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A collection of essays for the botanically curious
Fiona Davison, Head of Libraries & Exhibitions at the Royal Horticultural Society, reveals the hidden gardening stories of Britain's working class in an enchanting account of those who studied at the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at Chiswick.
Meet Gemma, a London-based fashion editor, writer, and stylist, whose home is an oasis of plants amidst her bustling career. With a lifelong passion for greenery, Gemma's collection symbolises resilience and serenity, from her first plant in Dubai to her cherished Monstera in London. Inspired by neutral interiors and influenced by Pinterest, Gemma finds solace and happiness in her urban jungle, embodying the motto that everything happens for a reason.
Edme Ansberque (1828-1905), a French Army veterinarian, revolutionised plant preservation with the "phytoxygraphic" method. His 1866 work, Flore forragère de la France, captures the beauty and science of fodder plants through detailed prints and lithographic descriptions.
Meet Pablo Mesa Capella, an artist whose journey spans across continents and disciplines. Born in Spain in 1982, Pablo now calls Malaga home after many enriching years living and working in Rome. His artistic path began in theatre scenography, where he cultivated a deep understanding of space and contrast. Pablo's work masterfully balances ideas, materials, and symbols, creating a unique dialogue within his art.
Alois Auer von Welsbach (1813-1869) and Andreas Worring (ca. 1806-unknown) devised a process called the intaglio printing method, wherein a dried, pressed plant was sandwiched between a polished copper or steel plate and a sheet of lead and sent through the copperplate press.
German-British historian Andrea Wulf sheds new light on how gardening and horticulture took hold of the minds of America's visionary founding fathers. Wulf gives us an inside look into their botanical passions and obsessions that helped shape the birth of America.
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, has long been a beacon of horticultural excellence and innovation. This event, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), has a rich history that dates back over a century, showcasing the best in garden design, plant breeding, and floral artistry. Join us as we take a journey through the highlights and historical moments that have defined this prestigious event.
Meet The Glasshouse, a social enterprise making a profound impact by providing opportunities for women prisoners at the end of their sentences. Their mission is close to our hearts, and we are honoured to support them as they make their debut at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.
The first woman on McGill University's academic staff, the first woman to attain the rank of Professor at a Canadian university, and founder of McGill University's Genetics Department.
Meet Fran Lockyer, Textile Designer specialising in textile screens and colouring. Based in London and dabbling across industries such as Fashion, Fine Art, and Interiors, Lockyer gives us an insight into her creative process while exploring her innate connection with greenery, and the climate as a whole.
Starting in 2023, we collaborated with Farrago on a vibrant celebration of creativity and botanical art. A project that invited artists from all backgrounds to participate in an "artathon" competition.
Join us as we sat down with Tottenham based craft expert and plant lover Nicholas Rogers back in 2022. An avid ceramicist, Nicholas works with local crafters from around the UK to create bespoke pieces for the contemporary home, the influence of which can be seen throughout her apartment. The symbiotic nature of Nicholas’ two passions is perfectly embodied in the vegetable themed ceramics that line her kitchen shelves.
Meet Emily Elizabeth Dickinson, responsible for creating an herbarium of 424 diverse specimens from Amherst, such as wild cucumber, passion flower, pigweed, pennyroyal, turtlehead, and grass of Parnassus.
Meet Rollo Skinner, a visionary in floral and botanical design based in London, whose creations grace the likes of Gucci, Acqua Di Parma, and Brioni. With a profound connection to nature and a journey sparked by a quest for expressive freedom, Rollo's highly technical yet whimsical designs reflect his exploration of mental health through the lens of nature. Inspired by the ancient forests of his childhood, Rollo's work emphasises sustainability and celebrates the living beauty of plants, offering joyful manifestations of complex inner thoughts.
Important pioneer artist known for her plant paintings and lithographs that were published in the 1869 book, “Canadian Wild Flowers”.
The first person to publish a book illustrated with photographic images and one of the first female photographers.
Richard Cockle Lucas, a renowned wax modeller and sculptor, surprised the art world by leaving urban life to live in the woods.
Meet Ludwig Bull, a lawyer and CEO, finding solace in nature amidst his tech-oriented work life. Originally from Saxony, Germany, he values Eccleston Square's lush garden and community spirit — intrigued by the square's unique dynamics, despite its private nature. Emphasizing nature's role in reflection and mental clarity, Ludwig's love for bonsais reflects his connection to the natural world.
The first person to successfully domesticate a pineapple on European soil; during her lifetime, Block commissioned over 400 botanical drawings.
Introducing The Porcelain Germination Disc. Crafted for Sowvital by the talented Salima Zahi, a Paris-based ceramist and designer. Trained in ceramics at the Estonian Academy of Arts, she seamlessly combines design and craftsmanship. Specialising in objects that blur the line between utility and sculpture.
Meet Mathieu, a Parisian in Communication and Marketing, whose urban sanctuary thrives with diverse plants, notably an enchanting araucaria — inspired by Casanova Boutique, whose creativity blooms in plant care. Rooted in patience, this ritual fosters tranquillity, contributing significantly to his well-being.
Discover the pioneer botanist and women’s rights activist who survived a Nazi death camp and lived to tell the tale.
Meet Salima Zahi, a Paris-based craftsman and designer. Trained in ceramics at the Estonian Academy of Arts, she seamlessly combines design and craftsmanship, specialising in objects that blur the line between utility and sculpture.
Reflecting on the past winter season, we are honoured to write about our collaboration with Le Bon Marché for their Christmas campaign. This historic union once again brought together the elegance of Parisian retail with the innovative spirit of modern horticulture. Our collection, nestled within the grandeur of Le Bon Marché, offered a diverse range of products, each embodying the intersection of luxury and functionality.
