taylor@issimaworks.com
ed@issimaworks.com
issima is a collaboration and conversation between Ed Bowen, formerly of Opus nursery, and Taylor Johnston, formerly of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
We are a deliberately small operation, and enjoy the flexibility and intimacy in process that this allows. We don’t aim to grow every plant or flower, just to flog a few that others aren’t. Please understand that it is impossible for any nursery to have all plants all of the time, and this is especially the case when growing as we do: propagating our own, generally in small numbers.
If you’re after a particular plant, or flower, we’re always happy to field availability inquiries. Please pardon our choppy correspondence—we are only two and in addition to garden and nursery duties, we are the customer service department and shipping department. With limited computer time each day you might experience a touch of radio silence—we promise to thoughtfully respond to your inquiry.
Our focus is on the under-cultivated and garden worthy, and we specialize in unusual hardy plants. Our Little Compton, RI nursery is open by appointment, with open days listed in our events tab. Our LC/NYC studio aims to create long-term dialogues with clients and accordingly takes on a limited number of sourcing, propagation, contract growing and design projects each year. Please inquire about our availability using the email addresses above.
*With two young boys and a few humans in dog-suits about the nursery, we employ organic pest controls and are striving to be peat free.
This site would not be possible were it not for the singular photography and floral styling of our friend, Phil. We simply cannot thank him enough for his alchemy in turning our seediness into the sublime.