April shoot behind the scenes

A big part of The British Flowers Book is the photoshoots using seasonal flowers in “real life” situations that we as florists and flower farmers would supply flowers for .

For our book 2 photo shoots, we wanted to make sure we used only sustainable floristry methods, and readily available, in season flowers.

For April we created Wedding bouquets with mid month flowers, in 2 different colour ways. We tied them with Twool, and used a naturally dyed silk ribbon.

A Photoshoot is a great way of showing off floristry, without having to be under a time constraint of handing over a display to a customer, but that does mean that sometimes displays made specifically for photoshoots, might stretch the truth about what would be easily accessible, or are unrealistic in what would be included in a customer budget..We wanted to use real life models (us, the British flowers book team) and the actual flowers that are available., and also assess how long they lasted when the camera went away. Our behind the scenes photos show you how we actually got the shots, In April Charlotte Johnston and I dealt with freezing conditions and pouring rain to make images that would look like it was a bride coming out of the church clutching their bouquet.

Thank you to Charlotte for being game enough to get out her wedding dress, and still being able to fit into it!

It really wasn’t wedding day weather, so the behind the scenes photos show the coats, hats and boots that we used out of shot

We had planned to use our beautiful field backdrop, but the rain and dull spring meant that we have do change plan and use the greenhouse, with staging and plant trays moved out of the way.

The first colour way used the amazing copper image tulips, gems, wallflowers and salmone ranunculus. The scent from lilac and the white lion broom was beautiful, but ultimately we didn’t use these as the April images as we preferred the blue and white theme.

There are actually very few months in the year when naturally blue flowers are easy to come by, so we felt this fantastic bouquet made with Spanish bluebells, double tulips, ranunculus, Thalia narcissus, forget me nots and choisya as the foliage.

My thanks as ever go to Kerry Harrison, for capturing the photos that we needed.

The Industry innovation interview - Carole Patilla of Farewell Flowers

In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards more sustainable floristry, and nowhere is this more poignant than in funeral flowers. The Farewell Flowers directory is at the forefront of this shift, offering a directory of florists who create beautiful, plastic-free, and compostable funeral arrangements. We spoke to Carole Patilla, co-founder of Farewell Flowers, to learn more about their mission and how the industry is changing.

Carole, can you introduce yourself and tell us what Farewell Flowers is all about?

Farewell Flowers was launched in May 2024 by myself and Gill Hodgson to bring attention to plastic-free funeral flowers. We wanted to create a resource that makes it easier for people to find florists offering sustainable, compostable arrangements. The core of our initiative is the Farewell Flowers directory, which connects funeral directors and the public with florists who are committed to reducing waste and using British-grown flowers where possible.

What are the requirements for florists who join the directory?

We are aiming to attract high street florists and encourage them to start offering plastic-free and compostable options. To be part of the directory, a florist must:

• Offer at least one funeral arrangement that is completely compostable and free from single-use plastic.

• Have a dedicated page on their website for funeral flowers, clearly marking which options are sustainable.

• Use some British-grown flowers in their designs.

Pic by Andrea Gilpin Photography @wild_meadow 

Who are you hoping to connect with through this initiative?

Our goal is twofold: to educate the public on alternatives for funeral flowers and to work with funeral directors who want to offer environmentally responsible options. We’ve also been engaging with the Institute of Cemetery and Crematoria Managers, as they are responsible for handling the waste left behind by traditional floral tributes. Many people don’t realise that funeral flowers often contain floral foam and plastic, which have to be disposed of at a cost. By offering compostable arrangements, we reduce that burden.

How have you been raising awareness about sustainable funeral flowers?

We’ve attended public shows and events, including the Great Yorkshire Show, to get people talking about this topic and increase media coverage, This May we are going to be showing the public funeral flowers at The Chelsea Flower show. We also run educational photoshoots, creating inspiring imagery to showcase what is possible with seasonal, biodegradable arrangements.

What changes have you seen in funeral floristry over the past six years?

There’s been a definite shift towards locally grown flowers and personalisation. More people want funeral flowers that reflect the life of their loved one—whether that’s incorporating blooms from their garden or using colours and flowers with personal significance. We’ve also seen a growing awareness of sustainability, with many florists embracing foam-free mechanics and natural materials.

Early May Farewell flowers at Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground.

What trends do you predict for funeral flowers next year?

I think we’ll see more ‘shareable’ funeral flowers—arrangements designed so family members can take a piece home, rather than a single large tribute. Seasonal flowers will continue to gain popularity, with favourites like peonies making their way into funeral work. Interestingly, yellow roses, once a wedding favourite, are now being requested more often for funeral arrangements.

Do you have any advice for families choosing funeral flowers?

