As we come out of Winter and nature merges us into Spring, we as florists sense the change – in hedgerows, in gardens, in parks and anywhere where plants, trees and plant material are growing. Early Spring flowers emerge, delicate, symbolic, and full of promise. These blooms carry emotional weight far beyond their petals. For florists, they are more than seasonal offerings; they are storytellers, mood-setters, and the first messengers of renewal each year. Understanding their

Kick start the new year by making some business-based resolutions. Karen Barnes suggests how.

I personally love Winter greens with seasonal festive flowers, berries and branches. Planning ahead for your floral and plant collections over the Winter season is the key to positive sales and marketing and should help make peak trading manageable and profitable. Always look to your suppliers and think about where you can get the best stems, good quality and good prices; where possible negotiate on pricing and delivery dates. Seasonal and British-grown flowers and foliage

Bridge Farm is the UK’s leading horticultural expert, with a legacy cultivated over decades of innovation and sustainable growing. At their state-of-the-art facilities and glasshouses, they combine leading edge technology and advanced horticultural science to optimise nature. They deliver the very best of each season, growing naturally at scale. Growing more than 70 million plants a year in a low-carbon, water-efficient, biomass heated glasshouse. They carefully select and br

Floral industry expert Karen Barnes extolls the virtues of great teamwork in your business and suggests ways to achieve it.

Karen Barnes give some timely advice about the benefits and legality of foraging for foliage and other plant material.

Preparing for the Christmas season as a florist involves more than just stocking up on flowers. It’s about anticipating demand, creating beautiful and festive designs, and offering excellent customer service during one of the busiest times of the year. Embrace festive florals that blend traditional and contemporary styles. My top tips: Winter Favourites: Ensure you have a good stock of traditional Christmas flowers, like poinsettias, amaryllis, roses, carnations, and holly.

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Jump to the Videos Autumn Trends Video Autumn Hand-Tied Design Autumn Square Vase Design Autumn Hand-tied / Swag Video Watch how Karen brings popular autumn trends to life. Discussing colours, designs and packaging to inspire your autumn range. Showcasing three designs that will be featured in future videos. Identifying this season's l

Karen Barnes is an expert at identifying and interpreting key seasonal trends and translating them into commercial opportunities for florists. Watch how Karen creates a beautiful Christmas Swag. Using magnolia, spruce, cotton, gold cones and of course a Christmas bow and twinkling lights. With over 35 years’ experience, Karen Barnes is one of the UK’s leading consultants to the floral industry and an expert in product development, future trends & colours, and floral photogr

Leading floral industry consultant

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. It’s the colour palette that really sells the season to me, and the wonderful textures that are created by nature. Autumn evokes feelings of comfort, nostalgia and beauty all at the same time. After the brightness of Summer, we often welcome the slower rhythm of Autumn – staying in, lighting candles and keeping warm. It is also the season for harvest festivals, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Thanksgiving and Diwali, to name but a few. These f

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the UK, and florists can play a big role by creating beautiful pink-themed florals while...

It’s that time of year again! Autumn is here, with leaves falling, colder days and dark evenings drawing in quickly. But, it’s not all...

Karen Barnes urges us to make the most of seasonal, locally sourced or grown flowers.

Historically, floral crowns were only associated with fairy tales, May Day parades, or distant bohemian festivals. But today, these...