Meet Toni Dahan, the Parisian jewellery designer with a love for large plant specimens and the serenity they can bring. Join us as we talk with him about plants, their place in the home, and how one can find serenity for themselves through the rituals of care involved in keeping plants healthy.
Leader of the first recorded expedition for obtaining living plants, in the 13th century BCE.
Meet Arnold, freelance graphic designer and illustrator with a beautiful plant collection, and founder of bazar d'Alger, an atelier with a focus on upcycling old porcelain and ceramics. Join us as we ask Arnold a little about his journey with plants, creativity, and how bazar d'Alger came to be.
Discover Alicia Margaret Tyssen Amherst The founder of English Garden History, author of the first scholarly account of English gardening history, “History of Gardening in England” (1895), and the first woman to receive the Freedom of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.
Meet Fred, photographer and keen plant enthusiast, with the belief that plants punctuate a space. Literally. Join us as he invites us into his home in the 10th Arrondissement, and discusses how plants punctuate his personal space. Exploring their growth, the spaces in which they expand, and how that suggests an affinity or interest in a particular place in his apartment over another.
This is considered the first photographic image published, but who made it? Golding Bird (1814-1854) was a British medical doctor and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Bird used a boxwood block chemically prepared in the manner of Talbot's preparation of paper.
Sergiy Barchuk is a Ukrainian-American photographer with a speciality in still life. Drawing swathes of inspiration from the natural world and the mundane experiences of the everyday, Barchuk deftly and uniquely navigates his professional career. Producing consistently wonderful images, oozing with creativity, join us to take a moment to enjoy and discover his work through this series, commissioned by Sowvital.
Meet Margaux and Tristan, a pair of freelance creatives residing in the northern reaches of Paris. Often working from their home, incorporating plants into their space was key for maintaining a healthy environment to work in. Join us as we spend some time talking to them about their space and how their relationship with plants translates into it.
American-Canadian poet and essayist, Molly Peacock, layers her life over the incredible story of Mrs Mary Delany who, at the age of 72, blossomed as one of the most influential botanical multimedia artists, credited with inventing florals made out of mixed-media collage.
A wealthy amateur botanist and philanthropist, Augustin Balleydier de Hell had developed a passion for seaweed and marine plants, which he saw as a source of renewal for the decoration of fabrics and industrial products.
Meet the creator of the Metavert exhibition. Marco Violet-Vianello is an artist and software engineer based in London. His artistic practice uses artificial intelligence to explore the relationship between the digital, natural and human mind.
Boldly titled "the most selective department store in Paris" and founded in 1852, Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche was the first department store in the world. Opened with the intention of providing "a new kind of store that would thrill all the senses" and inspired by the artistic energy of Paris's Rive Gauche, it uniquely combines unconventionality and elegance.
Meet Leslie David, artistic director at Leslie David Studio and the artist behind the visual world of Sowvital. We spent some time with Leslie at her home in Paris talking about the influence of plants on her career and life.
Though he is mostly known as the founder of Impressionism, Claude Monet was also celebrated as a 19th-century French botanist for his 'impressionistic garden' designs.
Florent Tanet is a French photographer and art director with a special interest in still life. Putting a luscious vibrant twist on the traditional approach to botanical photography, discover his colourful plants series commissioned by Sowvital.
Meet Marie Rollin, friend of Sowvital and true lover of plants. Join us as she shares how her relationship with plants is rooted in her childhood memories of the outside world, serving as a means to foster a sense of connectedness and appreciation for the beauty and resilience of nature.
Ever wondered from where we get our symbolic readings of flowers? Why is the pansy a symbol of faithfulness and rose the symbol of love, why rue for adultery and daisy for innocence?
The story of the first government-appointed plant pathologist in Scotland, best known for her research on strains of disease-resistant strawberries.
Meet Geoffrey Justeau and Mathias Déon, a pair of green-thumbed Parisians with an infinite curiosity for everything botanical. Join us as we spend some time in their 11th Arrondissement apartment, talking to them about their journey with plants and how they incorporate them into their lives.
Henry Bradbury (1829-1860) was an English writer on printing techniques and is best known for bringing nature printing to England. The nature printing technique he ‘introduced’ into from Vienna consisted of pressing a leafy specimen onto a thin, soft lead plate, leaving an intaglio impression with very fine detail.
14 contemporary authors come together, in beautiful poetry and prose, to reflect on the nature of gardening and what it means to grow in this day and age.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Flora Aussant, Finn Gordon STYLING: MANGER MANGER
Marie Méon, founder and culinary mastermind behind MANGER MANGER, initially worked as a retail designer for luxury brands such as Dior and Chanel for a decade, learning the importance of excellence and high standards.
With a focus on sustainability and providing meaningful products in an environmentally-conscious way, we are proud to be B-Corp Certified within eleven months of launching.
Little Red Door, a charming cocktail bar, can be found in the heart of the Third Arrondissement in Paris. Despite its unassuming exterior, the bar boasts an inviting and relaxed atmosphere inside.
Laszlo Badet, a skilled ‘petite-main’ who works for high-end fashion houses in Paris, has a passion rooted in rustic and creative cuisine that reflects her Swiss-Italian roots.
Pia Östlund, a talented Swedish designer and printmaker, has made East London her creative home. Her artistic practice, which is inspired by the natural world, is widely recognised for its exceptional quality. Using a rare nature printing method that has not been practised since the 19th century, Östlund creates stunningly intricate and lifelike plant images on paper.