While working at Erin Benzakein’s, famed Floret Flower Farm, Brenna Estrada was inspired by the pansies being grown and began to trial hundreds of varieties of pansies and violas on her own farm, developing a huge following of growers and floral designers.
Estrada’s innovative approach to growing in full sun results in pansies with long stems, fragrance and unique colour. With the instincts of a collector, she encourages gardeners and flower enthusiasts to see the pansy as a reliable, elegant showstopper flower that brings drama, whimsy, and diversity to every garden and arrangement.
“The first book of its kind; a must-add to your garden library. Brenna is the pansy queen!” Erin Benzakein, Floret
With photography that brings to life the intricate details, colours, and textures of this diverse and colourful flower, Pansies is an indispensable guide for growers, florists, artists, and collectors.
The book includes covers the history of pansies and violas, growing pansies, saving pansy seeds, application in crafts, recipes and apothecary, as well as inspiration as to floral arrangements and bouquets.
Brenna Estrada is a flower farmer who has built a dedicated following through the sharing of her extensive collection of pansies. Raised in the Pacific Northwest in the shadow of the Cascade Mountains, Estrada has a deep love of nature, specifically flowers. After serving 5 years in the United States Marine Corps and 16 years as a 911 call taker and police dispatcher, she took a position at Floret where her knowledge and passion grew, for pansies especially. Estrada annually trials around 100 different varieties of pansies and violas to find those with the most exceptional colours, fragrance, and stem length. Her pansies have drawn the attention of growers and artists from all over the world. She continues to share her passion with others and is working to make seeds for the specialty varieties more accessible to both small-scale growers and home gardeners.
Pansies (Timber Press) will be released on the 3rd of April, 2025.