Something I noticed since we filmed our very first flower tutorial for YouTube was just how much I say 'so'
Its funny how been put in-front of a camera and having to sit there and edit it makes you pick up on all those little quirks. Anyway, that's very much by the by ... we've been wanting to do some online flower tutorials for a while, and this is our very first proper attempt. we are learning as we go along, so please bare with bare with!
In our first DIY flower tutorial we're teaching you how to create a spring garden design for your table. I cannot tell you how amazing this looked (and smelt) when it was finished. There was a plethora of spring flowers - lilac, english narcissi, anemones, moss and some rather beautiful seasonal foliage.
In total this project took around 30 minutes, so its more than achievable to re-create at home and can be made a few days in advance of your gathering, so really there is no excuse not to have a go.
Despite the tweaks that we need to make to our filming (I know the lighting is more than rubbish) we really hope to inspire you to create your very own spring garden at home. If you attempt this DIY please show us your wares on our Facebook or Instagram accounts by tagging Green Parlour
https://youtu.be/4k8T8Hkypu0
Today is the first day I've really walked outside and thought 'SPRING!' There's a warmth in the air and that feeling that the days are once again getting longer. Today the shop feels like a euphony of spring with the most wonderful of scents and colours, so much so that I couldn't help but down tools and take some snaps of what we've got going on.
The anemones are totally stealing my heart at the moment, the brighter the better! The power of colour at this time of year is crucial - I think it sees us through the last few weeks of winter and makes us realise that spring really is on the horizon! Joy!
How darling are these pink ranunculus - the most perfet shade of baby pink and I'm always reminded of marshmallows when I look at them. They have the appearance of been such a delicate flower, but never before have I met such a fighter. These guys go on for weeks and can survive quite a time without water too. They are perfect for a spring flower crown at this time of year.
The English grown narcissi are now out and about. Intoxicating aromas and hundereds of different varieties. I have to say that there is something lovely about a daffodil, but if you really want to ramp up the flowers in your home, I'd urge you to ditch your daff bunches and just once in a while indulge in these wonderful narcissi. You wont regret it.
The stalwart of spring and one that never gets tiresome. Hyacinths are the most wonderful thing to grown on your windowsills and are a perfect cut flower as well as a plant. If you're into your heady scents, this is the chap for you.
My all time favourite tulip, and that's quite something as there are SO many different varieties. This parrot has just the right amount of green speckled through its petals to keep things oh so fresh
What do you get when you leave three florists with a bucket of leftover flowers.... dress up time of course! It was flower crown central on Monday afternoon in the shop much to the surprise of our visiting customers - i think secretly they all wanted to join in!
With a few wayward stems left over from Mother's Day we totally and unashamedly indulged our creative sides. It was such a pleasure to just go wild. Flower crowns are all over pinterest and instagram right now and it was the perfect excuse to do some in-house training with our lovely trainee Brittany, developing her own ideas and core floristry skills such as wiring and taping.
Perhaps daydreaming of warmer climes, I went for a somewhat tropical design. Vibrant apricot toned Tulips, a soft marshmallow pink blousey statement Rose and a helping of cerise Rose buds for good measure went into my asymmetric number, finished of course with neon green ribbon! All I needed to complete the look was a grass skirt and a pina colada!
Emma's design had much more of a refined and vintage air. With textures of Sweet Williams, threaded Hyacinth pips and cloudy Gypsophila, not forgetting the beautiful open Anemones. I think her headdress was very elegant and wouldn't have looked at all out of place on set in a 1920's film.
And last but definitely not least - what a stunning piece from Brittany! And a first attempt to boot! She was inspired by the electric blue Delphiniums running through her crown. The Anastacia bloom is used like a living pompom with romantic swirly Lisianthus and Rose buds clustered above - I think it looks great and she wears it so well!
Donning our floral masterpieces I think we were all pretty chuffed with the results and a mini photo shoot ensued. Well it would have been rude not to!
I wonder what next weeks leftover blooms will bring....
Cheering people up with bouquets of beautiful flowers is something we seem to be doing a lot of this week but we're not complaining! This cold snap makes the mildness of last weekend seem like a bit of a tease and its seems I'm not the only one in Pangbourne who is feeling a little under the weather!
A part of my job that I really enjoy is hearing about the person that we'll be delivering to. Whether its an 'I love you' bouquet, a 'welcome to the world' bouquet, a bouquet being sent to someone who has just lost a loved one or my favorite - the 'just because' bouquet. Sometimes they say 'I know these are her favourite', or 'Those colour tones would be perfect in her kitchen' but this week its been 'Oh, anything lovely... something to cheer her up!' and that in itself makes me smile. That way I get to indulge and its a win-win; I get cheered up by making something to cheer someone else up!