Think beyond colour themes—consider the season, the person’s favourite flowers, or even their hobbies. If they were a gardener or loved nature, why not choose an arrangement that reflects that? The more personal the tribute, the more meaningful it becomes.

With 170 florists already signed up nationwide, Farewell Flowers is helping to reshape the way we think about funeral floristry. By choosing sustainable options, we can honour our loved ones while caring for the planet at the same time.

Carole and Gill can be found at Farewell flowers or @farewellflowers

March shoot behind the scenes

A big part of The British Flowers Book is the photoshoots using seasonal flowers in “real life” situations that we as florists and flower farmers would supply flowers for .

For our book 2 photo shoots, we wanted to make sure we used only sustainable floristry methods, and readily available, in season flowers.

For March we created a party table scape with glass bottles and jars of different heights and shapes, so we could use all the best of the early season stems, even if there were only smaller numbers if each type.

A Photoshoot is a great way of showing off floristry, without having to be under a time constraint of handing over a display to a customer, but that does mean that sometimes displays made specifically for photoshoots, might stretch the truth about what would be easily accessible, or are unrealistic in what would be included in a customer budget.. We wanted to use real life models (us, the British flowers book team) and the actual flowers that are available., and also assess how long they lasted when the camera went away. Our behind the scenes photos show you how we actually got the shots, In March we went to our local Surrey Hills Biodynamic vineyard - Albury Vineyard and used their tasting room for our table scape, and the bare vines as a backdrop to create an outside scene.

We started off by placing the party table in the middle of the room, but the photos had glare from the large picture windows looking out over the vineyard

We also had the lines of the black window frames interupptting our bottle displays.

when we moved the table to the back of the room, the flowers could really shine.

We then moved outside and were treated to a glass of their pink fizz, which helped our displays and laughter levels considerably.

My thanks as ever go to Kerry Harrison, for capturing the photos that we needed.

What's available from flower farms in the UK in March

March is the month for narcissus, alstroemerias, tulips, ranunculus, anemones and muscari available from our British wholesalers, with Foliage still available but coming to the end of it’s season.

Tulips

Our smaller growers will be busy seed sowing, but their polytunnels may be producing anemone, hellebores, ranunculus and the first tulips, with bulbs like narcissus, hyacinths, frittallaria uva vulpis, and muscari flowering in protected areas. Field shrubs are starting to produce blooms, especially from stems that can be forced, like ribes, kerria and forsythia, and some blossom. This is the month were the South / North divide is likely to be the largest, as sheltered areas can be weeks ahead of colder more exposed climes.

Spring blossom also starts in March, with early plum, prunus, magnolia and camellias giving plenty of flowers and supportive stems

There is still foliage around, but as the growing season starts, lots of these will become too soft to pick so make use of Pittosporum, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Senecio, and the remaining pussy willow and cornus.

For your March flowers, choose one of these British Flowers wholesalers, or search Flowers from the Farm, or your search engine for growers nearer to you.

Smith and Munson , Flower by Clowance, Evolve Flowers Wholesale, BJ Richards, Real Flower company trade Crosslands Alstroemerias

The Grower interview - Wendy Paul at Organic Blooms

Tell us a little about yourself and where you're based.

I’m Wendy Paul, and along with Jo Wright, I run Organic Blooms in South Gloucestershire. We grow seasonal flowers on nine acres, with five polytunnels to extend our growing season. Jo and I have been working together for 16 years, and over time, we’ve developed our business so that we can now supply Abel & Cole and are now delivering into Flowervision. Alongside our courses and flowers for gifts.

What makes us unique is that we are a social enterprise, meaning we offer training and work experience to people facing barriers to employment. Our trainees help with many of the processes on the farm, making Organic Blooms a truly special place to grow flowers.

What is your main selling season? Do you sell anything out of season?

We start selling by March, thanks to our polytunnels, and continue right up to Christmas. We’re always looking at ways to extend the season, and the next big thing for us is foliage—it’s in massive demand.

Wendy (l) and Jo (R) in one of their polytunnels.

Who is your ideal customer?

We primarily sell wholesale to the market, including Flowervision. One of the advantages of working with them is that we can simply tell them what we’re bringing in tomorrow, without worrying about specific colours. They also take surplus, which helps reduce waste.

It works well for us because florists get to see and assess quality firsthand, and we can focus on growing rather than chasing individual orders.

What changes have you seen in the last six years since The British Flowers Book was published?

The biggest shift is that consumers are driving the demand for British flowers, and in turn, florists are following. More florists are actively looking for locally grown flowers because their customers are asking for them.

At the same time, it’s becoming harder to compete with the cost of imported flowers, which remain expensive but widely available.

