About Me . . .

Ellen Spector Platt
7 Riverwoods Drive
Apt F219
Exeter, NH 03833
603-773-0021
Email: mlark@earthlink.net
www.ellenspectorplatt.com
Blog: www.Gardenbytesfromthebigapple.com

A Psychologist by education and training with many years of teaching, research, public mental health work and private practice, I totally switched careers. I became a flower and herb farmer in Schuylkill County PA growing hundreds of varieties of flowers and herbs, mostly for drying and use in decorative designs. I sold my products at retail and began writing and teaching classes in growing, drying and crafting with flowers. I am currently gardening on an 18th floor roof in New York City. In 2010 I expanded my craft work, becoming a collage artist, showing my collages in four group shows, and selling my art.

I am a part time Instructor at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, (www.BBG.org), was also a part time Instructor in Continuing Ed. at the New York Botanic Garden, an Instructor in Floral Design at the NY Horticultural Society. I’ve lectured many times at the New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Providence, and New England Flower Shows, at Longwood Gardens, and at numerous Herb and Horticultural Societies, Lavender Festivals, Garden Clubs and Arboreta. In 1998, I was designated by the International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot, Walt Disney World, as one of ten “Great American Gardeners”.
In 1998 I conceived, researched, designed and installed a Biblical garden for the Jewish Museum of Eastern PA, located in Pottsville PA.
In 2012 I was a finalist in the NYC arts competition sponsored by the Hyam Soloman Arts Project, for a collage, "Water Lily Dreams".

My latest book, Artful Collage from Found Obects, shows how to create artwork repurposing, reusing and recycling found stuff.

Easy & Elegant Rose Designs: Beyond the Garden, was published Oct.2004 by Fulcrum Publishing. I edited and wrote the magazine Flowers & Herbs in 2006, and in 2007 wrote and edited Container Gardens magazine both published by Harris. I’ve written dozens of articles, and hundreds of my floral designs have been featured in national magazines and books of others.

In 1993 Rodale Press published my first book, Flower Crafts, which was followed by three more books with Rodale, including the best selling Ultimate Wreath Book. More recently, Stackpole Books has published three of my books with my photographs and recipes, including Lavender: How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb, Lemon Herbs, How to Grow and Use 18 Great Herbs and Garlic, Onions, & Other Alliums. Lavender was published in a German language translation by Verlagsgruppe Weltbild and sold through three printings.

History of Meadow Lark Flower & Herb Farm
I had been a Psychologist for many years working in Community Mental Health and in private practice when on a lark, my husband and I moved to an old, rundown farmhouse with a huge barn. Both the house and the land were in desperate need of work. As I started to garden on the property, I became enchanted by the idea of growing quantities of flowers and herbs. Soon with more than I could possibly want or use from the cutting garden, I experimented with drying and preserving flowers. It seemed inevitable that I should give up my practice and go full time into the flower and herb business.

I grew and dried about 500 different kinds of flowers and herbs to give me materials to write about and photograph, and to sell from my barn on special open house weekends. Now I live in Manhattan where I write, garden & teach both garden and craft topics at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and other venues around the country.

For further details see How to Profit from Flower & Herb Crafts by Ellen Spector Platt (Stackpole '96).

Abbreviated Resume

Books & Publications

Latest book: Artful Collage from Found Objects, Stackpole Books, 2012

Ten books published on flower, herb, and craft related topics including the best selling Ultimate Wreath Book (Rodale Press '95, paperback '98), Lavender: How to Grow and Use the Fragrant Herb (Stackpole '99, 2nd ed. 2009), German language edition, ZauberHafter Lavendel,Weltbild 2005, and Garlic, Onions, & Other Alliums (Stackpole '03), and Easy & Elegant Rose Designs: Beyond the Garden (Fulcrum Publishing '04) (To Order)

Numerous magazine articles and photographs.

Selected Lectures, Demonstrations and Workshops:

Chanticleer Garden

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Michigan Herb Conference

Sequim WA lavender Festival

Longwood Gardens

New York Botanic Garden

Philadelphia Flower Show

New York Flower Show

Walt Disney World International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot

New England Flower Show

Rodale Research Institute Lecture Series

New York, Pennsylvania and Long Island Horticultural Societies

Garden Clubs, Herb Societies and other similar venues

as well as her own Meadow Lark Flower & Herb Farm

National TV and Radio appearances:

Martha Stewart Living Radio
Home Matters - Discovery Channel
Hand Made by Design - Lifetime
Numerous local and nationally syndicated TV and Radio shows

Lecture/Workshop Topics:

Collage from found objects, garden collage

All Matters Herbal
Magical Lavender: how to grow and use

Lemon herbs

Allium

Cooking with herbs

Decorations from the herb garden

Herbal weavings, three styles

Herbal tea wreath

Kitchen herb wreaths

Potpourris and scented oils

Basics of Flower Drying and Preserving
Pressed flower designs for frames, cards, or wedding invitations

Preserving bridal bouquets and other treasured arrangements

Creative flower collage

Dried flowers for spring

Dried topiary designs

Hydrangea happening; wreaths and arrangements

Fall harvest wreath

Holiday
Holiday decorations with natural materials

Holiday wreaths, swags and garlands

Holiday gifts and ornaments with natural materials

And other topics that we develop together

For more information, please email: Ellen Spector Platt, Phone: (603) 773-0021

© Designed by Ellen Spector Platt.