I am delighted to be able to announce that on March 25th, 2023, I will be giving a talk at the Honolulu Museum Of Art current exhibition “Cross Pollination” entitled The Language Of Flowers, as well as a workshop on perfume appreciation on the 26th called Scent Literacy.
I have never been to Hawaii before. And can hardly believe that I will be. I think for many Americans the land of Aloha is probably just ‘home from home’; for many Japanese too – by far the most common foreign holiday destination, akin perhaps to the Costa Del Sol, Portugal, or the Greek Islands for Brits, just a short trip away, whereas the mere concept of ‘Hawai’i’, for me, feels almost impossibly far flung, tantalizingly tropical and out of reach. A realm across the Pacific, floating on breezes of hibiscus, pikake, plumeria, ginger lilies and orchids….. When the email came, inviting me to give an olfactory angle to an exhibition devoted to the visual: art pieces and objects related to flowers from different cultures and time periods across the world, I could hardly believe it (as if my mind was being read): Honolulu was actually at the top of our list of destinations; we love cities, I am a total vegetation geek; I adore flowers and their perfume, which is why this is such an amazing opportunity – I am imagining that they will be everywhere.
If you happen to be around……
The Black Narcissus 
Thrilled for you!
Thank you very much.
Amazing to be able to go to a totally new area of the world in order to exult perfume and flowers.
Oh, what a delight! I am so very pleased for you! Hawai‘i! Just looking at the photos of the white & yellow and red temple tree flowers (frangipani, plumeria?) makes me smile: how utterly delightful!
I hope you and D. are awarded a deluxe business flight, given a *****star hotel, and received with a full regalia flower welcome ceremony: aloha!
You can already imagine me blabbing on about the frangipani / plumeria four months in advance
I’d better rescue our freezing one on the balcony actually – it might have frostbite
Love that painting!
Georgia O’Keefe, I think
I assumed so but rudely didn’t check and just nicked it.
Have you ever been to Hawaii?
I wish! Would love to go. Money situation is improving so that’ll be do-able at some point soon. What a contrast to Scottish muted colours eh?! I love her style – saying so much with so little. I always end up being a bit maximalist with layers and all!
Wow! What an honor & a thrill!
You are going to love Hawaii. Be sure to visit Hilo and the nearby Wailuku River State Park. Kauai is my favorite for greenery & flowers. The food, the people, the scenery – Hawaii Is fabulous.
Aloha-oi!
Very happy for you, and how I wish I could attend! Hawaii holds a special place in my heart; why is a story for another time. Last time there was 2018, with the family. Spent the days buried nose deep in plumeria on Maui, as the gardens where we stayed were full of the trees. The damp gentle breezes just enhanced the smells wafting all around. With me I had Caron’s Or et Noir and Narcisse Blanc and Comptoirs du Sud Eau de Naphé, but everything kept being washed or sweated off, so I sort of gave up in the end, and just carried a flower about with me. See if you can get a trip to one of the non-Oahu islands to fit in…or at least get out of the city for a bit. The first time ever in Hawaii, around 1994, I just remember the smell of flowers hit me when I arrived in the airport in Honolulu (did they use a diffuser??). Meanwhile, I looked up what that purple flower is…a passion flower. There is a whole trailing wall of that most sci-fi flower on my local street here in the UK. But no plumeria, sadly.
Congratulations! Hawaii is on my list as well to visit one day. Wish they’d make it a hybrid event for those of us who can’t go in person!
Aw, that’s great, N. Well-deserved. I’m stoked for you.
Thanks R. It came totally out of the blue- a little daunting, but new pastures, departures and smells
Very happy for you and Duncan. I can only imagine it.
Drench your nose and all the available senses in Hawaii. Even the sound of the name is intriguing.
And please let us share your experiences in many Black Narcistic outpourings.
You know I probably won’t be able to stop. You will be flowered out
Oh dooooooo!
Congratulations! I wish I could attend this event! Hawaii is so beautiful. When you step off the plane and breathe the perfect Hawaiian air, you will feel at peace. If you have time, try to get to the North Shore and watch the surfers. There are also some very lovely beaches in this area. When I went to O’ahu, I couldn’t afford a rental car, so I just took the public bus that circles the island. The drivers always let me off at some deserted beaches. It was just sublime. (But if you take the bus, bring a sarong or something to cover up because they turn up the air conditioning on the bus and it’s freezing! )
I am so overjoyed for you!!!! This will be fabulous.