We’ve also seen a shift in how florists work—there are now more studio florists and fewer high street shops, changing how flowers are bought and sold.

One thing that hasn’t changed? Pastel colours are still a favourite!

What do you think customers are going to love next year?

Pastels will continue to be popular, so we’re growing plenty of them but we’re expanding our work with Flowervision, particularly putting our flowers into mixed market buckets with a good range of what we grow, to make British-grown flowers even more accessible to florists.

Find out more about Organic Blooms Here, or follow Wendy and Jo on Instagram @organicblooms

The Grower interview - Cel Robertson of Forever Green Flower Company

Tell us a little about yourself and where you're based.

I’m Cel Robertson, and I run Forever Green Flower Company, based in Norfolk. I started growing seasonal flowers in 2014 on a one-acre rented field, focusing on high-quality British-grown stems for florists and events. I now also have a bulb and seed business which I run with my husband Robert, to supply gardeners and growers with high quality varieties of seeds for cutting.

What is your main selling season? Do you sell anything out of season?

Our main selling season runs from April to the end of October. Out of season, we offer a small selection of dried flowers and evergreens, including eucalyptus and pittosporum. The quieter season for the flowers is when most gardeners and growers are looking to plan their bulbs and seeds for the year ahead, so our other side of the business is perfect for then.

Are you looking to expand?

Yes! I’m actively looking for a larger site to increase production and meet growing demand, and i’m optimistic about the future of selling British flowers to florists. Plus we are working with our seed suppliers across Europe to find varieties that we love for growing that we think others will like too.

Who is your ideal customer?

I love working with local high street florists who are committed to using British flowers. They typically buy twice a week and really value the quality and seasonality of what we grow. I also work with event florists, who place large, regular orders—sometimes 800–1,000 stems a week. Our minimum order is £50.

What changes have you seen in the last six years since The British Flowers Book was published?

There have been some interesting shifts. Florists are less focused on sustainability than before—it’s more about quality and price. International pressures have led many florists to seek out alternative suppliers, sometimes looking for cheaper options.

At the same time, there’s a growing commercial interest in local flowers. Flowervision Norwich, for example, is pushing locally grown flowers, marketing them as English-grown—though not necessarily crediting individual growers.

On the retail side, DIY wedding customers are increasingly seeking out sustainable, hyper-local flowers, making them a key part of their buying decisions.

What do you think customers are going to love this year?

Cosmos will still be a favourite, but we’re seeing a shift towards more lemon yellow tones, alongside the ever-popular white and blush. For later in the season, peach and lilac shades will be in high demand.

Cel with Ranunculus in the Polytunnel.

Find out more about Forever Green Flower Company Here, or follow Cel on Instagram @forevergreenflowerco or for seeds and bulbs details @forevergreen_seedbulbco

February shoot behind the scenes

A big part of The British Flowers Book is the photoshoots using seasonal flowers in “real life” situations that we’d supply flowers for .

For our book 2 photo shoots, we wanted to make sure we used only sustainable floristry methods, and in readily available, in season flowers. For February we created table centres with shallow bowls and kenzan pin holders to support the flowers

A Photoshoot is a great way of showing off floristry, without having to be under a time constraint of handing over a display to a customer, but that does mean that sometimes displays made specifically for photoshoots, might stretch the truth about what would be easily accessible, or are unrealistic in what would be included in a customer budget.. We wanted to use real life models (us, the British flowers book team) and the actual flowers that are available., and also assess how long they lasted when the camera went away. Our behind the scenes photos show you how we actually got the shots, In February this was using the greenhouse cleared of plants, and a table to take the photos on.

We’d chosen another dull and wet day for the photoshoot, so Kerry did well to get the greenhouse to look bright and the displays cheerful

These flowers were all in water, and the weather was cold but not freezing, so the flowers lasted really well in their vases, and only faded when they ran out of water.

We also learnt that if you hang a hair band in a tree, the wind will catch it , and you will get to see all the wire and tape gubbins!

The Wholesaler interview - Helen Chambers of Evolve flowers

Helen is based in Spalding Lincolnshire, among the centre of the British Commercial flower growers. She has built Evolve over the last 5 years and her background in floristry means she knows how you can make your floral art profitable

Who are you, and what’s the background to Evolve flowers?

I’ve got a background in Floristry, and have many years experience of working with designing lines for Supermarkets to be beautiful and profitable both here in the UK and abroad. I’ve been based in Lincolnshire and worked with lots of the large pack houses and supermarket distribution centres, so I know how the wholesale industry works, and the key growers who are supplying the market. I’ve been involved in lots of floristry eduction and Evolve developed from a desire to teach more about our home grown industry

Always cheerful, Helen showing off Evolve.

