april enchantments
April is always such a busy time, our energy rises with the blossoming of the natural world outside, which can be both invigorating and a little overwhelming. This month, I’ve tried to balance staying on top of garden work (starting seeds and preparing beds for planting) with projects at the studio.
Many of you have noticed that our No. 4 botanical perfume has been out of stock lately, just in time for its perfect season, due to the disappearance of a crucial ingredient. I am hopeful to be able to share a new version of No. 4 with you soon, though, in time for you to enjoy it during the greenest time of the year. And of course, you can always squirrel some away for winter dreaming. A little whiff of something green in January can be a very welcome treat, indeed.
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A favorite newsletter (I may have shared this one before, but it continues to be excellent!): New York Microseasons
And relatedly, I’ve been enjoying the 72 Seasons app
studio music: oud + kora and kora + piano
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above, clockwise from top left:
looking west toward the windows on a blustery April day
steeping a fresh batch of our rose & chamomile white tea. I really adore this blend in the springtime, when I still want hot tea, but crave something light and floral
blending up more rose & chamomile honey clay cleanser, starting with the beautiful calendula and marshmallow root sunflower oil infusion. a comforting treat for skin battered by the ups and down of the spring weather
So many of you have been treating yourselves and your beloveds to our vintage perfume balm compacts. I truly relish pouring and sending these treasures off to you. I hope they encourage you to take a quiet moment to yourself with the spirits of the plants in between the busier moments of your day.
Delighted also to report that our windowsill rose geraniums at the studio have been flourishing in the longer daylight hours and putting on lots of fresh growth. I’ll look forward to distilling them again into hydrosol once they really get completely out of hand again!
Cherry blossom season is upon us! I’ve been working diligently to care for our latest batch of preserved cherry blossoms, allowing them to dry slowly on trays after their baths in sea salt brine and ume plum vinegar. You’ll find them for sale at the 6&B Plant & Bake Sale on May 13th + 14th, to help raise funds for our events season at the garden. More info here. And I couldn’t help but notice the perfect color affinity between the blossoms and our luminescence, two shades of subtle and versatile rosy glow.
I’ve kept well occupied this month in the studio, sending off an abundance of our mini facial kits to a new stockist, and restocking all your favorite butters and balms. It is such a joy to share this work with all of you!
In the garden, I’ve tried to spend as much time as possible communing with our native spring ephemerals. It is a moment that goes fast and can so easily be missed when things are busy. But slowing down for a moment to notice the tiniest of treasures, supporting the first native pollinators of the season does wonders for the spirit.
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reading: The Little-Known World of Caterpillars (yet more reasons to garden with native plants!)
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above, clockwise from top left:
divine spring sunlight through the curly hazel
phlox subulata making the loveliest purple carpet
the delicate sharp-lobed hepatica, braving the blustery conditions
virginia bluebells and eastern columbine mingling in exquisite harmony
Sweetest spring wishes!
A particular softness is in the air this week. Just enough to leave the windows open overnight. The seedlings at the garden are finally making progress after the rainy days of late April…