Flowers & Grapes Winter 2021 Issue - Online

GARDEN | FLORAL | HOME | LIFESTYLE 

Northern California Wine Country 

Winter 2021 

Christmas trees, gardener gifts, topiaries, candy canes, winemakers, and more!

Donate Now! 

Founder + Publisher 

Maya Bartolf 

Special Thanks 

| Rosa Bravo | Diane Davis | Lewis Miller | Laura Mints | 

| Aimee Twigger | Jennifer Kennedy Tidd | Phoebe Ullman | 

Advertising 

You’ll find no paid ads on our pages. 

So, we rely on contributions from our readers to offer this magazine 

to you online for free. We invite our fans to support us by donating 

so that we can continue to publish this new artful magazine that 

captures the unique beauty of the wine country. 

Contact 

We are looking for contributors and would love to hear from you! 

Please contact us with any questions, feedback, projects, or collaborations 

ideas you might want to share at info@flowersandgrapes.com . 

Subscribe Today! 

www.flowersandgrapes.com 

Volume 1, Issue 4. Flowers & Grapes magazine is published in Marin County by Maya Bartolf in 

San Rafael, CA 94903. All rights reserved. Copyright ©2021. No part of this magazine may be reproduced. 

in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Support Us! 

Join Our Community 

Help us to continue to publish our artful, and ad-free magazine. 

You’ll find no paid ads on our pages. We rely on contributions from our 

readers to offer this magazine to you online for free. We invite our fans to 

support us by donating so that we can continue to publish this new artful 

magazine that captures the unique beauty of the wine country. Help us 

continue grow our unique community that adores the natural landscape of 

the region and also appreciates its unique diversity of local business, 

agriculture, and community. Your generous donations help us share this 

incredible beauty with not only our local communities and the greater Bay 

Area, but also with our national and international audiences. Join our 

community!

Fall 2021 

6. Editor’s Note 

Joy & Light 

8. Cover 

Old-Fashion Christmas at 

Grandma Buddie’s Christmas Tree Farm 

22. In Bloom 

Fabulous Foraged Winter Bouquets— 

5 Easy Steps to Make Your Own 

26. Wine Country 

Wanderings 

Winter Sparkle: Domaine Carneros 

36. Seasonal 

Celebrations 

Winter Wonderland — 

Holiday Confections by Aimee Twigger 

Grandma Buddie’s 

Christmas Tree Farm 

p. 8 

p. 58 

p. 44 

Lewis Miller’s Flower Flash 

A Year in Stitches

Winter Wonderland Holiday Confections 

p. 62 

Happy New Year! 

p. 26 

p. 36 

Domaine Carneros 

44. Book Notes 

Lewis Miller’s Flower Flash 

48. Holiday Picks 

Silver and Gold—Gifts for Gardeners 

52. On the Potting 

Bench 

Tis the Topiary Season! 

58. Crafted 

A Year in Stiches 

56. What’s Cooking 

Fluffy & White Sparkling Wine Marshmallows 

61. Fresh Picks 2022 

Our favorite events not to miss in 2022! 

62. Season’s Greetings 

From Flowers & Grapes 

Winter 2021

Last year during Covid19 lockdown, our first illuminated Christmas Tree in our garden welcomed family and 

friends in to our home during social distancing . Our garden Christmas tree became a symbol of joy and connection 

during a difficult time and will be continued as a family tradition. 

The holidays are here, and it is almost 2022! It is amazing how quickly life can change in one year. 

Flowers & Grapes is one year old, and yet we managed to celebrate the beauty of the landscape 

and lifestyle through four seasons while launching in the midst of a global pandemic! Thankfully, 

our ad-free publication continues to grow and share the beautiful gifts of the region with an everexpanding 

global audience. 

Our success is owed to our internationally celebrated featured contributors of florists, winemakers, 

flower growers, organic farmers, and lifestyle influencers who shared their creativity and inspiration 

with our readers. Their support has been a tremendous gift providing beautiful content 

for an audience that has flourished into a community of flower fanatics, gardeners, naturalists, 

and wine country enthusiasts. Thanks to our community’s generous crowdfunded donations we 

will continue to publish into the New Year! 

As our world continues to open, we can begin to enjoy more safely gathering with family and 

friends to celebrate and reconnect. Annual holiday parties, the Nutcracker ballet, holiday travel, 

and après ski at the lodge in front of a roaring fire are just some of the shared meaningful experi- 

6 flowers & grapes winter 2021

ences with others we can now enjoy. The deep sense of connection that these shared experiences 

evoke are the most precious moments to cherish. This year I will have another lighted Christmas 

tree in my garden to again welcome family and friends. Its enchanting glow reminds me of 

the all lengths we went to be with our loved ones during Covid19 lockdown, and the joy of connection 

in gathering together. The gifts are many in our daily lives and each new year offers opportunities 

to grow and share our best with family, friends, and community. This issue celebrates 

the joy and light of the winter in wine country. 

