Tall, colourful and perfect for showy arrangements, Gladioli are stars of the autumn flower scene.

Pin Holders  As floral foam continues to fall out of favour, such as the banning of its use at RHS shows for example, the challenge for florists is how to create designs that can be constructed confidently without the use of dependable, water retaining floral foam.   ‘A traditional design using a pinholder at Chelsea Flower Show.’    This is when the pin holder, once relegated to the bottom of the workbox after the invention of foam, has come into its own once again.    So wh

Dianthus, or carnations as they are universally known, are a little like Marmite, some people love them, some can happily live without them. They should be a firm favourite for all though, as they are utterly reliable, long-lasting and are grown in a huge spectrum of colours. They may not have the delicate charm of spring flowers, the wow factor of bold Hippeastrum or the heady perfume of lilies, but they suite every occasion and where would we be without them? Different Ty

There is more to organic flowers than just growing them without chemicals

Back to School?    Ease the transition with plants    The autumn term has begun with new timetables, new uniforms and clean classrooms. So how to best brighten up the bare walls of a new schoolroom? By adding plants, which will not only colour up blank spaces but provide welcome greenery, environmental advantages and also have a subtle educational element.  When choosing and promoting plants that will appeal to children there are four things to bear in mind; shape, colour, ca

The Flower Council of Holland, always very proactive regarding emerging trends, have four distinct themes for 2024 aimed...

Summer is Sweet Pea season. Su Whale explains the origins of this fabulously fragrant flower and how best to care for it in floristry.

Nurturing plants has a positive impact on your environment and mental health. Take that one step further and introduce eco-friendly...

Although it’s true that generally speaking houseplants are better suited to coping with hot, sunny weather than cut flowers, they still...

We take a closer look at some of the techniques found in the beautiful Floral Creations from RHS Tatton Park Flower Show 2024. We focus on the designs:

Nothing says summer more than the industrious buzzing of bees as they harvest the rich pollen of Lavender. This highly scented evergreen is not just for pollinators though, as a fresh cut or dried flower it has a myriad of uses in floristry too.   Fresh Lavender  Fresh Lavender is generally sold by weight and can be bought in bunches wholesale from March onwards (depending on the weather). In the garden, Lavender flowers naturally from June to September when it can be cut and

Su Whale presents a plant full of cottage garden charm

What is Kokedama? Sometimes called poor man’s Bonsai, Kokedama is the Japanese art of growing plants in a moss ball. It’s an age-old, sustainable practice that is becoming more mainstream as the trend in indoor gardening continues.   It’s an interesting way to show-off houseplants and if you are stuck for ideas for a summer window or indoor display then Kokedama could fill that gap.

Upcycled Botanica  Chelsea Flower Show’s Houseplant Studios were a place to have some fun with indoor plants while sending out a serious message at the same time. Taking this on board were The Plant Warehouse from East London who had transformed a wooden studio retreat into a green oasis with the aim to revolutionise how people integrate greenery into small spaces. This was achieved by choosing an array of overlooked or discarded household items and giving them a new life by

An attractive, delicate flower, Achillea has feathery foliage and slim stems topped with flattened clusters of small, daisy-like flowers. Sometimes overlooked as a cut flower, it is incredibly versatile, it’s long-lasting, it can be dried and dyed and is really easy to grow too.   There are two varieties of Achillea grown as a cut flower: