A welcome break from dust and decorating, spring has well and truly sprung in the shop with some of my favourite plants and flowers filling draws, shelves and all spare space. I just wish my home and garden looked full of promise!

Possibly my favourite spring bulb of all time, Muscari.

I think they are the perfect way to brighten someone’s day

They also smell like sweets.

Hellebore heaven …

I am super dizzy with excitement! We just got a huge delivery of the most knock-out hellebore plants and cut stems. Its making me want to create some jam jar arrangements with some scented jasmine foliage for an extra dash of loveliness.

I’ve wallowed in winter enough. To celebrate (slightly prematurely) the start of spring the girls are busy bee’s re-vamping our windows with botanical drawing inspiration.

Red and gorgeous! Marshmallow Piano roses are my current new beau … they make my heart skip a few beats.

I’ve always wanted to use them in a bridal bouquet and finally I got my chance!

How happy we’re we when a beautiful bride asked us to create the wedding bouquet filled with berried ivy (delicious – although not when eaten) scented eucalyptus, the marshmallows aka Piano roses and Red Naomi roses.

Seriously romantic, seriously seasonal, seriously gorgeous.

More please!

Take a look at some more of our wedding work here: http://greenparlour.com/blog/category/wedding-flowers/

We’re a few weeks late on the ‘love is in the air’ theme, so we thought we’d skip straight to spring.

Officially my favourite wedding bouquet ever! I’m head over heals in love with this gorgeous spring inspired wedding bouquet filled with anemones, scented lilac, parrot tulips, skimmia, blush Majolika spray roses and blousy ranunculus.

I almost couldn’t bring myself to deliver it to the bride.

Want want want!

There are lots more gorgeous white wedding bouquets here: http://greenparlour.com/blog/category/wedding-flowers/white-wedding-flowers/

We’ll be there from 11.00am with a gorgeously designed stall (Emma’s been working her magic around a vintage theme) tons of flowers and a whole heap of bouquets, table centres and most importantly some fabulous ideas for your wedding flowers.

Janine, our wedding co-ordinator will be on hand to answer any of those niggling questions you may have, or grab her by the hand and bend her ear for a few minutes for one of our complimentary wedding consultations.

For some more information on how to get there, and the low down on some of the other fabulous companies you can meet visit: www.dumdumdeedum.co.uk/news.html

They chose to get married at The Elephant Hotel in Pangbourne for its truly relaxed vibe and super chilled out atmosphere. The perfect setting for the winter wonderland wedding of their dreams.

The final touches to the ceremony room included these rather ‘WOW’ candelabras, which I found just days before the wedding. A rushed email to Emily and Andrew with attached pictures and they loved them too.

The flowers were designed to create a wonderfully romantic setting, with an undertone of 1940’s vintage glamour. Completely up my street!

White Akito roses, were combined with berried ivy, viburnum berries, steely green eucalyptus, scented freesias, Avalanche roses and hints of Amnesia roses to create luxurious, opulent table centres. We all absolutely fell in love with the large silver pedestal bowls and decided they were a must!

Cakes always amaze me, and Emily and Andrew had spared no expense with this drop-dead-I-want cake made by Peggy Porschen, who travelled all the way to Pangbourne to install it herself.

Emily’s wedding bouquet contained Akito roses, Amnesia roses, Majolika spray roses, berried ivy, viburnum berries, scented eucalyptus and thistles as a nod to her Scottish roots.

The bridesmaid’s bouquets were filled with Akito roses, Majolika spray roses, viburnum berries, berried ivy, eucalyptus and scented freesias. The perfect accompaniment to Emily’s wedding bouquet.

I can’t sign off without mentioning their wedding favours. Macaroons are possibly my favourite sweet treat of all time; macaroons from Ladurée are to die for.

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!

Get Emily and Andrews look

Venue: The Elephant Hotel, Pangbourne

Wedding Planning: Essentially You

Cake by: Peggy Porschen

Wedding favours by: Ladurée

Book a wedding consultation for your flowers by calling 0118 984 4000 or email info@greenparlour.com

Hearth of the home.

The fireplace is the centre of most homes at Christmas, roaring log fires and gorgeous surrounds also make this the perfect place to create your dream winter wonderland setting.

Inspiration awaits…

Fill old jars with handfuls of pussy willow and place along the entire length of the fireplace for a gorgeous woodland inspired scene.

