2009 Eric Hoffer Book Awards National
Finalist - Honorable Mention in Art ! ! !
Midwest Book Review & California Bookwatch
magazine,Spring 2009: While at first glance this would seem a specialty acquisition
narrowed to California and horticultural collections alone, in reality
Sending Flowers to America is about much more than documenting the Los
Angeles flower market. it surveys the entire structure and fostering of
the American floral industry as a whole, using a focus on Southern
California's evolution as a microcosm of experience. This focus offers
over 60 stories based on interviews with descendants of the European
immigrant families who formed the early Los Angeles Flower Market, and
comes packed with over 350 photos. A gorgeous cultural history,
highly recommended especially for California collections as a 'must'
examination of the evolution of an industry.
Reference & Research Book News,
Spring 2009 -- This celebration of the floral industry in
Southern California is beautifully put together, with hundreds of photos
of both people and flowers. Authors Ridgway and Works both live near the
Los Angeles Flower Market and have researched its history in local
archives and through personal interviews. The history of commercial
flower growing is told with many anecdotes and quotations from memoirs
and documents. Included are the origin of the Pasadena Rose Parade and
the interment of many Japanese-American florists during World War II.
Another section contains interviews and mini-biographies of a
cross-section of growers and florists. While clearly an uncritical
look at the industry, this book preserves a time and micro-culture that
would have otherwise been forgotten.
See the review at Booknews.
Orange Coast magazine,
Spring 2009, calls this book "engaging."
Sending Flowers to America has also been announced in these
prestigious industry publications:
Society of American Florists' Floral Management
magazine
Florists Review magazine
California State Floral Association
Los Angeles Flower Market's magazine, The Bloomin' News
Germany's Wissens-Wertes
Cover story, The Bloomin' News, Nov/Dec 2008 - "The
Making of the Book" by Sue Fuhrman. Includes excerpts and photos from
the book as well as an interview with the authors.
Click here to download entire story (PDF).
Fall 2007 California State Floral
Association Magazine
"I have had many happy hours reading and just looking at
the Sending Flowers to America. It is a beautiful book.
So much real history welded into the romance that was made
in flowers." - Norma Yocum founded
the Alhambra, California historical society and authored a
history about the area.
"What a wonderful surprise to receive your book. It's such a great
piece. I had no idea it would be so complete - the whole story of our
industry - you did an outstanding job on it. Thanks for all the
memories." Bob Taylor, floral designer
"I am absolutely fascinated with the book. I've never seen such a
marvelous expression of all the things that we in the flower business
experienced. I am so impressed. It is a treasure that I will keep for
the rest of my life. I am so proud of it." -
Natalie Sutton, florist
"It truly is a work of art - and the photos are great and the
articles such fun to read." - Diane Mellano,
Mellano & Company
"I am very impressed with the quality of the book... Thank you
for your massive contribution to the flower industry. You have published
a book that will be enjoyed for generations." -
Sylvia Foltz, daughter of rose grower C.J. Groen, Groen Rose Company
"The book is phenomenal! I couldn't be more pleased. I am
enjoying the book and all who see it are impressed."
- Nicky Killion, daughter of early plantsman
Kermit ("Knute") Hernlund
"This book truly represents the fulfillment of the American Dream
the immigrants brought with them." - Nick
Gandolfo, flower grower
"I especially enjoyed reading about all those families because I could
see them and the events described in the book in my mind's eye as if
it was yesterday." - Mike Mellano Sr.,
Mellano & Company
"We are really enjoying reading Sending Flowers, and all three of
our daughters are reading it and enjoying it."
- Craig and Pam Cadwallader, daughter of Beverly and Waren Hall of
Buford W. Hall Company
"Fantastic! I can't put it down. Fascinating stories and profiles.
In the anonymous world of today where everybody seems to be looking
for identity, here is proof of a group of dedicated, hard-working men
and women who truly believed in their passion and the greater good. This
book highlights so well what basic values are all about."
- Rene van Rems, AIFD, Rene van Rems
International
2009 Eric Hoffer Book Awards National
Finalist - Honorable Mention in Art ! ! !
