There have been times....

 over the last month when we thought that we would never see a flower in the garden this year......

but look!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

after a cold and very shaky start we have got flowers.......not many....yet.... but its a start and boy are we proud...the first few are trialing in our homes to check on vase life.....so maybe in a week we can sell some to you!!
We have larkspur in the most lush colours.....scented stocks and cornflowers...the sweet peas are nearly there...sorry...but excited just doesn't come close!!
We are already planning for next year with the first of our seeds arriving in the post this morning...foxgloves...hollyhocks.......aquilegia.......to name just a few.....
the list of work to do gets longer daily but picking that first stock and smelling the scent  this evening was just heaven.
Hope you all manage to enjoy the summer sunshine this week end.....x

Dare to be Different

 This month our town has an 'arts fest'...lots of films...talks...courses....walks.....music....and other wonderful things to do.......go to the HADCAF website to see the full programme... so filled with the artistic spirit we decided to dress our shop for the occasion!!!!
As regular readers will know its impossible to take a photograph of our window...but we have done our best..so try to ignore 
1. the reflection
2. the strip lights in the shop
3.the photographer who needs her roots doing
4. any other distraction

 The plan was to make a tree inside and out which somehow connected....we used the sturdy kiwi branches for the outside which come in fantastic swirly shapes......and arching birch for inside...encased them in some lengths of bark...then we made mock cages from more twigs and foliage......

 ......then borrowed the latest trend for suspending flowers upside down (?).....yes this is true.....a cross over between floristry and art...and there we have it.......

 ....this one is a close runner up to the now famous and much copied pom-pom window of earlier this year in that so many people have come into the shop and commented on it......we just love that........

Our aim....

.....is to try to please and make the flowers just how you dreamt them to be...

 ..a woodland garden basket.....hedgerow flowers.....oak apples....entwining sweet pea tendrils from the walled garden.... baby pears on branches.......peonies and garden roses......

 ....a posy that would float......we made a base of hollow delphinium stems....added some moss.....entwined ivy and  crossed our fingers....it worked in the sink.....just hope it did on the river....

 people sometimes get fuchsias and freesias mixed up......but no this was to have fuchsias in ...they were so pretty....

whats your favorite??

just a picture...

from a Friday wedding....

Flowers: Sweet Avalanche &,Garden O'Hara roses, Sarah B's peonies,  hydrangeas, phlox, lavender, rosemary.
Venue: The gorgeous Donnington Grove Country Club, Newbury.


Its been a full on week......the races.....the family over from The Netherlands,....a babies first steps....vintage stock buying forays......dear friends new baby girl.....a wedding....finding out the 350 dianthus you just planted are ground loving  not tall cutting!!!...the early starts....the humidity.....the wondering just when will the sweet peas decide to clamber up the trellis under  their own steam.....
next week...just bring it on.....

if only....

....we had the time to sit and watch the world go by........

deckchairs on mass at the antiques fair yesterday..

...we filled our van up with lots of gorgeous and useful  and quirky bits and pieces....

......do stop by the shop and have a look.....

you know you want to!!!

More veg and a pair of pugs...

 ...a few more pictures from the wedding we did a few weeks back...

 'can you put flowers on my hat?'...well of course!!

..our two little helpers on  one  of our favorite days of the year, 

are you going to Ascot?

Veggie Wedded Bliss

Well I think by now you know us well...so a photo of bundles of veg should not surprise you!

We do quirky so well. 

Add in some glorious blown english peonies in the softest blush pink.

Bombastic spray rose, which were so heavy with blooms. Hedgerow blackberries, phlox, wheat, poppy seed heads, hydrangea, scented roses, herbs, astilbe, love in a mist and you have made a Bride's dream come true!

A Farmers Paradise in vintage terracotta pots

Different sizes, shapes and flowers....

A touch of seasonal veg....

The wheat was all important, and to say our hearts stopped when we got an email from our supplier to say it didn't pass 'quality control', is a very huge understatement!! thankfully it was only one batch...the others were beautiful...with the softest purple touch, which was perfect.

We love the surprise element of the vegetables...they worked so well, and fitted in perfectly with the Farmers theme.

Just look at those beauties....Why does peony season have to be so short?