Pussy willow £10.00 a bunch

Available in store

Place beautiful finds from around your home in small groupings, scatter with pinecones and large pillar candles for an eclectic, romantic setting.

Christmas trees £15.00 for 3

Large wicker star £5.50

Available in store and online www.greenparlour.com

Silver sparkle and candles go hand in hand at Christmas. These mercury glass candlesticks and tea light holders would look stunning paired with a simple pine garland.

Large mercury glass candlestick £21.50 each

Small mercury glass candlestick £12.50 each

Tea light holder £4.50 each

Pine garlands price available on request

Available in store and online www.greenparlour.com

These gorgeous antique tea light holders add a perfect vintage glint to any Christmas table. Scatter amongst small hyacinths bulbs planted in glass container decorated with moss for a simply stunning way to decorate your hearth.

Tea light holder £4.50 each

Hyacinth bulbs from £1.50 each

Available in store and online www.greenparlour.com

Hang your rustic willow wreath above your fireplace using lace ribbon for a romantic wonderland look. Decorate the surround with a lush garland filled with pine, berries, ivy and eucalyptus.

Rustic willow wreath £15.00

Pine garlands price available on request

Available in store and online www.greenparlour.com

Garlands are the perfect decoration for any fireplace. Use English pine, ivy, berries and herbs to add the most wonderful scent to your home.

Pine garlands price available on request

Available in store

It Its all about the Christmas door wreaths …

Country Fayre Christmas door wreath

This wreath is filled with foliage from the English countryside. Complimented with dried lavender, pine cones, willow and finished with feathers and baubles for a touch of winter wonderland.

Order yours online

Christmas Pine door wreath

Gorgeous scented pine wreath measuring 30cm in diameter simply decorated with pine cones and a satin hanging ribbon and bow. This wreath is a classic addition to any door.

Order yours online

Vintage Christmas door wreath

Our vintage Christmas door wreath is filled with dried hydrangea heads, fresh scented eucalyptus, pine cones, pearls, skimmia and berries. Designed to bring a touch of winter glamour to your door.

Order yours online

Christmas Fruits door wreath

A rich sumptuous door wreath filled with scented pine, eucalyptus and skimmia and adorned with dried oranges, pine cones, miniature baubles and limes. Finished in a traditional red satin ribbon.

Order yours online

Confession time.

We like Mariah a little too much. Its bordering on obsessional.

Her picture is yet to join the likes of Anton du Beke, The Queen and a giraffe in our “all the things we love” board. Bide your time Mariah, perhaps this will be your year.

We are the busy elves of the flower world, clusters of these gorgeous baubles have finally filled every corner of the shop. I cannot wait to decorate our tree.

I love buying one special bauble every year, wrapped (beautifully of course) and presented in what should be, some sort of glamourous ceremony. It is duly unwrapped and placed in prime position on the chosen tree.

Tradition is what Christmas is all about.

Buy some baubles.

You can book your place online HERE or call us on 0118 984 4000 to reserve your place!

Come and join us for a large glass of mulled wine, a minced pie and more importantly some floral fun.

Look forward to seeing you there,

ttfn x

Come and see Green Parlour (florist to the recent Royal Wedding of HRH Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) as they put on a fantastic floral demonstration designed to inspire. This event will be hosted at the beautiful Elephant Hotel in Pangbourne, Reading on 18th October 2011 at 7.00pm. Come and enjoy a drink and nibbles as you are amazed at the beautiful displays Green Parlour put together. This is a brilliant opportunity to see the Royal Wedding florist in action, and all the while helping to raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign during October’s Paint the Town Pink.

With a pink theme and inspiration galore, this is an evening not to be missed. You could also be in with a chance of winning one of the displays produced on the night, as the evening will be finished off with a raffle.

Date: Tuesday 18th October 2011, 7pm

Venue: The Elephant Hotel, Pangbourne

Ticket Price: £15 per person

(ticket price includes entry, drink and nibbles)

To purchase tickets, please use our Just Giving page HERE

Ticket numbers are strictly limited, so book yours now to avoid disappointment

Please remember to provide your email address with your donation so that we can send you your e-tickets. If you require more than one ticket, please just donate the correct multiple of £15 and we will issue your tickets accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you there, ttfn x