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The love of flowers is locked deep in our DNA. This issue, it’s been a joy to talk to so many growers and florists who can pinpoint how early in life their path was set, even if it took some time to realise it. Erin of Floret talks about sweet peas in her grandmother’s garden, while Rachael of Olive + Blossom smiles as she recalls making rose petal perfume as a child. And the graduates of the Tallulah Rose Flower School almost all trace their creativity and enthusiasm back to a flowery childhood spark. I’m no different: I have amazing memories of spring in a new house where the garden revealed the previous owners’ passion for daffodils – classic yellows and fancy frilled varieties were everywhere. My Mum and I…

TAP HERE FOR YOUR PRINTABLE CARDS Preparation is so important when it comes to growing flowers, so let us help you organise your year with these beautiful divider cards for a homemade seed box. To make a seed box, find a small shoebox and cover it with thick paper. Then assemble all your seed packets and check them against the flowers listed on the cards to make sure you sow them in the right month. Month by month, we’ve listed our favourite blooms that we know perform well. (If you have seeds for flowers we haven’t mentioned, check the back of their packet.) Some plants are listed on more than one divider – this is because they have a sowing window of more than one month. We’ve given times for…

Harvesting a fresh supply of gorgeous blooms from your flower patch is one of the most rewarding things about growing your own. And you also have the flexibility to choose what varieties, colours and flower shapes you need to make the arrangements you love. Creating cut-flower bouquets is a yearround thing, and by growing a mixture of varieties, as well as taking time to plan, you can enjoy fresh pickings of flowers to pad out your posies throughout the seasons. Summer is the season of big, exotic flowers, and some of the most glamorous, long-lasting varieties grow from bulbs that are planted in the spring. So, when thinking about your summer and autumn bouquets, early in the year is the time to get some beauties in the ground. Varieties such…

Possibly the most magnificent of all the summer blooms, dahlias spoil you for choice when it comes to flower form and colour. Fresh pickings are always plentiful as they bloom all summer long – the more you cut them, the more they’ll grow back. Dahlias flower well in their first year even when planted straight outside in late spring. But you can give these tender plants a head start and pot them up early in the spring and grow them on in a greenhouse or on a sunny window ledge before planting outside later. Large, elaborate dahlias are back on flower growers’ hotlists this year. When it comes to flower fashion, swanky varieties such as ‘Penhill Watermelon’ and ‘Café au Lait’ are on trend with their combination of colour, shape…

Get ahead of the game and plant a selection of gorgeous autumn-flowering amarines and nerines in spring. You’ll have a bright burst of fresh flowers to look forward to just as the summer season winds down. And what better way to extend your cutting season than with something so flamboyant, charming and exotic looking? These resilient and hardy perennial bulbs are fantastically easy to grow and will flower effortlessly in their first year, then every year thereafter. Growing them couldn’t be simpler – just pop the bulbs straight in the patch in spring and wait for the magic to happen! Soft salmon shades and vivid pinks are always popular in the cut-flower market, and just when you think the season is drawing to a close, along comes pretty Nerine bowdenii…

1 ANSWERS ON A POSTCARD The folk at Electric Daisy Flower Farm not only grow the most stunning blooms, they also photograph them beautifully too. Never ones to be held back by convention (see their calendar for proof), they’ve printed a set of six of their favourite images onto postcards – wooden postcards, that is. And if you want to test your flower identification skills, your answers should read: (top row) Salvia patens, Hellebore, Crocosmia, (bottom row) Chrysanthemum, Tulip ‘Apricot Parrot’ and Chrysanthemum. £25 for a set of six, www.electricdaisyflowerfarm.co.uk 2 THE FINEST PERFUME Hands up who remembers the childhood pastime of putting rose petals and water in a jar with the hopes of creating a perfume? The people who really know how to do this properly are Penhaligon’s, the…

Orchard Lane Flowers MARY KELAVA Mary Kelava is the owner of Orchard Lane Flowers in Vancouver, Canada, and for her, floriography’s connection with history adds hugely to its modern appeal. She believes its heritage inspires the same curiosity with the past as our modern fascination in tracing ancestors, collecting antiques and the love of all things vintage. It’s also the perfect antidote to social media. “This historical connection is important because while it may be a time of ancestry and vintage, we also live in a world of social media where a photo can go viral and that becomes the look everyone wants,” she says. “Taking an inspirational image of a bouquet, then adding some flowers of your own gives it a personal message.” However, modern floristry allows for new…

