Dare To Be Wild
- Bonnie Adams
- Feb 9
- 2 min read
In light of the attempts to develop Florida's State Parks with pickleball courts, golf courses and hotels, this film is relevant for Floridians. A true story of two extraordinary people who did the impossible will inspire Floridians to keep Florida wild.
First time director Vivienne de Courcy made this film midlife, after spending 20 years working in corporate finance in Chicago. She longed to connect with nature again, and hired Mary Reynolds, an Irish landscape designer. Upon learning about Mary's struggle to enter the Chelsea Flower Show and her simultaneous romance with a timber build artist, Vivienne starting writing the script of Mary's life. It took 10 years to get the film made.
The film was shot on location in West Cork, Dublin, County Wicklow, Chelsea Flower Show in London, and Ethiopia.
Emma Greenwell plays Mary Reynolds, and Tom Hughes is Christy Collard. A pivotal character is the hawthorn tree. Known for its longevity, it can live over 400 years. It brings good luck to the owner, nourishes the land and boasts medicinal benefits for the heart. In Ireland it is bad luck to cut it down, and roads have been rerouted to preserve the Hawthorn.
Vivienne de Courcy did not want the typical muted blues and grays of Irish films, but instead wanted to showcase vibrant colors. The cinematography is a feast for the eyes.
The filmmakers have tips on rewilding your yard. In interviews, Vivienne advocates for clover lawns in place of grass lawns. Clover lawns only need to be mowed twice a year, and need no pesticides or fertilizer. Clover hosts a variety of butterflies and bees.
Florida can definitely have clover lawns. White Dutch clover is easy to maintain, drought tolerant, fixes its own nitrogen, attracts pollinators and barely needs mowing.
Mary Reynolds has written two books and you can book an appointment with her online at https://marymary.ie/
Christy Collard primarily designs and builds artisan eco-structures and designs and landscapes natural gardens. He is most known for creating the green-built main stages of Body & Soul at the Electric Picnic. Over a dozen of his unique creations remain an integral part of the festival, lending Body & Soul the earthy style which it is known for. https://christycollard.com/
DARE TO BE WILD is available on streaming platforms including Prime Video, Tubi, XumoPlay and others.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show is May 19 - 23, 2026. https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
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