At Sugar Gardens everyday is Spring.  We are surrounded by beautiful red tulips, hydrangeas, pale green lilies-of-the-valley, moss colored ferns, and pink peonies. Our blackberries are ready for picking, and their vines can be seen with delicate white flowers.  Not to be forgotten are our tropical cymbidium and phalaenopsis orchids that add another level of sophistication to our garden.

These fragile works of art are made from a sugar dough know as gumpaste, which is a simple mixture of powdered sugar, egg whites and tylose powder.  A variety of methods are used in making our sugar flowers.  Many require that the dough is rolled paper thin on a plastic surface scribed with grooves.  This is knows as a veining board.  The gumpaste is rolled over the groove, leaving a spine along the backside of the petal.  The petal is further thinned around the edges using a ball tool, and then a wire is inserted into the spine.  The wire will be used to secure the petals to the flower stem.  The petals are left to dry after which they are ready for their color highlights.  The highlights are achieved by brushing layers of petal dust (an edible chalk) over the petal surface.

A wire is inserted into a ball of gumpaste to make the foundation for the stem, and to hold the flower’s stamens in place.  When the center is dry, the petals are placed around the stamens and the flower is formed.  The petal wires are secured to the stem with floral tape and the flower is complete.  A single peony can take four hours to make while a simple stephanotis may take only minutes.

Sugar Gardens also has a love for the sea.  We have adorned our cakes with magnificent white chocolate shells, and graceful coral, reminding us
of the underwater treasures of ancient oceans.  Brushed with an iridescent luster dust, our shells truly come to life.

Not to be forgotten are our gumpaste sea urchins.  So realistic, we believe they could even fool a sea otter (although we don’t normally try to fool sea otters).  The combination of flowers and shells are one of our favorites themes.

Interested in seeing Jan demonstrate this art? Would you like to take a class to learn her techniques for yourself? View her current Events Schedule.

We have selected a few of our favorite flowers to share with you. Of course, if your favorite isn't in bloom right now, we can always make it.

Hope you enjoy our garden...