1 SPECIAL PRESERVATION A love of gardening led designer Vanessa Grzywacz to create Flower Press Studios. And her fresh, contemporary take on the ancient and delicate art has a wonderfully botanical feel. She grows the flowers in her Surrey garden but is happy to undertake bespoke commissions if you’d like to keep flowers that mean something special to you. This is perfect for preserving wedding bouquets in a subtle and unusual way. From £25 for a 10x8in collage www.flowerpressstudios.com 2 LET’S GET HITCHED Not only a leading luxury wedding florist, Ella Sparks helped us with the incredible blooms gracing our cover. A huge thank you from Team Flower Patch! Ella owns Flowers of Bath and is making plans to run wedding workshops for brides who would like to create their…

SEED PLANNER Choose your blooms from our planting planner. They’re specially selected to be easy to grow – and a pleasure to arrange… Seed selection First rule of choosing what you want to grow: there are no rules! It’s all about what appeals most to you. Spend a litle Pinterest and Instagram time considering your favourite flowers and what kind of arrangements and bouquets you’d enjoy making. As a rough guide, you should think about growing something big and bold to be your star, a slightly smaller bloom to support this, a tall spike (like a snapdragon) for height and drama, plus some foliage. Make a note of the planting distances on the backs of your seed packets and then you can divide up your ground and work out how…

1 HUNTING FOR COLOUR It’s time for gladioli to reclaim their rightful position as stars of the late summer. If you like to grow colours that you can’t buy as cut flowers, Gladiolus ‘Indian Summer’ really fits the bill. Quite a statement in a vase on its own, you could also pair its coral tones with the beloved dahlia ‘Café-au-Lait’ for a bold display. Dutch bulb experts from Farmer Gracy say: “Just imagine: peachy flowers with a twist of lilac fading to soft cream throats. Choose a sunny spot, plant your bulbs according to the package instructions, add water, and wait for your reward. It won’t be long in coming.” These bulbs like to be planted 20cm apart (10cm at a push), and will grow happily in a container if…

There’s something deeply satisfying about gathering flowers from your garden, whether it’s to share with someone you care about or simply bring some colour to the kitchen table. Just like there’s no comparison between garden-grown and shop-bought tomatoes, the same can be said for flowers. The stiff grocery-store blooms imported from afar don’t hold a candle to fresh flowers grown seasonally and harvested from just outside your door. Floret started more than a decade ago with a simple row of sweet peas that I tucked into my vegetable garden in our backyard. I planted the sweet peas in memory of my Grammy who had introduced me to growing flowers as a child. When the first flush of flowers bloomed, I shared some of the bounty with friends and family. Soon…

✽ You talk so passionately about dahlias. When did you fall in love with them? For me it was gradual. I really became aware of dahlias as a plant to design with, rather than an exhibition flower, about 20 years ago when I saw ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ in a show garden. From which point they proliferated madly! But I think I truly fell in love when I started to photograph them – there’s so much variety and they’re so vivid and fabulous, it was impossible not to! ✽ Dahlias are having a wonderful time back in the gardening and f loristry spotlight. Why do you think this is? I think it’s a combination of things. There are lots of new varieties of dahlia that are compact and have delicate, dark…

Lilies are a cut-flower classic with a long vase life, incredible details and a heady fragrance that adds a layer of luxury. They’re fast and easy to grow too, putting on rapid growth and providing generous blooms in their first year. These hardy perennials can be planted straight outside in the spring and almost left to their own devices, each year returning for another fabulous offering. This year, apricot-coloured lilies are taking the limelight, bringing soothing, warming tones to the table without being brash. Lily ‘Tiger Babies’ is a favourite – dotty and beautiful, it flaunts a showy display of blooms. Versatile apricot-hued flowers sit comfortably in any colour scheme, adding opulence. Lily ‘Apricot Fudge’ is also really gorgeous in bloom, with short, plump petals formed in layers – it…