Grandma Buddie’s Christmas Tree Farm will inspire you to create holiday memories that will last a 

lifetime. This farm is so charming that you will feel like you walked into a “Hallmark Holiday” movie. 

It is the perfect place to take holiday pictures, find just the right tree, and purchase festive finery 

to decorate your home. Domaine Carneros winery is the perfect place to pop a cork and celebrate 

this holiday season with château-style sparkle and elegance. 

Floral designer Lewis Miller knows something about bringing joy into the lives of others via his 

epic guerrilla floral flash installations that he created on the streets of New York City and during 

the Covid19 pandemic. His stunning new book Flower Flash catalogs his extraordinary pop-up 

floral creations in NYC that went viral on social media. Flower Flash will add a pop of color to any 

coffee table and brighten your spirit this holiday season. It is pure joy, and the perfect gift for any 

flower lover. Silver & Gold features some of the most luxurious garden accessories from Garden 

Glory . Certainly not your grandmothers gardening tools, their bold designs will add a little sparkle 

to home and garden throughout the new year. 

Winter Wonderland features the magnificent holiday confections 

by Amiee Twigger, the celebrated food stylist and international 

influencer. Her fanciful holiday desserts will dazzle the eye and 

delight any sweet tooth. Fluffy and White features dreamy sparkling 

wine marshmallow treats that will dress up any festive celebration 

year-round. 

Tis the Topiary Season will show how simple it is to dress up 

these simple evergreens in festive finery to add showstopping 

elegance to your holiday décor. Fabulous Foraged Winter Bouquets 

will inspire you to bring the splendor and riches of nature 

into your home. 

As the stillness and darkness of winter blankets our landscape, 

celebrate the serenity and sparkle of this frosty season with family, 

friends, and community. All of us at Flowers & Grapes wish 

you peace, joy, love, and light to you in the coming New Year. 

Maya Bartolf 

Editor | Publisher 

Follow me on Instagram @MayaBartolf 

Putting final touches on my first garden 

Christmas Tree in 2020 and 

looking forward to decorating this 

years to continue this new meaningful 

tradition in our winter garden 

flowersandgrapes.com 7

Old-Fashioned 

Christmas Cheer 

Grandma Buddie’s Christmas Tree Farm

I 

n search of holiday cheer in wine country? Put on your jackets, mittens, 

and ski hats. Pile into the car with your favorite holiday playlist and take a 

drive out to Grandma Buddie’s Christmas Tree Farm in Sebastopol, 

California. As soon as you arrive, you will know you are in a magical place at 

this charming four-acre Christmas tree farm with a white three-rail fence, a 

Victorian farmhouse, a white-washed barn, and a vintage carriage parked in 

the driveway. 

Grandma Buddie’s Farm is brimming with so much old-fashioned Christmas 

cheer that you will feel like you have just walked into a Christmas Hallmark 

movie. It is so enchanting that the farm has been in many commercial shoots 

Holiday gifts brimming over the top of this Victorian spindled buggy are ready to be wheeled into the original 

white-washed barn that once was a chicken coop in the 1940s. Right: Red roses climbing the white three-railed 

front fence add to the romantic charm of this enchanting Christmas Tree farm in Sebastopol. 


This page & Opposite page: You will have the opportunity to explore the property, discover little 

bridges over creeks, and take plenty of family photos. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners 

in all the holiday fun on this farm. Right: The reindeer weathervane topping the whitewashed barn 

serves as a waypoint to find your way out of the trees and marks a cozy place to escape the chill inside 

the rustic barn full of holiday finery. In 1940, t he barn was built as a chicken coop to pivot away from 

their apple orchard business, and now is a beautiful rustic shop for holiday finery and family fun. 


and Pottery Barn catalogs. It is the 

perfect place to create lasting holiday 

memories and the perfect setting for 

your holiday card pic. Best of all, you will 

find a beautiful selection of trees for your 

home and all the trimmings to decorate 

it! 

The wonderful part of going to a farm to 

purchase your Christmas tree is that it 

offers you an experience that will create 

rich holiday memories. A visit to the farm 

provides respite from our busy everyday 

lives. Part of the magic is immersing 

yourself among the varieties of fir trees 

that grow on the farm. From towering 

trees to tiny saplings, you will feel like 

you are in a remote forest far from the 

holiday hustle and bustle. Douglas Fir is 

the primary tree that grows on the farm. 

But you can find Blue and White Spruce, 

Grand Fir, and White Fir. You will have 

the opportunity to explore the property, 

discover little bridges over creeks, and 

take plenty of family photos. Leashed 

dogs are welcome to join their owners in 

all the holiday fun on this farm. 

The reindeer weathervane topping the 

whitewashed barn serves as a waypoint 

to find your way out of the trees and to 

discover a cozy place to escape the chill. 

