Revisiting THOUGHTFUL ALCHEMY: SUSTAINABLE FLORISTRY, SHANE CONNOLLY & CO (BEST OF)

---

---

In this long hot fiery summer here in Northern CA and wet and windy summer in other parts of the country – I really needed some flowers – and thought our conversation with the UK’s Shane Connolly might be just the thing. - Enjoy this Best Of conversation!

As we tend toward summer’s end, with end of summer and fall events and celebrations perhaps in mind, maybe even winter events in the planning, we turn this week to floristry and how and where it intersects with sustainability – and as our guest today shares, with thoughtfulness.

British floral designer Shane Connolly is well-known for his world class floristry and floral design – gracing several weddings within the British Royal Family as well as the recent coronation of now-King Charles.

While his floral design is known for this kind of high profile event, Shane is also known as one of the preeminent ambassadors for a more sustainable, organic, local, seasonal, and low-waste floral design and floral supply industry.

All images courtesy of Shane Connolly & Co. all rights reserved

You can follow Shane Connolly & Co online at:

https://www.shaneconnolly.co.uk/

and on Instagram:

@shaneconnollyandco/

Please note, that Shane and I chatted at length about his then - upcoming participation in a Slow Flowers event in Seattle in 2023. While that event was not recorded and is not past you can see Shane with Debra Prinzing here on her Slow Flowers YouTube channel.

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S TRANSCRIPT by Doulos Transcription Service:

08-22-24 CP - Thoughtful Alchemy - Connolly - Best of - final.pdf

Download PDF • 128KB

IF YOU LIKE THIS PROGAM,

you might also enjoy these Best of CP programs in our archive:

Cultivated: The Art of Floral Design, Christin Geall

Floral Tete a Tete, Josh Werber

Recalibrating our Nervous Systems and Floristry, Max Gill

JOIN US again next week, when we’re in for another Best OF this time celebrating the power of great plant based illustrated story books …….we revisit our conversation with Gwendolyn Wallace, gardener, a student, a teacher and the author of two remove children’s books: Joy Takes Root, and The Lights She Feels Inside. Great books for young ones to grow by. That’s next week right here - listen in.……. That’s next week right here - listen in.

---

Cultivating Place is made possible in part by listeners like you and by generous support from

The Catto Shaw Foundation,

supporting initiatives that empower women and help preserve the planet through the intersection of environmental advocacy, social justice, and creativity.

---

---

Thinking out loud this week:

I keep thinking about what Shane Connolly is sharing here in this conversation, and as you’ll hear as the conversation unfolds, so much of it for him comes back to observation and thoughtfulness. And neither of these are “things” or traits we are born with – they are skills and traits and habits we cultivate – we can learn them and relearn them with practice and intention. Just as we can learn and relearn what a garden is, what gardening is and should be or could be with thoughtfulness and observation and practice. We can in fact keep learning and adjusting our gardens and flowers and nature loving practices to include what we want, what is best for the ecology, the economy and each other in mind. I know we can.

Just over a year ago, What We Sow, On the Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seeds officially published.

What a year it's been connecting with people all around the world about the power of seeds and the importance of keeping our eyes on their integrity and protection.

I am on the road again this month connecting and speaking with people about the book and CP in general - and what it means to the world about What We Sow when we cultivate our places with care – up off the coast of Washington on Vashon Island on Aug 20th, on San Juan Island Aug 22nd, on Orcas Island Aug 23rd, and then at the very end of the month in Mancos, CO for the Fort Lewis College Old Fort Farm’s Farmer in training Conference.

AS always – thank you all for being here with me on this journey of growing really good plants, places, AND people.

---

WAYS TO SUPPORT CULTIVATING PLACE

---

Cultivating Place is a co-production of North State Public Radio, a service of Cap Radio, licensed to Chico State Enterprises. Cultivating place is made possible in part listeners just like you through the support button at the top right-hand corner of every page at Cultivating Place.com.

The CP team includes producer and engineer Matt Fidler, with weekly tech and web support from Angel Huracha, and this summer we're joined by communications intern Sheila Stern. We’re based on the traditional and present homelands of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of the Chico Rancheria. Original theme music is by Ma Muse, accompanied by Joe Craven and Sam Bevan.

SHARE the podcast with friends: If you enjoy these conversations about these things we love and which connect us, please share them forward with others. Thank you in advance!

RATE the podcast on iTunes: Or wherever you get your podcast feed: Please submit a ranking and a review of the program on Itunes! To do so follow this link: iTunes Review and Rate (once there, click View In Itunes and go to Ratings and Reviews)

DONATE: Cultivating Place is a listener-supported co-production of North State Public Radio. To make your listener contribution – please click the donate button below. Thank you in advance for your help making these valuable conversations grow.

Or, make checks payable to: Jennifer Jewell - Cultivating Place

and mail to: Cultivating Place

PO Box 37

Durham, CA 95938