Also called the sword lily, gladioli have tall, upright flower spires, adorned with flowers that open in turn from the base upwards, giving a long-lasting display. Providing impressive blooms just a couple of months after planting the bulbs, you can look forward to a fantastic harvest, which lasts throughout the first summer. They’re pretty hardy and can tolerate a light frost, so it’s fine to get your first batch in the ground from around early April for flowers from late June onwards. Plant further batches successively for an extended crop later in the season. Keeping it simple is key with gladioli, they look their best when bunched together in single colour groups and there’s no need for fillers – their elegant shape and multiple blooms do all the work. Bronze-coloured…

Rachel Wardley fully embraces the idea of a big change in career as that’s exactly how she came to set up Tallulah Rose Flower School. As it celebrates its tenth anniversary, many of her graduates (or ‘Tallulahs’) now run their own floral design businesses and regularly delight us with their Instagram adventures. Rachel’s own story is a familiar one. Living in London and working in the fashion-buying industry, the gift of a one-day floristry class with Jane Packer sowed enough of a seed in Rachel for her to make her own displays at home and to start giving gifts of flowers to friends. Around the same time, Rachel and her husband made the break from the city to relocate to Bath. It was the push she needed and she invested…

Tulipina – Online Learning Floral designer Kiana Underwood is the host of these ongoing video tutorials aimed at ‘the flower lover, casual student and serious designer’. Each video starts with a good view of everything set out, while Kiana shares her thoughts on what she’s going to do. She works in real time and there’s no feeling of rehearsal (in a good way) – you’ll genuinely see the display or bouquet evolve. Kiana tends to indulge in a luxurious choice of flowers. She uses local blooms (many from her own garden), as well as anything unusual she finds at her nearby San Francisco flower market – it’s sometimes hard for the student to imagine working with this huge selection (abundant and lush are keywords here). Kiana’s choices are often eclectic,…

Plant dyes can be used on all sorts of fibres, even paper, so you can experiment with a wide variety of materials and shades. Here, though, we’ll concentrate on silk, as nothing beats it for a luxurious finish for a hand-tied bouquet. Silk is an animal fibre and takes up dyes better than plant-based fibres, and it can be used without a mordant (a fixative used before dyeing to make the material colourfast). It’s delicate, though, so lowtemperature dyeing techniques are best, and you should avoid subjecting it to sudden changes in temperature. This project skips the mordanting, but if you’d like to find out about it then there’s plenty of information in my book, Botanical Inks. And you can buy UK-made, organic silk from botanicalinks.com – it takes up…

For me life would be poorer without the possibility of harvesting at least a small bunch of flowers from the garden. I love the instant colour, a jug here, a mini vase there and the odd single stem. The corner of your room is instantly brought to life by even the simplest thing. Getting it there is also a gift. I’m incredibly lucky to live on a farm with plenty of space, but wherever I lived I’d have to find a few square feet for growing. It gives me such life-affirming pleasure harvesting what’s looking fantastic on that day. There aren’t many things more absorbing, where hours rush by and you emerge calmer. Growing, choosing, picking, conditioning and arranging are all so peaceful, satisfying and creative, thinking what might go…

“I read that gardeners and florists are some of the happiest people in the world, so being a farmer-florist is totally win-win” When I remember my first attempts at growing, it makes me laugh. I was 18, I’d just left home to go to art college, and I’d decided to grow flowers in the bedroom of our halls of residence. I bought myself seed trays, compost and packets of my favourite flower seeds and then watched as my seedlings grew and grew and grew. I had no idea I was supposed to ‘prick them out’ and separate each tiny little sign of life into individual pots. Needless to say the trays, the compost and dead seedlings all ended up in the bin. This was all well before Google and the…

Opening slowly from a tightly packed ball to reveal layer after layer of wonderous silky petals in a mesmerising whorl, these blooms look great for ages, both growing on the flower patch and when cut. Ranunculus grow from corms, which resemble little claws. They like a bit of warmth to get them going, so simply give them a soak in water for a few hours and then pot them up to grow on indoors for late spring blooms, or leave them until later in the season and plant them straight outside. Italian breeders have recently introduced some of the most spectacular ranunculus varieties we’ve ever seen, in a range of colours that will harmonise with any style of arrangement. Proving particularly popular is Ranunculus ‘Malva’, a dusky delight with truly…

