Meet Cynthia Zamaria
CYNTHIAZAMARIA.COM @cynthiazamaria With an infectious, optimistic spirit and a belief that we all need more beautiful in our lives, Cynthia shares home and garden inspiration as a writer, photographer, stylist and presenter.
Cynthia is known for her accessible approach to character-filled spaces, carefree flower displays, and an appreciation for antique and artisanal objects. Recognized as a Country Home Magazine Style Maker, Cynthia is regularly featured in leading international lifestyle media and is the author of House + Flower: Reviving Forgotten Homes and Gardens published by Bloom Imprint.
What is your astrological sign? "Pices." My sign's character traits say I'm creative, compassionate, a dreamer, sensitive and intuitive. Oh, and also temperamental, impulsive and idealistic.
What book(s) are on your bedside table right now? "Gibby: Tales of a Baseball Lifer," (A gift to me from my son Ben. I'm a big Blue Jays fan). John Gibbons (Gibby) is the former team manager. I love his swagger, frankness, and old-school baseball charm.
What do you want our guests to know about Canada's local flower/Slow Flowers or horticulture/garden scene? I feel with each passing season, the Slow Flowers scene in Canada attracts more attention, enthusiasm, and momentum with consumers. Increasingly, we're seeing more people who not only want beautiful flowers, but a floral experience that makes them feel good about their choices and connects them to the source. The local flower markets, pick-your-own flower farm tours, and homegrown floral workshops are very popular. I think there is tremendous opportunity for Slow Flowers growers and designers to continue to differentiate themselves from mass producers and to create a compelling selling advantage. With even more public education about the progressive options in the floristry industry in Canada, I believe sustainable-championing businesses will stand out to an informed purchaser who is looking for quality, value, and goodness in their vase.
Share something that you're excited about exploring in your floral enterprise this year? More workshops! There's something special about getting together with fellow flower lovers to create beauty. I'm passionate about sharing my love of local flowers and demonstrating attainable ways to integrate them into our homes. Bringing nature indoors is one of my favourite styling and soul-fufilling tactics. I want to teach more people how easy and uplifting it is to have floral displays in our homes - not only for special occasions, but for the everyday -- and to give them confidence to experiment with new types of blooms, arrangements, and vessels.
What is the craziest or most clever thing you've done to pack flowers or plants for travel? When we were shuttling blooms between our farm and downtown Toronto, we would load up huge buckets with the most gorgeous flowers and then place them in every seat of our minivan, securing them snugly with seatbelts. Very precious cargo indeed.
Learn from Cynthia at the Slow Flowers Summit:
FLOWERS FOR THE HOME AND TABLE with Cynthia Zamaria, House + Flower
Lecture and design demonstration, followed by a Q&A at 11 a.m., on Tuesday, June 25, 2024
When Cynthia Zamaria, author of House + Flower: Reviving Forgotten Homes and Gardens, was interviewed about entertaining by the New York Times she explained: “When friends come by, you want to make them feel special and welcome. One of the ways to do that is by creating a beautiful table for them. You can still be working on the potato salad, but the table is set and it’s lovely."
Cynthia will present a demonstration of her signature vase and flower pairings as she creates a seasonal tablescape with Canadian-grown botanicals and plants, vintage textiles, and her favorite accessories -- all inspired by lessons from her 2022 book.
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