Pleasure Principles

A modern guide to living with the seasons—through planting, harvesting, cooking, gathering, bathing, and paying closer attention to the natural world. From world-renowned Flamingo Estate, celebrated for its luxurious seasonal and sustainable produce and products. Part field guide, part art book, and part love letter to Mother Nature, this handbook moves month by month through the garden, sharing stories, recipes, rituals, and practical wisdom for all those who want to live a little closer to the earth. It is for gardeners, cooks, nature lovers, and anyone trying to put their phone down, get their hands dirty, and find more pleasure in ordinary life. Drawing from his own home and garden at Flamingo Estate, author Richard Christiansen explores the people, plants, and stories that shape the seasons. He invites us to fall back in love with nature in simple, sensual ways: by growing what we can, cooking what is ripe, smelling what is in bloom, and noticing the small miracles happening around us every day. Organized by month, the book includes: * Planting and harvesting guides * Garden-fresh recipes * Lunar rituals * Scent explorations * Herbal remedies * Botanical history * Seasonal tasks * And much more. Filled with hundreds of photographs, original artwork, and reflections on countless plants, flowers, trees, and pollinators, Pleasure Principles is a call to take seriously the business of pleasure—and to remember that nature is one of our greatest teachers. GARDEN WISDOM: Raised on a farm in Australia, Richard Christiansen has spent his life learning from gardens, kitchens, farmers, and the natural world. At Flamingo Estate, he has built a home and a company devoted Mother Nature, working with more than 125 farms and collaborators to celebrate the beauty, intelligence, and generosity of the plant kingdom. His years of gardening, research, and lived experience are woven throughout this guide to planting, harvesting, and enriching daily life. ABOUT FLAMINGO ESTATE: Flamingo Estate began as Richard’s home and garden in the hills of Los Angeles. Today, it is a collective of farmers, makers, chefs, artists, and growers devoted to pleasure from the natural world. Known for its seasonal Farm Boxes, pantry essentials, body care, candles, and garden-grown storytelling, Flamingo Estate celebrates the people and plants that make life more fragrant, more delicious, and more alive. A CAPTIVATING YEAR-ROUND GUIDE: Each month offers a new way to enter the season.