Spring Cheer

Spring has well and truly sprung in the parks and gardens of Caversham. Spring blossom is out everywhere, magnolia is looking magnificent, but the daffies are already coming to an end. Boo! I couldn't let them go without a little mention because they really cheered me up this side of winter. 

This is how I like them best, just a big bunch in a vase. Oh and now and then I chuck in some some Pussy Willow for good measure.

We also had these deep magenta Hyacinths in the shop the other day. Such a great colour. Ever noticed how how some flowers, like Hyacinths and Tulips are really squeaky? As a florist, I think I'm a bit of a sensualist (if thats the right word) - as well as appreciating a flower's fragrance and beauty, I enjoy noticing all the different textures and sounds that flowers and foliage make. Yeah, I'm a bit strange like that!

So next time you find yourself playing with flowers, don't forget to listen to them too.

Spring Flower Workshop Part II

This weekend I had the pleasure of hosting a floristry workshop at Make and Do in Caversham.  The idea for the workshop was to demonstrate some spring flower arrangements in upcycled vases. 

I decided to use containers that we all have lying around at home - such as tin cans, jam jars and glass ramekins (if you enjoy a posh pud now and again as I do, you are bound to have a few of these lurking in your recycling bin). But rather than recycle them, we were going to reuse and upcycle them by looking at different ways we could add some pretty. 

We started the session with a small hand tie of Tulips and Genista, spiralling the stems and tying lightly so as not to crush the delicate stems, and cutting to size to suit the proportions of the tin cans.

Then I demonstrated how to make a little front facing tied posy suitable for a jam jar - using groups of Hyacinths, Muscari, Feverfew, Tete a Tete and Paperwhites.

Before moving on to work on a petite oasis arrangement in a ramekin. These sort of arrangements are great for using odd stems from larger bouquets, or a few cuttings from the garden - be sure to condition the flowers and foliage well before using them in oasis.

We used Ranunculus, Lisianthus, Waxflower and a few heads of limey green button Chrysanthemums. Roses would work equally well.

Lastly we looked at ways to decorate the containers. I'd brought along tin cans painted with tester pots from Farrow & Ball, and wrapped jam jars with wool in aqua shades. Hannah from Make & Do had used Enamel paint to give her jam jars a tint of pink.

The class then decorated their vases with fabric trimmings and ribbons from Make and Do's well stocked shelves.  At the end of the afternoon, they had 3 little spring arrangements to take home and hopefully picked up a few tips on how to recreate them at leisure.

It was such a lovely afternoon, hopefully we'll do it all again soon, but with a summer theme. 

Perhaps in time to inspire your Jubilee tea party decorations?..

Spring Flower Workshop

Its a gloomy January day, but I've been having fun trying out a few ideas for an upcoming Floristry workshop at Make and Do in Caversham.

Spring flowers never fail to cheer me up. I just love the simplicity of Tulips, the heady scent of Hyacinths and the plump and heavily petalled perfection of pretty Ranunculus.

For this workshop I'm going to be giving tips on how to turn everyday containers like jam jars and tin cans into pretty vases, and demonstrating how to make petite tied arrangements - perfect for your kitchen window, bedside table, for budget weddings and thank you gifts.

The workshop costs £35 (which includes tuition, all flowers and containers) and takes place Sunday 1st April 2 - 4.30pm, at Make and Do, Prospect Street, Caversham. Check out their website at Make and Do, and phone 0118 3276717 to book.

Feeling blue

I'm really drawn to shades of blue at the moment. They're so cool and calming.  From fresh aqua marine shades, to deep indigo denims they really make me smile.
Here are just a few of my favourite blue flowers (I also love Hydrangea and Delphinium) and some architectural features from the neighbourhood.

Spring blooms and blossoms

Spring has definitely sprung, and new signs of life are springing up everywhere. I went for a walk along the river at Sonning and snapped some lovely blossom.

We have had Hyacinths in the shop at work for a while, their heady scent just reeks of spring.

I snapped these snowdrops whilst visiting friends in the Peak district. They are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Must be like being on holiday every day.