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Our (very wet) Open Day

By on June 23, 2011 in Cut flowers, Floristry, Hats, roses, Sweet Peas

Many thanks to all who came to our Open Day on the 12th June. We were so thrilled with how many of you donned your anoraks and braved the weather. The Great British public (at least the gardening section of it) proved they aren’t put off a day trip by a bit of bad weather. Many thanks to Peter and Clare for doing the catering in such difficult conditions.

“Good for the garden!” we all cheerfully exchanged as we ordered another slice of cake!

 

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 Rachel had the brainwave of ‘pick your own’ sweet peas from the polytunnel, which was a great success. It was lovely to see people walking off with huge armfuls of joyfully coloured and scented blooms on such a gloomy overcast day. 

I had fun creating rose corsages for some beautifully crafted hats, made by a fabulous milliner in Harris Arcade Reading called Adrienne Henry www.adriennehenry.co.uk

 

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I couldn’t resist showing you this photo as well, not very flattering of me, but it makes me laugh!

 

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 We have another Open Garden Day on 10th July 1pm – 5pm which is part of the NGS yellow book . Although we’re always pleased to see a bit of rain, maybe it could come on another day please? 

Hopefully see you all on the 10th July!

Jo Wise

 

 

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A winning combination

By on May 25, 2011 in Cut flowers, roses, strawberries

After another long day of picking for weddings and planting out tray after tray of half hardy annuals, I took a quiet moment to wander through the garden and picked my first bowl of strawberries and even better some David Austin roses, 'Port Sunlight' and 'Crown Princess Margareta'.

 

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What a joy, lots more to say but I think I am going to add some cream to those strawbs and watch Chelsea. 

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Fun with Flowers

By on May 17, 2011 in Corsage, Cut flowers, Floristry, Floristry Courses

 

I've really enjoyed teaching the floristry workshops this spring. It's amazing how different all the arrangements turn out, even when we're all working with the same ingredients. Everybody has their own style and something to add. There is usually a broad spectrum of experience within the group, but that really doesn't seem to matter. Every one is there to have fun with flowers, pick up some handy tips and hopefully feel inspired to create some arrangements with their own garden ingredients.
The day starts with a few demonstrations of how to create a hand tie. I show 2 different techniques and talk about how to create texture and keep the bouquet looking soft and natural. After that, each person is offered their own bucket of garden flowers to create a hand tie bouquet to go home with.

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After a coffee break and a slice of Rachel's home baked cake, I talk through different containers. I explain what makes the perfect jug and give a few 'cheats' on how to make the 'not so perfect' jug work. I give a couple of demonstrations of larger arrangements, before arranging flowers into a tea cup. Everybody gets their second bucket of flowers and a tea cup to work with.

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By this time we're all ready for our hard earned (ha ha!) lunch, usually prepared by both Rachel and Ash with garden ingredients and served from our flower studio. So far, the weather has been kind enough to allow to lunch outside, which has been lovely. Rachel is usually around to give everyone a garden tour and a few planting tips. Our final creation in the floristry workshop is a ribbon wrapped corsage, which really does show off everybody's individual style. Mine usually ends up a bit on the large side, when working to my own brief, I can't seem to hold back. When it's time to end, it's quite a sight to see all the ladies proudly wearing their corsages, carrying off armfuls of flowers. I do hope they wear their corsage all the way home, even if they stop for petrol and coffee!
 Jo Wise

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