Getting married? Flower crowns are my must have for 2014. Boho meets vintage meets garden meets etherial. Go large using peonies, roses and dahlias or create a dainty woodland vibe with nigella, gypsophilia and clematis buds.
Our super talented wedding team would love to create you your own bespoke floral crown for your big day, or if you fancy a little bit of DIY take a look at our tutorial here: floral crown tutorial
We'd love to hear what your planning for your hair flowers! Let us know your must have trends below
Jo and Nuzrul tied the knot at The Elephant Hotel in Pangbourne back in late October. I have to admit, its one of my favourite times of year for wedding flowers. All the gorgeous early autumn berries are still around and the winter foliage is just making its first appearance. Arrange all the gorgeous greens with dusky roses, deeper red dahlias, berried and for me, you have the perfect late autumn bouquet.
Jo's bouquet may well be one of my favourites of the year, I love the little splattering of rosehips!
Adding more depth and tying in Nuzrul's burgundy tie, the table centres had punchy red dahlias entwined within the Amnesia roses and foliage. The thing that sums up autumn flowers for me is all the beautiful textures from the foliage. In the table centres we used dusty millar which has the most splendid leaf formation, texture and colour. Its already big news in the wedding flower world and combined beautifully with every tone.
Simple hand-tied bouquets were placed within vases for the table centres. Although I love elaborate table centres from a creative stance, I have to say these practical arrangements are gorgeous, and your guests can take home a beautiful bouquet to enjoy whilst your on honeymoon.
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!
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!
Stealing ten minutes with a coffee - a much needed aid to post-Valentine's Day recovery, and I thought I'd share a little snap shot to remind us what lies ahead... yes I mean Summer! I know, we've Spring to come in between but I'm an optimist!
In the midst of the busy-ness that engulfs Green Parlour on v-day as we refer to it 'in the trade' we had some pretty Pinks dotted throughout the shop lodged in these lovely zinc containers. I love them and just looking at them makes me happy!
Updating the chalk boards is on our 'to do' list today! Valentine's is so last season, it's Mother's Day next don't you know! Peeping it's head around the corner - Mothering Sunday falls on the 10th March this year- three weeks away tomorrow! Ahh... where does the time go!
As a treat for all my hard work this week, tomorrow I will assign the day to be spent in garden. There's nothing quite like the first day you spend in the garden. It looked positively pretty in the snow until it melted! And I feel quite inspired with all our new 'Burgeon and Ball' goodies we had delivered in to the shop, I might even buy myself some new Gardening Gloves for the occasion. ...Something about a new broom sweeping clean - does that translate into new gloves - greener fingers?? I do hope so!
From the moment we met Tanya and Angus way back in September last year we knew the flowers were right up our street!
Sage greens
Soft pinks
Dusky purples
Basically a whole lot of heaven.
Brides-to-be take note: Tanya provided us with the most amazing book of fabric samples allowing us to match everything perfectly. It was such a joy to have this piece of kit at our disposal!
Clusters of vases adorned the tables, each filled with peonies, Amnesia roses, veronica, scented eucalyptus and herbs, flowering nigella and Majolica spray roses.
I know I shouldn’t have favourites but Tanyas bouquet has to be one of my favourite of the year so far. Filled to the brim with blousy peonies, little groupings of ivory Majolika spray roses, darts of veronica, nigella and to top it off …sweet peas! Yum!
Congratulations to Tanya and Angus.
We love getting professional photographs of our flowers and these were provided by the Groom’s company www.angusthomas.com
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.
Learn professional flower arranging in our summer 2011 flower schools.
We have finally announced our new season of flower schools, we are running a selection of day courses, evening courses and half day courses, designed to teach you how to arrange in the gorgeous Green Parlour style. Anyone can take part, budding amateur to professional florist wanting some fresh inspiration.
Flowers and home-made cakes are provided in abundance, as well as some gorgeous containers and all the know-how you need.
Our flower school is run from our flower shop in Pangbourne, Reading in small informal groups.
Its going to be a giggle.
This one day course gives you an insight into how to arrange the flowers we love. Suitable for all abilities, this course will teach you how to make one of our signature hand-tied bouquets, a beautiful vase display and learn how to use small vases. The price includes all flowers and containers, refreshments and cake, lunch with a glass of sparkling wine. You also receive a discount card valid for 6 months on all flower purchases and a pair of professional floristry scissors. Please book in advance as places are limited.
This half day course gives you all the knowledge to produce one of our signature hand-tied bouquets within a beautiful glass vase. We will give advice on how to combine flowers and colours to create the perfect floral arrangement. Price includes all flowers and containers, a pair of professional floristry scissors, refreshments and cake. Please book in advance as places are limited.
This evening course teaches you how to make a table centre for the home using a selection of glass vases and containers. We will give advice on how to combine flowers and colours to create the perfect floral arrangement. Price includes all flowers and containers, a pair of professional floristry scissors, a glass of sparkling wine and cake. Please book in advance as places are limited.
We’ve been busy filling our flower shop in Pangbourne, Reading, Berkshire with some gorgeous new home ware, hand chosen by us for its nostalgic yet practical twist. Our new range of Beautiful Finds can be found in our online store with inspiration from all over the globe designed to fill your home with quirky unusual beautiful products.
These to-die-for Lustre photo frames have stolen our hearts. Beautifully designed, these silver lustre finish will steal the show on any sideboard, add our Sophia candlesticks or Antique silver tea light holders for extra sparkle! Our Lustre photo frames are available to purchase in 2 shapes:
square measuring 16cm by 16cm (this will hold a picture measuring 9cm by 9cm) and portrait measuring 20cm by 16cm (this will hold a picture measuring 14cm by 9cm).
Click the link to see the whole Beautiful Finds range and buy the Lustre photo frames HERE
We’ve been busy filling our flower shop in Pangbourne, Reading with some gorgeous new home ware, hand chosen by us for its nostalgic yet practical twist. Our new range of Beautiful Finds can be found in our online store with inspiration from all over the globe designed to fill your home with quirky unusual beautiful products.
Transform your dinner party table with our Sophia mercury glass candleholders! These antique feel holders will add an elegant antique sparkle to home, perfect grouped together, or scattered along your mantle piece. Decorated with a gorgeous barley twist design these mercury glass candlesticks will hold a standard sized column candle and are available in two sizes, small measuring 20cm in height and the large measuring 28cm in height. Take a look at our Beautiful Finds range and purchase these beautiful Sophia candlesticks HERE