What is your season?
We work closely with our suppliers to ensure a year-round supply of British flowers. In winter, we bring in hydroponic tulips and muscari, while summer sees an abundance of blooms from growers across Lincolnshire. Alongside fresh flowers, we also offer a wide range of sundries, including mechanics and vases, florist supplies, and dried flowers, making it easy for florists to source everything they need in one place.

Who’s your ideal customer?
We supply a mix of florists, from those needing a regular stock for their shops to event florists looking for large quantities of blooms. We welcome all British flower arrangers, but we’d love to see more customers committing to a consistent supply—regular orders help us plan ahead and support our growers more effectively.

What changes have you seen in the last six years (since the British Flowers book was published) in what florists are buying?
Interest in British flowers has grown significantly, which is fantastic to see. However, the market has also become more unpredictable, with fluctuations in trade, peaks and troughs in demand, and some larger suppliers going out of business. The weather plays an increasing role in availability, and we’re all having to stay adaptable. Florists are often order at the last minute, which makes supply more tricky, but our investment in our website really helps

Any predictions for what will be popular next year?
We expect to see more demand for accessories that enhance displays without increasing costs—florists will be looking for creative ways to add impact while keeping arrangements profitable. Floral artistry will continue to evolve, ensuring customers get value for money while florist shops remain sustainable businesses.

Helen demonstrating at one of her Education days, - highly recommended, this was a visit to Collisons Tulips

What's available from flower farms in the UK in February

The glasshouses and polytunnels of the UK provide enough shelter to produce amazing blooms of tulips, anemones, alstroemerias and muscari, and with narcissus coming from the sheltered fields and warmer climes of the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall, there is plenty for showing the love in February.

Tulips

For every florist, February means Valentine’s romance. But for the British flowers growers still in the grip of winter, there’s no chance of rose blooms. Instead we can offer our customers the following seasonal flowers

Alstroemerias are a dry crop that needs minimal water and heat, so we can get flowers all through the season. Anemones and Leucojum are available from Cornwall, and Hellebores in small numbers from Lincolnshire.

There is still plenty of winter foliage available like our January stalwarts of Pittosporum, Eucalyptus, Rosemary and Senecio, but in February there is also “twiggage” from Cornus, Hazel, Pussy willow and Curly willow.

For your Winter flowers, choose one of these British Flowers wholesalers.

Smith and Munson , Flower by Clowance, Evolve Flowers Wholesale, BJ Richards, Real Flower company trade Crosslands Alstroemerias

The British Flowers Book 2 – Now Available to Pre-Order!

It’s happening! The second edition of The British Flowers Book is on its way, and I’m thrilled to share that it’s now available for pre-order, with delivery in time for Easter.

This edition has been a real labour of love, packed with 12 new monthly photoshoots of sustainable floristry inspiration, 28 new seasonal themes and conditioning advice for 168 flower varieties—all designed to help florists work with the seasons, make informed choices, and inspire their customers. If you’re looking for practical guidance on selecting in-season colours, conditioning flowers for longevity, understanding sustainability, and creating plastic-free designs, this book is for you.

Why Pre-Order?

Pre-orders help me fund production costs upfront, ensuring that I can bring this book to life and get it into your hands as soon as possible. The first edition was made possible thanks to a wonderful community of flower lovers who supported my Crowdfunder. This time, I’m taking the leap and funding it myself—but I still need your support to make it happen.

By ordering now, you’re guaranteeing yourself a copy of the book before it officially launches, and you’re also directly supporting independent publishing and the promotion of seasonal, sustainable British flowers.

What’s Inside?

This book has been written with florists in mind, but is also a fantastic resource for flower growers and anyone passionate about British flowers. It covers:
🌸 Seasonal colour selection – Understanding how to choose and design with flowers that are naturally at their best throughout the year.
💐 Conditioning for lasting vase life – Practical, detailed advice on how to care for flowers to ensure they stay fresh.
🌿 Sustainability and flower choices – How to make informed decisions that support British growers and reduce environmental impact.
♻️ Plastic-free floristry techniques – Creative ideas for reducing waste in floral design.

Already have the first edition?

This new version builds on everything that made it so popular. The much-praised seasonal themes and colour photography—showcasing flowers growing in the field—remain at the heart of the book. But this edition brings up-to-date floristry inspiration, conditioning instructions for 58 additional blooms, and refreshed images throughout, making it an even more valuable resource for florists and flower lovers alike.

I can’t wait to share this new updated edition with you, and I’d be so grateful if you could support the book by pre-ordering your copy today.

Click here to place your order and be part of this next step in championing British-grown flowers!

Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey with me. Your support means the world.