Flower farm heaven
Why I love British seasonal flowers // #BritishFlowersWeek2024
Wednesday again already - hope you’ve had a lovely week and bank holiday weekend, despite the classic British weather. This week (and every week really!) I’m talking all about the best of British.
I love using British flowers for SO many reasons.
It not only supports our home-grown businesses and reduces air miles, but there is just something about using seasonal flowers that just adds that next level edge to designs.
Arranged with care and love - they produce an effortlessly wild, perfectly-imperfect appeal with twisted, rambling stems. Movement, texture and space all have a place.
Varied flower sizes and stages of development mimic the outdoors, just how they would grow in a garden. Seed heads, buds, a mix of foliage, herbs…it can all be used.
Interesting, delicate, nothing forced.
Although we know in theory when flowers should be in season, working with British also adds a challenging (but exciting) layer to my work. You can’t just say ‘I want 10 of ‘x’ on this day’ - they may not bloom in time, they may bloom early, the wind and rain may flatten the crop, there may only be 5 available…and so on. There are so many variables and while our farmers do their absolute best for us, we are ultimately in the hands of good old Mother Nature. Working with what I can get my hands on, makes me think and certainly challenges my creativity.
Each stem is even more special and I will make sure it plays an important part in the final design.
Currently I order from UK growers and supplement from my garden (or Dutch imports if really needed). My long term plan, is to grow more in my own garden however the last year has proven busy with setting up Delilah and Herb and closing down my old business. For once, I’ve managed to stick to my own advice of not taking on too much! But watch this space…
Back to the present, a recent search had lead me to find wonderful Vicky at Tunbridge Wells Flower Co, literally a few miles up the road from me. I’m not sure how my searches had failed me before, but so pleased to have finally found her.
A catch up, coffee, amazing homemade orange cake and a tour of the farm followed. I could have spent all day up there chatting flowers with Vicky - especially at this time of year when so much is in bloom and so much is also about to bloom. I was like my kids in the sweet shop after school on a Friday - too much to choose from, mind blown and wanting it all! Rows of peonies about to flush, roses ready to bloom, the longest stemmed and sweetest smelling sweet peas, so much variety of foliage, berries, aliums, my favourite corncockles, penny cress, orlaya, delphiniums…the list goes on. I couldn’t possibly put it all here.
In my excitement, of course, I forgot to take any pictures of the actual farm.
I am so looking forward to working with Vicky and her flowers in the future and feeling incredibly lucky to have her on my doorstep. If you are local - she also sells bouquets and DIY buckets, perfect for a weekend treat, small occasions or your budding floral hobby.
If you love the idea of supporting British farmers, next week (June 3rd - 9th) is ‘British Flowers Week’. You can find out lots more about what is going on via the ‘Flowers from the Farm’ website. This is a wonderful directory of over 1000 British growers so even if you aren’t local to me, I’m sure there will be a grower near you. There are lots of super events happening, ideas and inspiration - all to champion our beautiful British flowers!
#BritishFlowersWeek #BritishFlowersWeek2024
If you pop over to my Instagram or Facebook pages, you can also keep up with what I’m doing personally - a few exciting things in the pipeline.
Finally, if you have any questions about British flowers, please do let me know.
Thank you for reading.Have a great week and remember to always stop and smell the roses.
Amy x
Amy runs an independent floral design company, ‘Delilah and Herb’, based nr Tonbridge, Kent. She uses planet friendly methods to create florals for events, occasions, funerals and farewells.
To find out more, please visit www.delilahandherb.co.uk or email Amy directly at delilahandherb@gmail.com.
