The Garden Atelier

26/06/2026

A FEW TIPS FOR CUT FLOWERS CARE IN THE HEAT

🌻 Keep out of direct sunlight, e.g. away from windows
🌻 Move to a cooler room in your home
🌻 Keep water topped up, like us they are thirsty in the sun.
🌻 Change water more regularly, each time snipping the end of the stems at 45 degree angle.
🌻 Place away from fruit to avoid exposure to ethelyne gas
🌻 Enjoy your flowers

25/06/2026

With the heatwave and summer mode fully switched on, here is a close up of the midsummer bouquet focussing on the lovely texture of the Cotinus.
Hope you are all staying cool!

22/06/2026

Midsummer bouquet full of seasonal flowers and seed heads.

Hope you all enjoyed the longest day and the beautiful sunshine wasn't too hot.

16/06/2026

One last video of my headdress from the BFA hub heats the other week. Headdresses are so much fun to make, and this one was no exception. I just loved adding all the extra details with the pine cones and the locally foraged foliage.

Lots of work and practice to do before the finals in October at but I am really looking forward to it.

13/06/2026

I still feel like I'm about to wake up from a dream but now I can show the floral headdress I made that won the regional heat in Washington and scored high enough to take me to the finals for Newcomer Florist of the Year at in October. The task was to make a headdress to be worn at a Spring equinox event held by the Woodland Trust.

Many thanks to the organisers for arranging an interesting event, the sponsors and the judges from for their kind words and tips.

12/06/2026

12/06/2026

A big bit of excitement here at the Garden Atelier. Last weekend I competed in the regional heats of the 2026 UK Florist of Year Newcomer competition run by the BFA and won a place to compete at the national finals at Fleurex in October. I still feel like I am about to wake up from a dream.

Congratulations to everyone who won a place in the finals, I am looking forward to meeting you all there.

We're now allowed to show photos of our designs so I will be sharing mine soon.

10/06/2026

I absolutely loved pressing the rhododendron "Old Port" for our college exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show. The delicate flowers press so well, keeping all their details like their pretty nectar guides and colourful carpels. This specimen came from beautiful Gibside for our exhibit, but I am happily experimenting with other coloured varieties in my presses at the moment. Watch this space!

04/06/2026