A Bevy of Flowers

In honor of pollen season the arrival of Spring, I'm giving you flowers, courtesy of Ronaldo Maia.  Maia, who for decades has been one of New York's premier floral designers, fashioned these blossomy creations for his debut monograph, Decorating with Flowers, which was published almost forty years ago- hence the dated-looking graininess of the book's photography.  But no photographic deficiencies can diminish the charm of Maia's timeless arrangements, whose simplicity is offset by a richness in their surroundings: Chinese porcelain, simple ceramic containers, wicker baskets, and bottles of cognac.  For those of us who appreciate both flowers and the decorative arts, these still-life snapshots are a bounty for the eyes.