Inside the barn is a festive interior to 

enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and 

a candy cane. Fresh artful wreaths, 

gorgeous garlands, and twinkling lights 

will delight the eye. Bring some of the 

festive decorations home—especially the 




Previous Page and On Left: Part of the magic is immersing yourself among the varieties of fir 

trees that grow on the farm. From towering trees to tiny saplings, you will feel like you are in a 

remote forest far from the holiday hustle and bustle. This page: Twinkling lights invite visitors 

into the warm rustic holiday barn that looks like a winter wonderland with flocked trees, 

wreaths, and festive seasonal décor. 

fresh designer wreaths and garlands adorned with beautiful bows and 

unique seasonal ornaments. A charming Victorian Christmas Village display 

complete with a train is the focal point. "Year after year customers and their 

children return to see it ... and it never gets old,” shared Diane. 

In 1982, the first Christmas trees were planted on the Davis Family property 

in Sebastopol, replacing a poultry farm and apple orchard. In its heyday, 

Sebastopol was known for its apple orchards. Now the town is celebrated for 

its vineyards and a handful of legacy apple orchards. Grandma Hazel Gary 

affectionately nicknamed “Buddie” worked the farm throughout her 80s 

along with her husband and family. Even at 93 years old before her passing, 

Grandma Buddie could be found in the barn at Christmastime. Diane and 

Gary Davis are the owners who continue to celebrate the founder's devotion 

and the family tradition of growing Christmas trees and making the farm a 

special place for families and children at Christmastime. 


Above: Custom flocked trees and 

wreaths along with the festive finery 

create a magical holiday experience 

to enjoy with family and 

friends. Below: The talented owner 

Diane styles the Victorian carriage 

along with colorful gifts for the 

cover shoot of this feature story. 

Right: Holiday finery and vintage 

antiques make for a chic holiday 

barn to escape the chill. 

Diane continues to honor Grandma Buddie’s 

legacy. She brings her creativity and generous 

heart to this farm. Once a professional 

commercial stylist, her creative eye touches 

every corner of the farm. Her vintage chic 

esthetic permeates the landscape design and 

interior retail space of the refurbished barn. 

Diane appreciates vintage items and antiques 

available for purchase at the farm. She also has 

a talent for pairing them with seasonal décor to 

create rich festive finery that you’ll want in your 

home. For Diane, the tree farm is more than just 

a business and holiday experience, “…it is a way 

to connect with the community, a calling, and a 

gift from God,” shared Diane. 

"Farming is a difficult business under any 

circumstances, and even more so with the 

recent environmental threats of drought, fire, 



and gathering restrictions during Covid19 lockdown last year,” shared Diane. 

Despite these challenges, Diane continues to develop the farm bringing joy 

to families and the community at Christmastime. She is a committed 

volunteer to Forget Me Not Farm, a mentoring and therapeutic flagship 

program for at-risk children that seeks to break cycles of abuse by nurturing 

relationships between children, animals, and gardens. Grandma Buddie’s 

Farm will provide a collection box in the barn for your generous holiday 

donations to support this local program for kids in need. 

It is impossible to find the classic white Christmas in wine country. Grandma 

Buddies Christmas Tree Farm offers a unique regional opportunity for an oldfashioned 

Christmas experience. Besides its trees, the charming setting also 

draws visitors for Instagram selfies, family portraits, and holiday card pictures. 

You can cut your own tree or pick up pre-cut Nobel and Silvertip firs shipped 

in fresh from Oregon immediately after harvesting. You will also enjoy 

cozying up in their barn to enjoy the festive decor while sipping hot cocoa 

with friends and family. Your heart will find warmth and be filled with holiday 

cheer at the farm. Grandma Buddies is a gift of rich holiday memories that 

you will want to experience year after year. 

Follow all the holiday fun and adventures on Instagram at @grandmaschristmastrees, and on Facebook 

@grandmabuddieschristmastrees. Go to www.GrandmaTrees to plan your visit and for 

hours of operation during the holiday season. And if you are moved to support programs for atrisk 

youth, please donate to www.forgetmenotfarm.org . 


On left: Fresh wreathes can be made to order at the design studio 

in the rear of the barn. On this page: The train along with the enchanting 

holiday village in all of its minute festive detail continues 

to mesmerize generations of visitors over the years! 


On this page and right: Azaleas, rosemary, 

hydrangeas and assorted evergreens 

are foraged from the winter 

garden to create beautiful seasonal 

nosegay.

Fabulously Foraged 

Winter Bouquets 

A 

fter the fall harvest in wine country, blooms and bounty from the 

garden and landscape become increasingly scarce during the 

winter. Like the animals in the beautiful open space of this region, 

flower lovers begin foraging outside not for food, but for elements of nature 

to cut and make seasonal bouquets for their home. Foraging can be fun 

because it forces many to look at their faded gardens and barren landscape 

to find elements of beauty. Evergreens, seed pods, and pine cones, and 

berry branches are like gifts found under a Christmas tree during this 

bleak season. If you don’t have a garden, many farmer’s market vendors 

sell their foraged bounty, and even some floral departments in grocery 

stores bundle winter berries and evergreen branches. Now, the fun begins! 

