About Me . . .

Ellen Spector Platt
201 E. 80th St. Apt. 15D
NY, NY 10075
212-861-3913
Email: esp@ellenspectorplatt.com
www.ellenspectorplatt.com

A Psychologist by education and training, with many years of teaching, research, public mental health work and private practice, I totally switched careers sixteen years ago. 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 decorating with flowers. I am currently gardening on an 18th floor roof in New York City.

I am a part time Instructor at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 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.

My latest book, Easy & Elegant Rose Designs: Beyond the Garden, was published Oct.2004 by Fulcrum Publishing. It is my most beautiful and exciting to date. In 2006 I edited and wrote the magazine Flowers & Herbs 2006, and in 2007 wrote and edited Container Gardens magazine 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 just 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 in 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 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

Nine books published on flower and herb 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) and Garlic, Onions, & Other Alliums (Stackpole '03). My newest book is the spectacular 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 appearances:

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

Lecture/Workshop Topics:

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: (212) 861-3913