Eastertime!
How on earth is it the end of March already!! Why pansies aren't just for bedding, plus Easter flowers for all, whether chocolate is your thing or not...
And just like that, we find ourselves in the last full week of March. It’s just crazy how time marches on (no pun intended) as we go about our business.
Now the spring equinox has been and gone. The light is so much better for growth, and an excellent time to be sowing seeds. You may notice seedlings that have been sitting and sulking a bit over the winter starting to put on some lovely fresh top growth. All of a sudden, it’s a rush to get some hardy annuals into the ground as they’ll start to sulk if they stay in their modules too long.
I have some pansies that I started in the autumn, which desperately need to get planted out. I grow these with the intention of getting the stems tall enough to cut for bouquets. I only find this possible if they’re sown in the autumn and you pick the right varieties for the job.
I plant these into large containers outside, only one-third filled with compost, so the plants are quite low down in the pots. This makes them grow nice and tall, and eventually they will be tall enough to cut for arrangements. Who doesn’t love to see a smiling little pansy face in a fresh bouquet of flowers? My favourite variety for this purpose is PANSY NATURE ANTIQUE SHADES F1 .
I’ve tried a few new ones this year, these are Viola Endurio ‘Pink Shades F1’ (not sure these are going to get tall enough!) and Viola Cornuta, ‘Brush Strokes’, which looks very pretty indeed!
I’ll let you know how these get on and whether they get tall enough to cut.
Although my favourite variety is an F1 type, which means they are unlikely to come true from saved seed, I have saved the seed for the last couple of years and got some lovely colourings from these, and also saved myself some money at the same time!
Pansies are dead easy to grow from seed, but they are one of the seeds that need dark to germinate, so remember that when you sow them. As I said earlier, I start mine in September, and by the time it comes to planting out, they’ve got a really good root system and have already started to bud up and flower.
You can get many different lovely varieties of them now, and they’re also really useful for Mothering Sunday gifts in spring planters or to add onto a living spring door wreath.
So if you haven’t grown them before, I urge you to give them a go and see if you can grow them tall enough for cutting or just enjoy them in the garden.
Courses in the Garden Studio…
I am very much looking forward to hosting this Sunday’s workshop with Emily Sidwell where we will be following Emily‘s expert tuition to make a flower pendant and then following my not-so-expert tuition and creating a floral centrepiece. This workshop is now full, so thank you to everyone who’s booked on.
However, there are still spaces available on the next two courses on the 25th April, where we will be messing around with hanging floral installations using birch branches to make some spring magic to hang from your ceiling, and on the 9th May, I’ll be showing you how to make a lovely, wild and whimsical fresh flower bouquet. There is one space left on this course.
More to come later in the year…
I’m in the process of planning more courses for June and July, so watch this space. If you have any themes you would like me to cover, just drop me a line, and I can arrange a course around your needs. You can also book one-to-one courses at a date and time convenient to you; all the details are on my website.
Would you like to grow more cut flowers in your own garden?
I also offer a consultation service where I can come to your garden to offer you some direction and advice so you are able to fill your vases from your own growing space. Again, the time and date will be to suit you, and all the details are on my website. If you have any questions, just drop me a message.
Easter Flowers and Wreaths…
So Easter is nearly upon us, and it’s an early one this year. If chocolate isn’t your thing, or it is your thing but you’d also like some flowers to brighten up the house or a gift for that special someone who might be on a diet, we are here to help.
Due to the mild weather over the last couple of weeks, the tulips will be here, so we have mixed bouquets available, plus willow hearts decorated with bulbs and seasonal greenery. If you’d prefer a wreath rather than a heart, that’s absolutely fine, just let me know. These are available to order online, or message me if you have any questions.
Just a reminder that the Flower shed is also out Friday to Sunday. Stocked full of fresh flowers just cut from the garden, all flower wraps are £10 unless marked otherwise. It is located on our drive; you’ll find my address on the website. It is a self-service shed. We can even pay by card using the QR code or just pop cash through our front door. The Flower shed will not be out on Good Friday but will be back on the 4th April.
Thanks Suzy, will check it out. But they work well in bouquets?
Thanks Suzy!