Foraging is about discovering the scarce gifts of nature from the winter 

landscape. Follow our five easy steps on the next page, and you will have a 

foraged festive bouquet to bring into your home this holiday season.

Five Easy Steps to Make a Festive Foraged 

Winter Bouquet 

1. Gather Your Winter Pallete 

Evergreens and foliage like eucalyptus leaves set the stage for your winter bouquet. Evergreens 

and conifer branches are winter favorites as they are plentiful and traditional seasonal expressions 

for the holidays. Use any foliage that is seasonal and native to your area and your garden. Layering 

a few different varieties of evergreens or foliage adds more color and texture to create visual interest. 

Foliage and deep greens of pines, spruce, and conifers also add a seasonal fragrance to your 

bouquet. In large amounts, this can be overwhelming. So it is important to consider scale and 

placement when assembling a foraged bouquet for your home. 

2. Incorporate Seasonal Elements 

Gathering seasonal elements like pinecones or branches will add more footnotes of interest, texture, 

and visual complexity. The natural beauty of organic elements such as pinecones, seed pods 

and branches speaks to the organic beauty of the change in seasons. In wine country with our mild 

climate, we are lucky to have some flowers linger into the winter like the faded hydrangeas on the 

right that brighten and add soft textures to foraged bouquets. 

3. Introduce Pops of Color 

Bright berries get the spotlight giving the foraged bouquet pops of seasonal color while adding texture 

and additional visual interest. Rosehips and faded flowers, like the pink hydrangea andwhite 

azaleas, lingering into winter and provide a delicate contrast to the verdant evergreen branches. 

Also, seasonal locally lowers purchased from the supermarket can also be added as colorful accents 

to the celebration of seasonal evergreens and your home décor. 

4. Enhance the Magic of the Holiday Season 

Weave in some sparkle with seasonal décor, ornaments, or festive ribbons. A simple ribbon can 

make a foraged bouquet look like a finished artisan bouquet to be presented as a gift. Festive ornaments 

that are in scale with the foraged natural elements can be added to the arrangement. This 

adornment can help connect the natural elements to other accompanying holiday design elements 

on your tablescape or in your home décor. 

5. Elevate Winter Bouquets 

A simple glass vase or canning jar can make a foraged bouquet look like a crafted nosegay. Add a 

ribbon and it is transformed into a seasonal gift. Placing your elegant foraged bouquet into a beautiful 

antique or cut crystal vase can transform your crafted nosegay into a polished decoration for 

your home or tablescape. Vintage silver, porcelain, or vessels such as urns can elevate your foraged 

bouquet into an elegant show-stopping artful expression of the season. 


Winter Sparkle 

at Domaine Carneros

Photo Courtesy: ©DomaineCarneros 

An elegant classical formal garden compliments the hilltop eighteenth-century French-inspired châteaux in Napa. 

A 

dd a little sparkle to your holiday season with a visit to the elegant 

French-inspired eighteenth-century château and its formal garden at 

Domaine Carneros. The grand château sits atop a hill offering majestic 

views of the rolling hills of Carneros in Napa Valley. Domaine Carneros is one of 

the most scenic wineries in Napa, and a celebrated landmark in wine country. A 

winter visit offers a wonderfully festive time to enjoy their exceptional sparkling 

wines and pinots from their lavish Louis XV-inspired interiors dressed in festive 

finery. A pop of the cork and a glass of fizz instantly transforms the regal château 

into fabulously festive venue for celebrations with stunning views of vineyards 

and the elegant formal garden. 

Domaine Carneros is a singular Napa Valley winery best known as a small grower-producer 

of Pinot Noir and sparkling wines employing méthode traditionnelle 

—the same method used in the Champagne region of France to make its 

sparkling wine. Founded in 1987, by the renowned champagne producing 

Taittinger family from France, the estate is in the Carneros region, the southern 

part of Napa Valley, near the cooler climate of San Pablo Bay. In the 1830s, this 

region was once the grazing land for the flocks of Carneros, the Spanish word 



Stunning view of the vineyards in late fall and the celebrated scenic rolling hills of Carneros in Napa Valley. 

for sheep or rams, then owned by General 

Mariano Vallejo. The Carneros is the second 

oldest grape-growing region in Northern 

California, and today is world-renowned for 

its superb Pinot Noir and Chardonnay 

grapes. The estate’s wines proudly hail from 

the Carneros appellation, with 100% of their 

fruit produced from their six estate vineyards 

comprising 400 acres. 

The Domaine Carneros estate was inspired 

by the magnificent classicism of the eighteenth-century 

Château de la Marquetterie, 

the home of Taittinger in Champagne, 

France. Château de la Marquetterie is a 

gem of Louis XV style. Domaine Carneros 

appropriates some of the prevailing architectural 

style in its simple classical façade of 

Add a little sparkle to this holiday season with selections 

of sparkling wine from Domaine Carneros. 



