scent

 

Does anything really compare to the smell of unpicked or freshly picked naturally grown unforced flowers, you can't beat it. Some times some flowers that are known for their smells can often because of how they are grown, out of season for forced production, lose their smell and this saddens me. One of the best things about flowers is their natural smell. Predictable maybe but lavender has to be one of my favourite smells, I love the smell of wax flower (Chamelaucium) too. 

What's your favourite smelling flower, foliage, plant or herb?

Growth

Caroline

Growth a noun meaning amongst other things;

the act or process, or a manner of growing; development; gradual increase.

To me the above sentence relates to many aspects of what it is or means to “grow your own”. I enjoy the satisfaction of picking edibles or beautiful things from the garden and wish to do this wonderful course sometime soon.

Helen

new growth and old

speed of growth varies, an avocado takes around 7 years to fruit, a lemon 2 years and mint is ready within a few months, all of which no matter the time taken to produce give great satisfaction

avocado
lemon
mint

The language of Flowers and whats in the garden

I am very proud that at the moment my Sunflowers are starting to bloom, I have grown these from a seed something which I have never achieved before.

For me, some things are intended for the vase however  I will leave these in the garden for the bees to feast upon as they also seem to be a fan.
As well as appreciating the beauty of flowers I am also interested in their meanings or symbolisms, in The Language of Flowers book (Helen kindly bought me) this flower symbolises false riches and was seen as gaudy and vulgar and banished to cottage gardens with fans of the Sunflower being deemed as false and superficial, all I can say is Oscar Wilde was a fan and I am too.

Making the most of my bud vase, Sweet peas picked from the garden today.

jam jar lids for flowers

I have made these recently inspired by an Ikebana style of arranging, I have seen something similar on another site somewhere a few months back but can't remember where. They are made with crank clay, I rolled the clay out and then placed a piece of lace over the top and rolled that lightly to leave the impression behind. I then added some holes so flowers and foliage can be placed in. They have a lip underneath that means they won't fall off the jar and I've made them so they fit on to most any jar in the home really. These aren't fired so can't use them properly yet, I shall fire them and then away I go, with all sorts of minimal arrangements and what a perfect way to reuse jars.

last day

the theme this week was 'last day' because it quite literally tied in with our final day on our floristry diploma, so together we made some little jam jar posy's that were given away to a few helpful people we have met along the way, the top posy was made by me, helen, and the bottom one made by Caroline. 

posy one contents:

Alchemilla mollis,

Eustoma,

Ruscus,

Rosemary

posy two contents:

Alchemilla mollis,

Delphinium,

Iris,

Aster

Choosing the right vessel

This post is dedicated to my love of collecting things to put flowers in. Whether its a new vase from a florist, high street shop or a charity shop find (my favourite) I love collecting and thanks to the fabulous Flower Recipe Book  I can justify my addiction.
The book has step by step guides to creating amazing arrangements and has sections on everything you need to get started including choosing the right vessel.  Below are a few photos of things I have acquired over the years and I am pleased to say that they are mentioned in the book.
I highly recommend purchasing this book and collecting beautiful things to put beautiful flowers in.
Happy collecting!

mini medicine bottle composition

mini vase composition using Veronica 'Anna', spray Dianthus and Eucalyptus 

I have always enjoyed having one flower standing alone in a vase, I remember when I was still in school, I must have been about 14 years old,  occasionally on my way home I would walk the longer way round in order to walk past a beautiful flower shop that I loved to go in. At the time I was working my Saturday job in the local bakery so had a bit of money to spend. To me then (and now) a single flower was awfully expensive but as a treat I would buy one, I would often choose the most unusual, one that I hadn't seen before and it would sit with pride of place in an awfully ugly blue recycled plastic vase I had bought myself, I loved that vase, it was hideous. 

Still now not much has changed, I prefer a single flower to stand alone in a simple arrangement and I still promote recycling and upcycling. At least I don't use the same ugly vase.....