When it comes to growing flowers for cutting, easy and reliable anemones are a natural choice. The latest Italian varieties are all the rage right now. Their simple, classic flower structure, along with a huge range of vibrant and two-tone colours, is all part of their charm, not to mention their long-lasting freshness when cut. Grown from corms, these unassuming little nuggets will produce spectacular flowers just a month or two after planting. They’re hardy too and will grow back every year, so just pop them in the soil from spring through to summer and they’ll reward you rich pickings all summer long. Fuel your flower patch with the bright Italian ‘Mistral Rosa Shocking’ – if a streak of electrifying pink is what you need, then look no further than…

CHOOSE YOUR FLOWERS AND ITEMS The language of flowers originated in Turkish harems. Flowers and other items, all with secret meanings, were put in boxes and passed between concubines. Dead roses symbolise rejected love. PERSONALISE YOUR MESSAGE New elements can alter the tone of the message already in place. Here, autumn leaves represent melancholia, a handkerchief tree fruit symbolise tears, while dried beans convey exhaustion. EXTEND THE SEASONS Enthusiasts developed ways to extend the natural seasons of flowers, so that communcation could continue all year round. Here, dried thistle represents retaliation, while primula pleads for restraint. ADD SOMETHING FRESH Finally, a fresh sprig of artemesia suggests absence (it’s the main ingredient of the highly alcoholic drink absinthe), while raspberries convey remorse.…

Small, simple things can often be the most meaningful. Easy to make, this beautiful wreath adds that little something extra to a table setting. With its delicate blooms, it’s the perfect accompaniment to any summer gathering. Sometimes it can be hard to know how to add a floral touch to an occasion – especially when you’re limited in terms of the space available – but this wreath does just that and is also something your guests can take away with them at the end of the party. And this isn’t just an arrangement for an informal summer party – it would be a great addition to a wedding display, too. Simply attach a ribbon and tie a wreath to the back of the bride and groom’s chairs to make them…

We are thrilled that Grace Farrimond has filmed an exclusive one-hour workshop especially for The Flower Patch readers. In the workshop, Grace looks at an elevated design, showing you how to construct an arch for a summer party or wedding. Grace says: “I’ll be working with a silver birch structure using lots of spring flowers and mixed foliage. I’ll also talk about building larger structures in tight time frames.” To claim your free workshop visit: https://youngbloomsflowerschool.com/offer and type the password: flowerpatch2019…

WREATHS By Katie Smyth & Terri Chandler Quadrille As the founders of WORM London – the creative floral arrangers for all scenarios from supper clubs to magazine features – Katie and Terri offer a unique take on the traditional wreath in 20 different ways. Inspired by seasonal, wild and foraged material, the duo present step-by-step projects with plenty of innovative ideas, including the Flower Wall that takes dreid flowers and fixes them directly onto a wall with masking tape, and the Tropical Wreath, which makes a stunning display out of palm leaves. We also like the sweet Gift Wrap Mini Wreath, ideal for adding a final touch to wrapped Christmas gifts. Wreaths is divided into four sections–Fresh, Foraged, Dried and Festive–with plenty of creative tips and techniques on how to…

BABSBEHAN Babs is the founder of Botanical Inks, an artisan natural dye studio based in Bristol. She is passionate about ecology, and believes in a plantbased lifestyle and economy. www.botanicalinks.com ERIN BENZAKEIN Erin left Seattle with her husband in 2001 to start a new life on a farm in the Skagit Valley, before launching the successful family-run Floret Farm. She’s also the author of Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden. www.floretflowers.com NAOMI JONES As well as being a horticulturalist at Farmer Gracy, Naomi is a successful garden writer and blogger. She studied Horticulture at Writtle College in Essex and has never looked back. www.gardennomey.wordpress.com CAROLYN DUNSTER RHS Award-winning planting designer Carolyn is also a garden writer and author of Urban Flowers, a book that demonstrates how bringing flowers into towns and…