A beautiful fountain adds elegance and formality to the manicured terrace garden. 

carefully rhymed and balanced rows 

of windows, pediment roofline, and 

ornamental balustrades. Louis XVstyle 

interiors, sparkling chandeliers, 

and the expansive balustrade terrace 

finished with water fountain, iron furniture, 

and regal topiaries add luxurious 

elegance to the estate. The château's 

manicured formal garden entry 

compliments its timeless classicism. 

At the main entrance of the winery, a 

grand staircase leads visitors up 

through the garden to the château 

set high upon a knoll. Its expansive 

terrace includes regal topiaries and 

an elegant sculptural fountain with 


Photo Below Courtesy: ©DomaineCarneros 

This winter a heated tent with an under-lit canopy will offer visitors outdoor tastings and celebrations 

under the romantic twinkle of stringed lights. 

Bottom left and above: Sparkling chandeliers along 

with luxurious interior spaces offer a perfect setting for 

an elegant holiday experience at Domaine Carneros. 

surrounding umbrella tables for when 

the sun breaks through on misty winter 

days. There is even a small patio 

with an outdoor fireplace where small 

groups can enjoy the warmth of a fire. 

With an eye towards post-pandemic 

health, Domaine Carneros has added 

a heated tent with an under-lit canopy 

on the front terrace to allow more 

guests to be outdoors while enjoying 

bubbly and bites under the romantic 

twinkle of stringed-lights. 

A low circular boxwood hedge containing 

a seasonal flower bed with a 

centered three-tiered ornamental topiary 

marks the entry into lovely 

stepped formal gardens that flank the 



An elegant topiary marks the entrance to the grand formal garden that leads visitors up staircases to the château 

and expansive balustrade terrace. 

central stairway. Manicured hedges along the main staircase anchor the garden’s 

formal design. Symmetry, repetition and receding scale of the hedges emphasize 

classical design and vertical axis while defining the two levels of seasonal garden 

beds adjacent to the surrounding vineyard. While the splendid evergreen 

hedges dominate the garden’s visual interest during the winter, the upper and 

lower rose beds look particularly lovely in bloom from spring to early fall. White 

Iceberg roses fill the lower garden beds while velvety red roses in the upper garden 

frame the expansive balustrade terrace. By mid-November, only a few 

blooms linger, reminding us of the past elegance of the earlier seasonal display. 

Two decorative wall fountains mark the central axis and slope of the garden’s two 

levels. Carefully coiffed cypress spiral topiaries in terra-cotta pots frame each of 

the decorative wall fountains. Both wall fountains are focal points that guide the 

eye to the magnificent central placement of the grand estate on the winery’s 

hilltop site. The lower fountain features a half-urn basin spilling water into a generous 

basin below. The upper fountain features two bronze rams heads that spray 

water into a basin. A mounted bronze plaque shares that the double ram heads 

on this fountain and the Domaine Carneros sparkling wine label are the symbol of 

the celebrated Carneros Appellation. 


This Page Mid-November, only a few blooms linger, reminding 

us of the past elegance of the earlier seasonal 

display. Spiraled cypress topiaries flanking the classical 

wall fountains along with the manicured evergreen boxwood 

hedges are lasting formal hallmarks to be enjoyed 

in this wonderful winter garden. 


Photos Courtesy: ©DomaineCarneros 

Above: Enjoy wine tasting with curated food and wine pairings including an array of artisan cheeses, 

gourmet caviar, and charcuterie. Left: Delight any wine lover with their luxuriously boxed holiday wine 

collections, small-batch gourmet treats, and stylish accessories. 

Dressed in festive finery for the holidays, the enchanting château and garden add 

sparkle and elegance to the holiday season in the wine country. Domaine Carneros 

offers both a memorable feast for the eyes and palette. While tours are still temporarily 

unavailable, visitors can enjoy, by reservation only, seated tastings of the 

award-winning sparkling wine and Pinot Noir led by experienced wine professionals. 

For those seeking a more memorable experience, visitors can also book a wine 

tasting with curated food and wine pairings including an array of artisan cheeses, 

gourmet caviar, and charcuterie. 

After enjoying your bubbles, bites, and stunning views, you can also shop for dazzling 

gifts for everyone on your holiday list both near and far. Delight any wine lover 

with their luxuriously boxed holiday wine collections, small-batch gourmet treats, 

and stylish accessories. Domaine Carneros delivers the perfect holiday sparkle and 

elegant tasting experience to wine lovers this holiday season. To plan your visit or 

make reservations go to www.domainecarneros.com or follow their holiday festivities 

on Instagram at @domainecarneros. 


Winter Wonderland 

Holiday Confections by Aimee Twigger 

Courtesy: © 2021AimeeTwigger 

Forest Snow Globe Cake — 

Dulce de Leche Gingerbread 

Norway is magical! There are so many 

reindeer here! — Aimee Twigger


I decided this year’s needed to be bigger than last years so I went all out, I 

even made some gingerbread shutters for the windows 

—Aimee Twigger



I made a rotating gingerbread decoration. 

