It’s hard to describe James Farmer III. Before you meet him, everyone warns you that he’s just plain “cute.” When pressed, they can’t put a finger on what makes the 29-year-old with the boyish grin from Kathleen, Georgia, so “cute.” It’s that “cute” thang that gets in the way when you do get to meet him. He’s just so adorable that you forget that he’s considered the South’s 21st century version of Martha Stewart. From landscaping and interior design to cooking and gardening, he does it all. And on the side he can whip together an intimate dinner party as well as major fundraisers and special events.
What brought him to Dallas last Wednesday was a book signing for his “A Time to Plant” at Caren and Pete Kline‘s 1938 Preston Hollow home. In addition to promoting the book, he was also plotting with the Crystal Charity Ball ladies about his supporting the December 3rd ball at the Hilton Anatole.
Settling back in the Klines’ “Pine Room,” he looked like a college kid in his simple blue sports coat (“it’s vintage — belonged to my great-uncle”), a blue-and-white-striped shirt with a plaid tie by Peter Millar and “wingtip boots” from Saks.
He’d had a busy day. Earlier in the day, he had headed to the Dallas wholesale flower market and picked up a few things. Combining his finds with flowers from the Klines’ garden, he created six little arrangements and five big ones for the evening’s gathering.
As a photographer snapped his picture, he joked, “I wanted to make sure my eyes were closed and my mouth was open.
“I’m 29, but I’m an old soul. When people asked me when I got into this, I say, ‘About 29 years ago.’ My mother tells me that as a child on her hip, I would lunge for the flowers. It’s my nature, and my family nurtured it.
“People always ask me three questions: Is James Farmer your real name? (Yes); Where is Kathleen; is it a real place? (Yes, south of Macon, Georgia. It’s really just a ZIP code); And, how do you dry hydrangeas? (I don’t; I let nature take its course.)”
He’s a firm believer in “garden living.” What’s that? The Southern Living contributor explained it’s where it all starts: cooking/entertaining/decorating. It’s caught on “because we’ve been removed from the land for too long. We’ve finally just had enough. We’re at the point where we want to reconnect.”
But what about people in condos or highly urbanized areas? “Pot or plot — whatever you’ve got,” he answered with a twinkle in his eye.
When asked what makes James Farmer III unique, he doesn’t hesitate: “I’m young, male and Southern. You turn on Food Network or HGTV, you see men on, but they’re older. A lot of the chefs if they’re southern are from New Orleans; I went to Auburn. Authenticity is truly what [makes me] unique. . . my generation doesn’t know anything. We’re all starting out.”
Regarding his upcoming appearance on the “Today Show” and two more books in the works, he denies any thoughts of his being a genius in business. Rather, “My strongest business sense is to recognize strength in others, and nurture others. It takes a village.”
Then someone knocked on the door and James was ushered to a house full of adoring fans. . . or soon-to-be new best friends.