Top Tip

Image via Pinterest

Part of the joy of being a florist, is constantly smelling of eucalyptus...It is a regular visitor to our shop adorning many a bouquet! However it often only really bought and asked for at christmas...the silver/grey  foliage works so well for that frosty look, and it will scent your house beautifully.

However recently I saw this Pin on Pinterest...and I do not know why I had never thought of it before? 

Really simple...hang from your shower rail, out of the water stream and the steam will do its work! 

The benefits of Eucalyptus are great!

~Antiseptic

~Anti-stress

~Anti-inflammatory

~Deodoriser

~Mood enhancer

~Decongestant

~Mental Clarity

The last one is obviously the most important to this sleep deprived Mama of a toddler!!

The added bonus is that it will look pretty too! 

Happy Days :)

Bounty

If we had started our gardening venture last year we would have been washed away.....this year we are sizzling in the hottest temperatures ever......

Well, we like a challenge!

The zinnias have started flowering....at least they like it hot....

 the first cucumbers harvested and the tomatoes are going on apace..

 courgettes...beetroot and of course sweet peas... if you are near the shop we have fresh cut sweet peas in daily at the moment...they sell out fast though....

the view from here......we must have counted 50 bees on this finished crop of cornflowers and clary sage...we are leaving the plants in until the bees have had their fill and seriously thinking of putting a few hives in next year....Martin & The Magpie Honey anyone??

This Weeks Review

                             

A few new vintage items are making an appearance...this fab typewriter is in full working order, perfect for that novel you have always wanted to write! 

               

The colour pops have been showcasing well this week...These cute kiddies chairs with the lush green ferns and stunning mini orchids in 1950's green glass.

                

Or this turquoise dresser with white orchids and red peppers...the fallen from our fabulous plants we had in this week...they flew out the door. The lovely people of Hungerford sure adore their veggies!

                                   

The soft delicate tones for a beloved Nan

                                   

These gladioli could not have been any redder!

                                   

Someone has developed a love affair with the vintage rocking horse...{No we don't have any more space at home for him...sorry Auggy x}

The colour clash...oh how we have fallen for you. Orange, hot pinks, and reds, with a touch of purple. 

The only thing that would make it better is a deep red dahlia with her many petals!

                                        

Green, white and blue a classic! I wonder if Kate got and giant poppy heads in her bouquets?

Lush green is always a winner to the florist.

This week we had buckets full of British grown flowers arrive for a wedding....we have battled with another week of heat by having fresh flowers each day...Martin celebrated his Birthday with a huge chocolate cake, and a fabulous day off....we have rescued too many bumble bees....and consumed quite a few yummy ice creams!!

Happy Weekend!

Evening Heat

               

Well it is safe to say that the Summer is here...it might only last two weeks so we are soaking it all up! The heat in the Walled garden is immense...not a smidge of shade to be found. The sweetpeas are finally flowering, and we now are stocking them in the shop...the dream is finally becoming a reality and we couldn't be more thrilled.

               

Our plant sales man for the shop kindly gave us some of his New Zealand spinach...perfect eaten right off the plant and such firm leaves...he has 30 acres.... and we thought 2 was hard work!

The first courgette was harvested and roasted...the smallest member of M&TM devoured it in surprising speed, so has the official seal of approval.

                

Evening gardening is the only way in this heat. however this energy zapping sun has us watering and weeding in record speed...and we harvest in the cool of the morning. 

Fresh for the shop today is clary sage, ammi, cornflowers, mixed ageratum and sweetpeas! Why don't you pop in and treat yourselves to a bunch. You can be safe in the knowledge that they are the freshest, most locally sourced and grown flowers around.

                

The drive home is glorious...the golden wheat fields and ripening oilseed rape fields remind me of my childhood...and the warm air blowing in our faces is very welcome after the gardens heat.

We are so proud that our dream is blooming into something so exciting...the hard work is paying off...now all we need is a cover for our rather mahoosive polytunnel and we can get working on next years master plan!

Downton Abbey and all that

OK we won't mention the sweltering heat.........yet!

English sweet peas were the order of the day last week......lots of  vintage cream-ware tureens for a trip to a Downton Abbey style party......

Dark burgundy and cream for a birthday bash..........

Our days are spent in front of the fan...eating ice creams and wishing for icy gin and tonics..... we are tiring of the pastels pinks and lilacs of a breezy summer day and have filled the shop this weekend with the dark....the dramatic...the reds and oranges..clashing peach and cerise....hot....vibrant...high summer mardi gras colours.....arriba aribba!!

Have a great weekend...xx

escaping the heat....

The answer is to start early....cutting flowers in the walled garden at 7am.........the suns high and its already pretty warm....

At last the sweet peas are flowering their hearts out.

Bunches now available in the shop!

my Erin moment!!

a day out with roses

Today I went on a 'how to grow roses' masterclass at the wonderful Green & Gorgeous

It was so much fun and totally inspiring, we had tea from china teacups, a delicious lunch, made a scented rose bouquet, generally chattered  about flowers, flowers and more flowers,

and went home hoping that one day our cutting garden would look like this!!