My ideal 'just because bouquet' would definately have some zesty greens in it-perhaps some lovely Guelder Rose {Viburnum Opulus} and an array of spring flowers, bright ones at that! It must seem that we go on and on about spring flowers but they really are special. They are natures way of letting us know that new things are coming and it might be cold and frosty on the outside, underground the bulbs are working hard and soon those brave and optimistic Daffodils will come up and put a smile on everyone's face!
Of course flowers are not the only way to show someone that you care, it can be little things. A hand written note popped through the door, a lovely plant. Last week whilst donning my coat to brave the cold and go home for the day I found some chocolate treats that one of the lovely girls here had snaffled into my pocket without me noticing! I was touched and it was lovely!
Anemone.
The windflower.
Possibly the love of my life in the flower world.
I could gush for hours about how much I love anemones. I promise I’ll keep it short. For me, they signal the true sign of spring and a hopeful end to cold winter weather. How can one not fall completely head over heals in love with their dainty heads and delicate unfurling petals.
Coming from the Greek word for “windflower” the anemone is rumoured to have sprung from Aphrodite’s tears as she mourned the death of Adonis.
They are said to bring luck and protect against evil. Throughout mythology anemones are linked to fairies, which are said to sleep under the petals, after the flower closed at sunset. The modern interpretation is linked to anticipation.
Anticipation that warmer weather is coming.
I love them arranged in single stem vases. I have an ever-expanding selection of gold and silver numbers that are slowly cluttering up our mantelpiece. These vases are my favourite. Beautifully simple, elegant and they use up all the off cuts, snapped stems and I know summer is a little way off but what better way to display sweet peas.
A new delivery of aged zinc containers has arrived in store.
I just had to jump in and arrange this table centre for an impromptu dinner party. A table isn’t complete without flowers right?
People expect my house to resemble a greenhouse, filled to the brim with fresh flowers – I don’t want to break the spell but instead my kitchen windowsill is littered with old, dried roses. I know they are dead but I love the beauty of them, they look like an oil painting.
Always so cheery- spring flowers rarely fail to make me smile. With Valentines days seeming like a distant memory- who needs Roses when you've Ranunculus and Tulips!
There's nothing I love more than Ranunculus! (other half, parents and siblings aside)
Note to self- I must try and grow these beauties! I heard said the other day that the Ranunculus is one of the few flowers that gets better by the day until it falls apart! I love love love them! Their layers and layers of papery thin vibrant petals and quite reminiscent of Peonies which are yet a distant summer dream!
I sent my boyfriend flowers once - a Kilner jar full of bright yellow Ranunculus (to match his car) and I remember careful attaching a cardboard tag with some gardening string and in black marker pen scrawling 'incredibly thirsty! top me up with water every day but don't put me in the pond!'. The latter a nod to his not so ideal approach to disguarding dead flowers! Also known as a Persian Buttercup- I was sweetly amused to discover that the gift had prompted much research on the subject.
I love the quirks that the individual flowers present- as mentioned above, Ranunculus can happily drink their way through a vase of water. Tulips - to use the scientific terminology have a 'positive photo-tropism' in simple terms they grow towards the light and in fact they continue to grow despite being a cut stem. I love to watch them creep up through a bouquet after several days, as if they are vying for attention!
And such beautiful colours too! We had Tulips in at the weekend which I can only describe as Apricots on stems - not the dried variety that you might find lurking in a Morrocan Tagine but fresh, plump, and inexpressibly beautiful! Its funny actually that as I refer to the invoice to share with you the variety that the actual name is 'Mango Charm'. They got the charm bit right- but someone should check out the fruit aisle in their nearest Waitrose because they're definitely Apricots - not Mango's!
We are actually in love with this bridal bouquet we created this week! As much as we love roses, its so lovely to play with hedgerow texture, allowing us to create this gorgeous relaxed country bridal bouquet - designed to feel as if it has been gathered from the meadow on the way to the church. Filled to the brim with ammi majus and daucus carota, flowering clematis, scented eucalyptus and secured with an antique lace trim, this bouquet is perfect for a country inspired bride.
Miniature lace detailing on the Groom's buttonhole of flowering clematis, viburnum berries and eucalyptus ... perfect!
Large mismatched jam jars finished with antique lace detailing to match the bridal bouquet adorn the centre of the tables.
Its so exciting to get pretty new things in our little shop. Today we were treated with some beautiful new flowers and this gorgeous smokey glass vase.
Both are delicious.
I'm always proclaiming love for these white Majolica spray roses, they are, in my opinion just perfect.
With Valentine's Day around the corner we have our hearts set on any of these bouquets ... we're not fussy!
TTFN
Today is the 1st February and hopefully that means spring is around the corner. The shop is filled with Ranunculus, scented Hyacinths and Anemones - I literally love them all and have treated myself to an old biscuit tin filled with all sorts of lovely flowers and viburnum.
Don't even get me started on how much I adore Helleborus.
I have also being dreaming of an Auricula theatre, possibly inspired by my Emma Bridgewater mug...
Our bellies are full of Nigella Lawson's chocolate and orange loaf and all is well with the world.
