From time to time, we highlight “Our Garden Tour Stars” -- landscape architects, florists, and interior designers who have participated at our annual Garden Tour and Showcase Estate at the Virginia Robinson Gardens. We want to let you know about these very talented designers, their inspirations, and their creations.
This month, we are featuring Jean-Pascal Lemire. At the 2022 Garden Tour, Jean-Pascal created beautiful floral displays in the Library and Library Terrace in the house at VRG. He also sold lovely bouquets in the vendor’s boutique on the tennis court. Following him on social media, Garden Tour co-chair Katie Marsano said that she is “a big admirer” of his work. Katie added, “I am captivated by his use of stems as an integral part of his arrangements; their perfectly fanned alignment gives way to a bounty of luscious blooms. I find the contrast quite beautiful.”
We asked Jean-Pascal these four questions:
1. How did you decide to become a floral designer?
I decided to become a floral designer in my teens as I wasn’t good at school and was more of an artistic kid, and the rigid academic curriculum wasn’t made for someone like me. Working with flowers combined creativity and practical hands-on techniques that I could use readily.
2. Where do you find your inspiration?
Finding inspiration comes within you; all your baggage in life brings you to get inspired by almost everything in different ways. Each designer finds inspiration differently. I often get inspired by a feeling, but most generally, I get attracted by the imagery of the past or fictitious images I made up in my head romanticizing the idea of past eras like the Victorian age. I am conventional and prefer romantic bouquets to modern styles.
3. Can you share some photos of your favorite floral arrangement(s) and/or projects you have worked on?
4. What is the book that inspires you the most?
Constance Spry books on seasonal flowers. She is a pioneer in floristry, and I love the humorous way she explains her findings. Written in the 1950s, they have a formal writing style from the past that appeals to me.
Contact information:
(310) 988-7031
Kerstin Royce
It was a treat to showcase Jean Pascal’s talent at last years Garden Tour. You could feel the connection with Virginia Robinson and her way of decorating and the beauty of the arrangements.