Daucus Carota

When the heat was gone and the light wasn’t too strong and blinding, I went for a walk around the field at the back of our house. There are masses of wild carrots growing there now so I picked some. Wildflowers and July go hand in hand for me. I absolutely love seeing them grow by the side of the motorways (and I’ve seen a lot of those lately) and by roads of any description really.
I didn’t take my camera for the walk but I took some pictures later when I brought the bunch back home and here they are.

Crab apple

There are four crab apple trees on one of my favourite bridlepath. I love seeing these in all season but they are always my favourite when the trees lose their leaves and only the apples hang on like baubles. A few days ago, a big branch from one of these trees broke off so I saved a few bits and brought them home. I love crab apples trees a lot. I love their wildness, their imperfect shape and as they grow old, their mossy branches. They also say Autumn is not far now..

Meanwhile my crab apple:

It’s a Comtesse de Paris that I planted in February and is enjoying the company of Ammi Majus growing all around it. I chose this one for its apples that turn orange in the Autumn. Although I really liked its simple, single flowers in the Spring too.

Forced bulbs

I came home with some beautiful flowers and a pot filled with Narcissus bulbocodium ‘Arctic Bells’ from a photo shoot last week. Part of that shoot reminded me of a garden book (and I cannot remember now which one it was) where there was an image of a room filled with pots that were filled with forced bulbs. Somehow that photo mesmerized me and that image stayed with me. During that shoot last week, I was able to take photographs carrying that very similar feeling and that made me think oh my, this is like a dream.

So today I turned our dining room into a mini studio and had a little play with these flowers. The dining room is the only place in the house where I’m happiest with the light (at the moment as I know it can change any time) and that light looks like this..

Early Spring flowers

So I had this beautiful pot filled with these pettitcoat daffodils. I only took them out of the pot for a little flat lay but now they’re all safely back in the pot. But I do love seeing bulbs in their full beauty, the roots, the bulb and the flowers. I absolutely love this connection.

Narcissus bulbocodium 'Arctic Bells‘

I rarely force bulbs myself but I do buy bulbs early January (planted by garden nurseries). As soon as I get home with them, I remove them from their plastic containers and plant them into terracotta pots. The ‘Arctic Bells’ below were gifts from two wonderful persons I had shoots with last week.

Narcissi, muscari, snowdrops

I keep them in the conservatory which is the coldest place at the moment and slowly bring them in throughout February. To brighten up the days that are already growing longer. This is the month the sun starts to shine through the neighbour’s cherry tree and into our kitchen in sunny mornings too. Very prescious moments.

Paperwhite narcissus

Snowdrops and narcissus

It’s hard to believe it’s still early February and there are already so many beautiful flowers around. All of these are also British grown, the cut narcissi all from Cornwall.

Christmas Wreath Class with Swallows and Damsons

I consider myself very lucky as I often work with the country’s most experienced and creative florists. I’ve always admired the work of Anna Potter of Swallows and Damsons but I’ve never had the chance to meet or let alone learn from her. My lucky day has come and so my December started the best way possible when I went to her Christmas Wreath class.

Anna’s class was held at the Samuel Worth Chapel in Sheffield situated in a beautiful cemetery.

There were wreaths too but Anna’s presence was most inspirational.

Ah yes, there was mulled wine and mince pie too. And off I go.

And two hours later, there was my wreath. I really like it and just to know that I made it makes me really proud. Despite it not being a the shape of a perfect circle, ops.

I’d like to say a special thank you to Honeysuckle and Hilda who kindly offered me this class because she knew how much I’d love it. We went to the class together and the drive through the frosty Peak District was very scenic. The perfect start to December.

Chatsworth - Early Spring

After a very wet first visit to Chatsworth last Autumn and on my way to a very exciting photo shoot in Yorkshire, I decided to stop at Chatsworth again to see the gardens in early Spring. I just love how behind the fancy house, there’s this most beautiful working garden with my favourite shed in the world. Look ..