Edwardian House Flowers
Winter
Hard frosts and a very determined vixen have been attacking my seedlings so I've been succession sowing to ensure that all the raised beds WILL be filled with organically grown flowers, no matter what nature throws at me! There is still so much beauty in a winter garden though, and I'm harvesting a selection of lovely seedheads: some for me, some for my customers and leaving some for the birds. This one is perhaps the most beautiful: Lunaria (Latin for moonshaped).
It's also known as Honesty due to its delicate transparency, and when it catches the light it actually looks silver, hence Silver Dollar or Moneywort.
I'll point out the tiny purple and white flowers in your Summertime Jars but I love the way all the names focus on the seedheads, as these are so special.
Look closely in your first jar when my season starts again in the spring and you might just spot some. See you then! X
September
My season is slowly coming to an end, somewhat earlier than last year after such a cool summer. (What summer?) I'm already busy saving seeds such as these from the exquisite Silver Blush Mallow. The support for Edwardian House Flowers this year has been quite overwhelming so a huge THANK YOU to you all. I just love sharing my garden in this way so I'm going to be spending the autumn and winter reconfiguring my growing space in order to have even more gorgeous blooms to offer next season. And last but not least....
Treats
My tiny Flower Shots are making everyone smile so here is the autumn version, using golden leaves and ripe berries. I do think this is my favourite treat of the year!
August
I'm often asked to recommend flowers for cutting. Cosmos would be just perfect: easy to grow from seed, lots of lovely colours and most importantly a 'cut and come again' flower. Pick it every week and keep filling your jar throughout the summer. Here is Cosmos Double Click Cranberry. I have seeds for all my regular customers so do get in touch x
Treats
A petite Perfume Pot for your bedside table: intensely scented petals and leaves to make this summer last just a little longer. Sweet dreams!
July
This delicious raw honey comes from the hives of our local beekeeper Nicky Faith. Her bees fly a three mile radius so can easily cover Mapesbury Estate. I love to think of them collecting nectar from Edwardian House flowers - and from your flowers too! A sweet gift especially when paired with a Vintage Posy.
Raw Garden Honey -
16oz Jar £15 8oz Jar £8
Treats
Nothing is ever wasted at Edwardian House Flowers so what to do with any spare stems? Tiny recycled jars are perfect for my 'Flower Shots' - miniature versions of your Flower Jar. Put one on your bedside table and wake up to this lovely sight!
June
Having three little boys under the age of four certainly helped to hone my juggling skills which are now being put to good use looking after hundreds of seedlings. Without a greenhouse or polytunnel I'm at the mercy of the British weather so it's definitely a case of survival of the fittest. I allow flowers to self seed whenever possible as these always produce the healthiest plants. And what have I learnt this month? Seedlings can be harder work than little boys!
Trying to keep these babies away from various creatures
Treats
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Sweet peas - everybody's favourite treat! I grow 'Matucana', the strongest scented of them all. So tiny and yet capable of sending you straight back to your childhood summers. Floral time travel!
May
Tulips
Tulips can look rather prim and proper in the border, but once cut they secretly run wild! Time lapse photography shows that they twist and turn constantly and continue to grow in the water by several centimetres. Many also die beautifully, creating lovely shapes even as the last petals fall. My favourite, 'Whispering Dream,' is a perfect example. I accidentally snapped this one so kept it to see what would happen. Here it is one week later.
And another week later!
NEW
My pretty tins are flying off the shelves so I've added some delicious new colours - again all by Cambridge Imprint.
Violet Hare, Pear Halves, Eton Mess, Lemon Meringue, Red Star Tile
Treats
This year I will be mixing up all your lovely monthly treats depending on what is happening in the garden. At the moment all the different mints are starting to pop up everywhere. Some gardeners despair of invasive plants but not me! Those bright green tips make THE most refreshing tea and salad dressings.
A tiny tea pot to accompany your beautiful Springtime Jar or Vintage Posy; this one includes apple mint, peppermint, Moroccan mint and chocolate mint. See if you can taste the difference!
April
Hellebore or Lenten Rose
All flowers have their own particular character and in the garden hellebores are tough cookies. Unbelievably beautiful, they come in black (!) white, green and every shade of wine from deep red to rosé. These evergreen plants are happy to be left alone in a shady corner and come back every year (perennial). Out of the garden however they turn into divas and need a LOT of attention.
If you prefer them early in the season, when the flowers still have stamens, you will need to cut them in the evening, lightly score the thicker base stem from top to bottom, sear the bottom tip of the stem for five seconds in hot water and then leave overnight in water deep enough to cover the score mark on the stem. This will fully hydrate the flower which will then last for well over a week, whereas without this treatment it will last for only a few hours. (Yes there's more to floristry than just pick 'n' plonk!)
Alternatively wait a few weeks until their colours become more muted (also beautiful) and the seed pods begin to form in place of the stamens, which means you can skip all of the above!
Spring
Welcome back to Edwardian House Flowers! Spring is truly here and my garden is filling up with buds, blooms and blossom. As I begin my second year, it's a wonderful feeling to now have many regular customers whose love of a wild and natural style has inspired me to grow more and more flowers. I've so enjoyed our doorstep chats, and I thank you for the many invitations to have a cup of tea or a glass of wine together and to see your own lovely gardens. I'm looking forward to starting my regular rounds again this month but if you don't spot me then just call or email and I will head straight out into the garden for you with my flower pail and snips!
Last year's blog already contains a list of which flowers you can expect to find in your jars each month so please do take a look there for details. Otherwise just allow yourself to be surprised! I have noticed that many customers, especially those without gardens, have been curious to learn more about their favourites in the arrangements, and so in this year's blog I shall be highlighting varieties that are particularly loved.