITTLE HOPE.”—Mehmet Murat Ildan…

“AND THE SECRET GARDEN BLOOMED AND BLOOMED AND EVERY MORNING REVEALED NEW MIRACLES.”—Frances Hodgson Burnett“A GARDEN TO WALK IN AND IMMENSITY TO DREAM IN—WHAT MORE COULD HE ASK?”—Victor Hugo“JUST LIVING IS NOT ENOUGH … ONE MUST HAVE SUNSHINE, FREEDOM, AND A LITTLE FLOWER.”—Hans Christian Andersen…

New England winters are long, with gray skies, sub-freezing temperatures, and snow-draped landscapes. It’s a picturesque wonderland to be sure, but it leaves Vermonters yearning for even a hint of the glorious spring to come. To the delight of her Waitsfield neighbors, Emily von Trapp found a way to make March come early. Emily is the great-granddaughter of Maria and Georg von Trapp, whose story was told in the beloved film The Sound of Music. In 1980, herparents founded the von Trapp Greenhouse, a former retail nursery. “As the daughter of a horticulturist and self-trained masterful gardener, I grew up surrounded by the beauty and wonder of their gorgeous gardens,” says Emily. “I took an interest in growing flowers as a small child and helped in the cut-flower fields during the…

Vivid petals of pink and purple mingle with blossoms of bold orange and feathery sprays of white to form an extravagant floral display that seems to capture the unrivaled vibrancy of a summer garden. Created by artist Natasja Sadi, this breathtaking display might be composed of freshly picked flowers or lovingly crafted from sugar paste; her handwork is such perfection, it would be difficult to tell without close scrutiny. What is clear is that her affection for these botanical blessings, in all their kaleidoscopic glory, comes through in every design she creates. Natasja firmly believes that taking the time to commune with the earth’s abundant loveliness helps bring that beauty into everyday life. “By studying compositions that evoke emotions and draw attention to color,” she explains, “we can expand our creative…

A financial adviser who retired to a second career in landscape design, June Mays recognized a worthy investment for her family in a historic Alabama home. “We had attended parties in this house,” she says, “and loved the location, its grace, its personality.” Built in the early twentieth century with brick and stucco in a half-timbered style, the two-story Tudor charmer nestles into the side of a mountain, giving the grounds a steep elevation. When the Mayses purchased the property in 1982, the backyard was waist-deep in kudzu, an invasive vine that took three years to eradicate. With the lot restored to a blank canvas, June breathed life into her vision for creating a brimful cottage oasis. Removing a freestanding garage and filling in a ravine allowed June to lay out…