english flower farming

the art of letter writing

after losing my phone at the start of the week i wrote this and then today the postman brought me this, a proper live letter from the lovely samantha at spriggs florist. i was so  touched. she's even written it in a fountain pen, a girl after my own heart.

twitter has become a brillant place to meet other like-minded florists, i love the little gang I've found on there. it would be nice to think i might meet everyone one day in person instead of in 140 characters.

in other news, my iphone has been replaced. let's hope this one doesn't meet a watery end anytime soon.

hot and fresh out the kitchen

mama rollin' that body
got ev'ry man in here wishin'
sippin' on coke and rum (rum)
i'm like so what i'm drunk (drunk)
its the freakin' weekend
baby i'm about to have me some fun (fun)

to-do list

i am no stranger to a to-do list (what am i talking about i completely love 'em). this here is a list by johnny cash and it is a fine example to all.

not a good start to the week

the garden is full of snowdrops now (it is scotland and things happen a bit slower here). they are so tiny and delicate looking, i like them a lot.

i dropped my mobile in water yesterday. iphone 4. totally submerged. i swore. i have been thinking wouldn't it be lovely if people had to write a proper letter to get in touch instead? imagine! with a proper envelope and everything. 

flower still-life

these look like flower carpets and remind me of something out of bloom magazine. apparently though they were installed in a forest next to a chateau by olivier theyskens and shot very beautifully by julien claessens. there's even a bit of gyp in there and a gerbera or two for god's sake.

here's to you ms. spry

am avidly re-reading all my constance spry books (namely the seminal text 'how to do the flowers') and am once again amazed at what a complete maverick she was. tinderbox as a wall vase? i had to look up what a tinderbox was but despite that i still thought it was inspired. also she is rocking quite a natty look in this picture which deserves a mention. when i am out on a job instead of trying to look all cute in my anthropologie apron i actually need to be wearing pearls and a tabard...

the 50 best florists - the independent

something quite exciting happened this weekend. the independent did a '50 best florists' guide on saturday and they picked me to be in. back in 2007 i think it was, the paper did a 50 best florist guide and at the time i was just a flowery fledgling. i pored over that supplement and kept it by my bed until only relatively recently. i would never have imagined i would be in the next one.

covent garden flower market c. 1960

gypsy rose has turned up trumps today with this image. what a belter. 

daffodil

it's almost spring, i can feel it. one little snowdrop has sneaked into my garden and he thinks i haven't spotted him. i've got bunches of daffs all over the house lulling me into forgetting that winter isn't actually over yet. what i love the most about daffodils is the fact they kind of defy any 'arranging'. they actually look quite shit if you even try so en masse in jugs and pots is their preferred habitat. perfect for off-duty florists.

a bit too good

the falling garden by gerda steiner & jorg lenzlinger via le projet d'amour

sing it, marlene

oh grace

* thankyou little pheasant