NATCHEZ &045;&045; Flowers and details are the complements of life for David Spurk.

Spurk, a famous flower designer and owner of Petal Pushers in Jackson, will share his specialties with residents of Natchez at the Historic Preservation Conference Sept.16 through the 18th. He is scheduled to design the mantles of Stanton Hall and Longwood to complement this year’s theme &uot;Keeping the Home Fires Burning,&uot; which showcases the importance and preservation of fireplaces.

As Spurk toured Stanton Hall Friday to get a vision for his next creation, he was fascinated with the fine details of craftsmanship in the house.

&uot;It makes you appreciate what it took them (antebellum constructers) to actually construct this,&uot; Spurk said as he took pictures of the white flower engraved terrace.

Spurk said he wished there were rich historical monuments and houses, like Stanton Hall, to be preserved and used with such care in Jackson.

&uot;I swear I lived in one of these (houses) in a past life. I feel such a kinship with them,&uot; he said.

Spurk measured one of the golden marble mantles in Stanton Hall and then took a step back to have a final look before he left the room.

Spurk said he hasn’t done an event for a garden club in years. Besides doing feature stories and floral designs in magazines like Home and Garden and Southern Accents, Spurk owns Petal Pusher, a studio workshop in Madison.

&uot;I’m a one man show,&uot; he said of his busy schedule.

A mutual friend of Bridgett Green, Pilgrimage Garden Club chairman, recommended Spurk as an addition to the conference. Spurk said he’s excited for the events and floral designs for the mantles.

Green said the conference can at times be very dry, but having Spurk show participants how to make a design for their own homes will liven up the conference.

To keep in accordance with the antebellum theme of the conference, Spurk will only use materials that would’ve been use during the antebellum period. Examples of materials used to decorate the mantle include fresh green leaves, pods from magnolia flowers and pine to accent and complement the color and style of each room.

Spurk said he wants to make the design an illustration of what the Stanton family would’ve use to entertain their guests for a special night.