It is meant to be like a winter 

wonderland music box with deer and 

an owl. 

— Aimee Twigger 

Winter Wonderland Gingerbread Scene

Gingerbread Shadow Box 

It’s a Gingerbread shadow box and some gingerbread deer. I drew 

out a template for the shadow box and then cut it out on the dough, 

then I added some crushed yellow sweets for the moon and stars 

and put some lights behind it. I’m so happy with how it turned out 

and took lots of photos of it! — Aimee Twigger

I love snow globes, I have always 

found them so magical. I decided to 

make a tiny little gingerbread cottage 

to go inside. It would be my dream 

home in the woods surrounded by 

trees. It’s a miniature version of the 

gingerbread house I made last year. 

— Aimee Twigger 


Spice Chocolate Snow Globe Cake— 

Topped with Gingerbread Cottage

I really love making meringue, it always 

goes down well when you have guests so 

it’s great for Christmas. I filled this with 

raspberry and coconut but the flavour 

possibilities are endless — Aimee Twigger 


Christmas Tree Meringue

I wish I could shrink myself so I 

could live in it. Wouldn’t that be 

wonderful. It’s made completely 

of gingerbread, I just made one 

dough with golden syrup and 

dark treacle and a little cocoa 

powder and one with out the treacle 

and cocoa to get a lighter 

dough for the gate and window 

frames and front porch to look like 

wood. Thyme was added to look 

like wisteria. I had too much fun 

creating this. — Aimee Twigger 

Courtesy: © 2021AimeeTwigger


I love mince pies so I thought it would be a nice change to combine it 

with an apple pie. The house smells so good now. I wasn’t sure how to 

decorate it, but before I started I had been looking at photos from 

when grandma and I went to Norway so I thought I would make some 

reindeer. — Aimee Twigger 

T 

hese enchanting holiday convections created by Aimee Twigger delight the eye and spark imagination. 

The narrative captions that accompany these stunning images give us a curated 

glimpse of her thoughts and inspiration from nature and her daily life as seen on Instagram. 

These oh so decorative tasty holiday treats evoke the magic and whimsy of winter. 

Aimee is a cook, writer, photographer and owner of Twigg Studios. She has an extraordinary gift of elevating 

ordinary ingredients into enticing delicious displays of seasonal faire that are irresistible to both 

the eye and the palate. Aimee is also a masterful food stylist, world traveler, and influencer that has 

gained a huge following in the culinary arts, travel, and photography worlds. 

While her wonderous imagery evokes the sensuous intimacy of interiors scenes painted by Vermeer, her 

recipes are made from simple wholesome ingredients that are often found as staples in your cupboards 

and at your local farmers market. Her recipes are accessible and delicious. Inspired by nature and the 

seasons, Aimee imaginatively creates her wintery confections as she doesn’t see much snow in the countryside 

of Devon, UK, in which she resides. 

You’ll be captivated by her engaging posts on Instagram. They chronicle her culinary adventures and ordinary 

moments that inspire her recipes and creativity. Aimee writes that the reindeer in Norway on a recent 

trip before lockdown inspired her for the Forest Snow Globe Cake featured in our story, and then 

shares, “… that I had a bucket of food so the reindeer were following me around.” Her compelling narrative 

is intimate and informal, offering a window into a life that appreciates the texture, bounty and beauty 

of nature and the seasons. For recipes featured in this story, visit www.twiggstudio. For more culinary and 

creative inspiration follow her on Instagram @twiggstudio. 


Photos Courtesy: ©2021LewisMiller 

Photo Courtesy: Laura Fuchs

But now more than ever we need 

flowers in the city–Lewis Miller 

Courtesy: © LewisMiller2021 

Quotes from ,“A long Night of ‘Flower Flashing with Lewis Miller,” by Jessica Shaw. Published in New York Times June 20, 2020.

Who isn’t looking for a little joy? 

–Lewis Miller 

Quotes from ,“A long Night of ‘Flower Flashing with Lewis Miller,” by Jessica Shaw. Published in New York Times June 20, 2020.

Courtesy: ©2021 LewisMiller 

J 

ust when we are starting to long for the colorful display of our flower gardens during 

the dead of winter, Flower Flash by Lewis Miller, the celebrated floral designer and 

Flower Bandit himself, delivers a captivating intimate and joyous behind-the-scenes– 

look at the Flower Flashes as he introduced bright moments of natural beauty into the 

city when they were needed most. Page after page of Lewis’ stunning new book is filled 

with fabulous florals that will brighten your spirit and home all winter long. 

