As spring arrives and flowers begin to bloom, Lucille Martin of Piney Creek Greenhouses in Martinsburg is set to release her long-awaited coffee table book, Lucille’s Floristry and Flower Garden.
Scheduled for release in June, this beautifully crafted book features over 600 photos and showcases 46 different flower varieties, taking readers through an entire year of flower gardening.
The book is the culmination of eight years of hard work and dedication. Lucille, who has always been passionate about gardening, realized there was a gap in the market for creative gardening content.
After months of searching for inspiration and not finding what she was looking for, she decided to create her own. “It was a long, thought-out process,” said Lucille. “There’s a lot of inspiration and creativity in my book.”
Lucille’s family has been involved in flower gardening for over 30 years, with the business expanding into the cut flower and floral industry about eight years ago.
At Piney Creek Greenhouses, they provide flowers for weddings and markets, including the popular Ligonier Country Market every weekend starting in May.
Lucille shares, “We take four or five 80- to 95-pound buckets of flowers and sell out within hours.” Custom bouquets are especially popular, and Lucille believes it’s the experience of selecting flowers that draws people in.
Her book covers a wide range of topics, including planting and harvesting tips, weed control, flower care, arrangement design, irrigation, and propagation.
It even touches on gardening tools, vases, containers, and includes a bit of poetry for added charm. At 438 pages, it’s an in-depth guide to flower gardening that’s both educational and beautiful.
To bring the book to life, Lucille worked with nine talented photographers, including Julie Rosillo from Altoona, who had been a long-time admirer of Piney Creek. Julie, who primarily photographs people, found this project to be a refreshing change.
“Flowers have their own personality,” she said, reflecting on the unique challenge of capturing their beauty. “Working with Lucille has been amazing. She’s so kind, and her flower designs are incredible.”
Lucille’s journey into floristry was not without its challenges. She admits that her first flower arrangements left much to be desired. “It took a lot of trial and error, and a few classes for pointers,” Lucille laughed. “But I’ve learned a lot along the way.”
With the help of her talented team and photographers, Lucille’s book will surely inspire gardeners of all levels to cultivate their love of flowers and embrace the beauty of nature year-round.
