Farmers' markets are noisy and chaotic – music blaring, shoppers haggling and vendors putting on a show.
But in the middle of St. Albert Farmers' Market hyper-energy is a serene, tranquil oasis, a gentle reminder of the beauty of plants and creativity of humans.
This week Market Place introduces It's Alive, a St. Albert business that pairs greenery with antiques and collectibles. Basically, it's plant art.
Randy Cone and Wendy Perowski, partners in both life and business, blend their two passions – antiquing and gardening – into the creation of one-of-a-kind recycled potted flowers, plants, terrariums and topiaries.
Each container tells a story. The more you look, the more is revealed. On one shelf, a delicate porcelain geisha plays a lute under a mini-maple forest. A few steps away, a mountain terrarium is imagined with rocks, a dry streambed, an old train set, two-centimetre high plastic people and five different kinds of moss.
"When St. Albert started their blue box program, I realized what is being done to the Earth, and plants are so good for you and for our well-being. I saw the damage that cities can do to places that don't recycle," Cone says.
The duo loves roaming through shops and estate sales to find those special nuggets. It was what they did to entertain themselves when they met 12 years ago he adds.
Any old household object becomes recycled art in their hands. What is so eye-catching about their work is the innovative presentation, making plant pots out of tubs, watering cans, buckets, toy trucks, great-grandpa's watch, glass candy bowls, old silver sugar bowls and a pig-shaped soup tureen.
In 2012, they scored a huge hit at the Festival of Trees winning the People's Choice Award. Their nine-foot red tree, dubbed Peppermint Twist was completely adorned with hand-made ornaments and candy.
"It was the nicest thing. We couldn't afford to donate that kind of money. This is second nature to us. It was very little effort and it was such a big thing to do."
Race origins
It was the world of racing that first brought them into contact with each other. Cone's grandparents lived on a farm and the entire family was into show horses. Although he excelled in art at school, a 17-year-old Cone went to work with Ronald (Red) Smith, one of Canada's most notable horse trainers with 2,200 wins under his belt.
"It was in my blood. It's what we did. It was a natural thing to do," Cone said.
For about 15 years Cone was a much-in-demand contract horse trainer, travelling across Canada and the western United States. He reached a peak in 1993 when his horse Cozzy Grey won the Canadian Derby.
"The money was good, but I didn't like the travelling," he said.
He built a party planning business in Saskatchewan for a few years. But the pull of family was strong and Cone moved back to the Edmonton area.
While Cone was winning championships, Perowski graduated from St. Albert Catholic High in 1986. Since she was 16, the laid-back teen had worked part-time taking bets at Northlands Park racetrack.
"It was easy to stay there and the money was good. I was at the track for 15 years," Perowski says.
When Perowski and Cone met, they had a greater connection than the racetrack. They loved antiques. He zoomed in on the antiques. She made a beeline for 1950s stuff, the funky collectibles.
"We both loved old things. We had a real appreciation for them. We were both close to our grandparents and loved their things. And that's what got us interested," she adds.
For years they trolled shops and attended estate sales. If the couple spotted an item they liked, often they were required to buy an entire lot. As a result, they acquired boxes of objects that had no market value.
In addition to collecting and reselling antiques, the duo gardened extensively. One year, Cone traveled to Victoria to help a buddy move and stayed five months working at a greenhouse.
Although Perowski developed a love of gardening from her mother and 98-year-old grandfather whom she called "young at heart," she is quick to credit Cone as the gardener and major creative force.
In trying to clear the garage of unusable antiques, they hit on the idea of recycling old collectibles as potted plants. It was a natural fit.
Last year was the couple's first season at St. Albert Market and they sold most of their recycled planters.
"This year we bought plastic toys at the Dollar Store. People bring us their old pots and we're more than glad to take them," Cone notes.
Whether it's a miniature Buddha nestled under a bonsai or a Venus flytrap living in swampy sphagnum, the inspiring designs cultivate harmony and beauty.
As Calgary visitor and avid gardener Tammy Burke points out, "This is beautiful work. It's amazing. The variety of plants he has is unique. You just can't get this anywhere else."
Growing and buying plants as well as finding and repurposing antiques and collectibles is extremely time consuming. But as Perowski puts it, selling at the market is a nurturing experience.
"I love people. I love to see things bloom," she says. "We start from seed and to see them grow – I love it. Plants make me happy."