New York-based floral designer Lewis Miller stealthily arranged hundreds of brightly colored 

dahlias, carnations, and mums into a psychedelic halo around the John Lennon 

memorial in Central Park. The spontaneous floral installation was Miller's gift to the 

city—an effort to spark joy during a difficult time. Five years and more than ninety Flower 

Flashes later, these elaborate flower bombs—bursts of jubilant blooms in trash cans, 

over bus canopies, on construction sites and traffic medians—have brought moments of 

delight and wonder to countless New Yorkers and flower lovers everywhere, and earned 

Miller a following of dedicated fans and the nickname "the Flower Bandit." 

After New York City entered lockdown, Miller doubled down, creating Flower Flashes outside 

hospitals to express gratitude to frontline health workers and throughout the city to 

raise spirits. This gorgeous and poignant visual diary traces the phenomenon from the 

first, spontaneous Flower Flash to the even more profound installations of the pandemic 

through a kaleidoscopic collage of photos documenting the Flower Flashes, behind-thescenes 

snapshots, Miller's inspiration material, fan contributions, and more. This book 

will add a pop of color to any coffee table and also make the perfect gift for flower lovers! 

Lewis Miller is a horticulturalist and landscape designer who 

pursued his interests in design, flowers and events in Seattle. In 

March 2002, Miller’s vision of a country life in a metropolitan 

setting inspired him to create Lewis Miller Design. Since striking 

out on his own in NYC, Miller has created stunning floral 

designs for the Met, the Whitney, Tiffany, Ferragamo, Versace, 

Viktor & Rolt, and Bergdorf Goodman among others. In 2016, 

Miller invented the Flower Flash—a guerrilla flower installation— 

and has created more than 90 since. Follow his inspiring creativity 

@LewisMillerDesign. 

Flower Flash 

Written by Lewis Miller 

Monacelli Press 2021 

ISBN:9781580935852c | Buy A Signed Book 


Silver & Gold 

Gifts for Gardeners by Garden Glory 

Swedish designed luxury garden accessories 

Courtesy: © GardenGlory2021 

Raised to the level of high art, The Root Christmas tree stand is crafted in polished aluminum also 

available in chic modern bold statement colors: black, white and gold. 

52 flowers grapes winter 2021 



Diamonds are a bird’s 

best friend with this 

sparkling gem of a bird 

feeder by Garden Glory. 

flowersandgrapes.com 49 53

Add a little glamour to your 

gardening in the coming 

New Year with the chicest 

Gold Digger gardening gloves 

also available in silver, pink, 

and black. 




Certainly not your grandmother’s old gardening accessories—Garden Glory offers a modern twist to garden 

hoses, spades , planters, water cans and more! All come in bold dramatic colors and some even in leopard 

print!

Tis the Topiary Season!

T 

is the Season to dress up your topiaries! Make your home and garden more festive by decking 

them in the best holiday finery. Bold ribbons, baubles, and winter berries will add festive 

allure. Drape them in twinkling lights to become instant holiday showstoppers. The many artful 

forms of topiary plants and manicured shrubs are perfect in their ornamental shapes to imbue an 

elegant formality into your seasonal décor. 

Many garden centers and grocery stores sell these artfully pruned or trained plants, evergreens, and 

conifers in geometric and representational forms. While they do not require more attention than 

any other house plant, many find these indoor topiaries difficult to keep alive for very long. By 

the New Year, topiaries often end up in the shredder along with the Christmas tree because of 

neglect. In general, most are not difficult to grow, but require following the basic rules of care 

for each variety. The greatest challenge is keeping the seasonal topiaries watered and in sufficient 

light while indoors. 

According to experts, most indoor topiaries will likely die of thirst rather than disease. Most indoor 

topiaries require consistently moist soil. Many forget to water indoor topiaries ,and when they 

become dry it is very difficult for them to bounce back. Roots should not sit in saucers to avoid rot. 

Also, each topiary has specific light needs that make some more challenging to keep indoors. Following 

the care instructions unique to your specific variety is essential. Care instructions vary depending 

on a variety including watering, light requirements, fertilizing, and rotation regiments to 

ensure longevity and lush even growth. With proper care, they will grow and can be used in other 

holiday celebrations through out the year. Select your favorite varieties and decorate. With proper 

care you will enjoy your new ornamental topiaries throughout the coming New Year! 



Pruned Topiary is a plant shaped into forms such 

as spheres, cones, and spiral shapes. Training 

young plants can take a long time to grow into 

desired shapes and also require constant maintenance 

to keep their form. Purchasing a wellshaped 

topiary and maintaining its shape with 

pruning is the easiest way for those with little patience 

to grow them. Common plants and herbs 

used for indoor topiaries typically have woody 

stems to support slow-growing forms that take a 

long time to shape and train. Indoor topiaries include 

the following herbs and plants ( dwarf and 

small leaf varieties) : 

thyme, rosemary, lavender, boxwood 

[Buxus microphylla or Japanese box] holly, myrtle 

(myths communis compacta), lemon cypress 

(Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’) 

Stuffed Topiary requires no soil. Stuffed 

topiary is fabulous because it is very 

sculptural, often taking the forms of animals, 

birds, wreaths, or any imaginative 

shape. Wire frames are stuffed with premoistened 

sphagnum moss or peat 

moss. English ivy and creeping fig are 

inserted. Dunk topiary in water to hydrate. 

Stuffed topiary dries out quickly 

and requires frequent soakings in water 

for a few minutes. One must be extremely 

careful to let the excess water drain 

from the plant form to prevent damage 

to wood furniture or fine linens. 

Hollow Topiary is created by shaping 

wire into a variety of forms such as 

hearts, diamonds, animal shapes, and 

three-dimensional forms like spheres 

or fanciful cages. Insert the wireshaped 

form into the soil of a potted 

vine. Wrap vines around the shapeform 

and secure with twist ties or twine. 

Pinching the tips of the vines creates 

more branching for a fuller appearance. 

English ivy and creeping fig are 

typically used in hollow topiary. 


Fluffy & White 

Sparkling Wine Marshmallows 

Pop the cork of your favorite bubbly for these dreamy 

sparkling wine flavored marshmallows. Light and 

fluffy, these sparkling wine infused marshmallows are 

the perfect dessert for holidays celebrations throughout 

the year. White as snow, this elegant treat will be a 

favorite on any dessert table. So delicious and versatile 

too! You can dress them up with food coloring 

and sprinkles. Or keep it simple by topping off your 

hot chocolate or smores with these fluffy white pillows 

of dreaminess. We found this easy to make recipe at 

www.partylicious.net. Partylicious offers detailed instructions 

with images from prepping the pan to finishing 

your marshmallows with a dusting of a special 

blend confectioner sugar. Cheers to Partylicious for 

providing tips for the perfect marshmallow every 

time. You’ll enjoy this simple and delicious dessert all 

year long! 


A Year in 

Stitches 

“Today I am stitching 

love notes ...Happy 

Valentine’s Day!“ 

Each day, Jennifer Kennedy Tidd, a crossstitch 

designer and crafter extraordinaire, 

sewed one graphic symbol to remember her 

day throughout the year, and then posted her 

handiwork on Facebook. Over the year she to 

learned embroidery by creating these wonderful 

sewn icons with a variety of different 

stitches to represent something meaningful in 

her daily life. Starting with tiny basic stitches, 

her mastery progressed into a wonderfully 

creative 12-inch hoop sampler full of tiny 

memories. Awesome in its imaginative detail 

and micro scale, this keepsake sampler continues 

to inspire many to learn embroidery in 

her new group on Facebook @StitchingA- 

Round. For us, Jennifer’s year of stitches encourages 

all to learn something new, to create 

beauty, and to make lasting memories in 

2022! 

You can follow her sensational stitchery on 

Facebook @JenniferKHalter; on her new 

group @StitchingARound; and on Instagram 

@stitching_a_round. 

“My new glasses…..down 

there by the Bible and the 

mossy knoll, I can finally see 

what I’m doing!” 


“Hope everyone had a 

Happy Halloween! 

Here’s a little ballerina 

skeleton to brighten up 

your Monday” 

“Some days you just feel like 

a princess” 


Happy Holidays from our Garden to Yours! 


Winter 

Holidays Days at Filoli Gardens 

Themed Nights Nov. 20– Jan 2| 4pm - 8pm | Reservation Required 

86 Cañada Rd, Woodside, CA 

Holidays at Filoli is sure to delight with festive finery and sparkling with garden lights every day 

and night. 

Spring 

Tulip Bloom at Ferrari-Carano Wineries | March | Reservation Required 

No matter the season, the gardens are a delight, changing constantly in color scheme and 

plantings, beginning each year with over 10,000 tulips and daffodils that take center stage in 

the spring. Tulip fans may call our Tulip Hotline, (707) 433-5349, in the late winter/early spring 

months to find out when the tulips will be in full bloom. 

Summer 

Bouquet to Art | June | Reservation Required 

DeYoung Museum, San Francisco, CA 

Bouquets to Art is a floral event not to miss that celebrates the summer season in its 38th year 

with a new palette of fresh flowers in June. Inspired by works of art in the de Young museum’s 

galleries, the weeklong display of floral installations offers new ways of seeing the permanent 

collection. While the galleries are blooming, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco will be 

offering a luxury benefit raffle and events. Please check www.deyoung.famsf.org 

Fall 

Hale’s Apple Farm | August—November | Open Seasonally 

1526 Gravenstein Hwy, Sebastopol | (707) 823 - 4613 

A gem of a local farm stand not to miss this coming fall with over 40 varieties of apples. Also , 

Dave Hale grows the most gorgeous pumpkins and gourds on his farm. 


It’s almost harvest time at Bartholmew Estate Winery in Sonoma, CA.

Wishing you a garden full of 

inspiration, love, and beauty 

in the coming New Year!

icons by Flaticon at www.feepik.com 

Subscribe Today! 

flowersandgrapes.com

Flowers & Grapes Winter 2021 Issue - Online

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?