Rich, warm colours & full of scent too - this bridal bouquet from last July is full of both. The scent of Garden Roses, Honeysuckle, Sweet Peas & (one of my favourites) Marjoram softly blended together. All grown here at the Flower Farm near Castle Douglas & freshly cut the day before. We never use noxious chemicals to grow or treat our flowers, we rely on our natural pest control team instead.
By choosing locally grown flowers for your wedding, you can enjoy the freshest flowers, & know the Carbon footprint is kept low too.
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Ranunculus may just be the most expensive mouse food on the planet.
I've noticed there are a few gaps in the bed where they had been growing rather well, a few weeks ago. But full of optimism that this year might be different, I've started off another batch. They're gorgeous when they do make it to flowering stage like this. Let's see how it goes. Keeping everything crossed & going to give the supposedly feral cats lounging about in my garage, out of the rain, a pep talk... 'It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses, we must plant more roses So wrote George Eliot (pen name for Mary Ann Evans, Author of Victorian classics such as 'MiddleMarch' & 'Silas Marner') And she was so right. It takes a couple of years for a rose to get into it's full stride for cut flowers, & if you cut a lot as I do, their life is shorter than when grown to admire in a garden setting only. This Winter I've been adding more to my collection - mostly planted in the few frost free days earlier this month. About another dozen to go in still, currently heeled in waiting. There's nothing quite like the scent of a British-grown Rose in a Summer wedding bouquet, & I adore using them. Maybe I'll add a few more? Our Wedding Calendar for 2024 is filling fast this month. If you would love our seasonal, locally grown flowers for your wedding, do contact me to arrange a chat soon. Did you know I send my handmade Christmas Wreaths UK wide each year?
In recent years they've brought a festive look to doors from Cornwall to Aberdeen & many doors in between. So if you're looking for a special, original & thoughtful gift this December, this could be your answer! Each wreath is made to order using a selection of fresh foliage. Much of the foliage is grown by us here in Galloway. Before I make the wreath, I'll ask your preferred trimmings including ribbon colour (or no ribbon at all) for a unique finish. When complete, I box the wreath with care & send it on it's way.
The flower season here is over...
Last night’s frost was harder than anything experienced before this Autumn, finishing off the few flowers still blooming. I cut our last few Giant Dahlias from the Polytunnel on Thursday for a party - not bad for November. Today the plants are blackened, lying flat on the soil. The colourful, brilliant leaves on the Maples lie in a bright red skirt below. All very final. So it might not be a very November photo above but believe me, those Delphiniums are a nicer sight than blackened Dahlias! A Flower Farm in Galloway in November doesn't look like a 'Country Living' photoshoot, I'm afraid. But it's still a busy time as we put foundations for next year’s flowers in place. Most of the Dahlias are lifted (well, about 150 still to go) which is a comfort to know. I was lucky last year, most of our tubers survived the cold temperatures (though Voles ate more than their fair share as they sheltered beneath the black plastic sheets). But many British flower farmers lost hundreds of tubers in last Decembers cold snap. Replacing is a costly business (& aren't all easy to find) so I'm super cautious this year. Each tuber needs cleaning, then dried & stored away in a frost-free place. Then in March I'll bring them out ready for next year's display. It's very satisfying to see how a small tuber multiplies over time to make new plants if I'm lucky. Roses deserve attention too this week to make sure they continue blooming strongly next year. The new Shrub Roses have got very tall (that rain in August). I'll reduce their height by about a third. This protects them from fierce winds. 'Windrock' causes considerable root damage. I'll gently firm them in at the base & give a generous dollop of good compost too. The hard pruning can wait until February/March. Tulips have arrived & can be planted now. In recent years, 'Tulip Fire' virus is becoming a problem in British gardens. In 2021 the Virus affected several hundred of my bulbs. It's ugly, deforming the flowers & stems. When it appears, destroy the bulb as it spreads fast to the others. Overnight along a row - like fire in fact! None of the affected stems could be sold & I considered whether to stop growing them. Trouble is, when you buy a bulb, you don't know if it has the virus. Last year I reduced the numbers grown & planted all in large pots & buckets. They flowered spectacularly with no Virus at all. This year, I'm trying the pots again & keeping my fingers crossed... Usually, we arrange our last weddings at the end of September as the flowers begin to reduce about then. This year, I arranged flowers I had dried for weddings too, the last in early November. There are still dried flowers, grasses, seedheads remaining & I'll bunch them for sale in the next few weeks. Perfect as Posies for Christmas gifts or for your own craft projects. Christmas is coming up fast now so here's an update on what we're planning; Make A Christmas Wreath' workshops are scheduled for the following dates;
The Wreath shop is open for pre-orders now. All my wreaths are handmade, without floral foam, from foliage grown here or elsewhere in the British Isles. Wreaths can be collected, delivered locally or sent UK wide by post. Christmas Flowers & Foliage
Jobs for November:
Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers And the last word this month? 'All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today; Indian Proverb A Buttonhole of dried flowers ready to a pin on the Groom's jacket at a recent wedding.
All Scottish-grown & dried by myself. Just natural colours, no bleach or dyes. Dried flowers are so popular for weddings this year & it's no wonder - interesting details, full of colour & a lasting keepsake of a special day. Autumn flowers decorated the table at Craigadam Country House Hotel, Crocketford in late October for a special wedding celebration.
Sweet little bud vases placed all the way down the enormous dining table, every one filled with a different combination of seasonal flowers, grasses & foliage. All grown here at the flower farm just a few miles away except for the Eucalyptus from a Cornish grower. The vases sparkled in the afternoon sunshine - imagine how beautiful the table would have looked when all the candles were lit that evening in those candelabra! Hiding away from the blustery wind of Storm Babet was a perfect opportunity to use some of the dried 'Stuff' I've stashed away over Summer.
All British grown (most here) & dried naturally by myself over recent months. No dyes, no bleaches, just Mother Nature's own colours! To commission a wreath for your own home or as a gift, contact me Various colours available For a Flower Farmer in Scotland, change can be dramatic & rapid at this time of year...
On a Thursday, mid-month, I was cutting Dahlias by the Bucketful for 2 weddings. Then Wham! 3 nights of frost finished the outside crop for this year. And a week later, the plants in these beds have been cut down, covered in readiness for lifting & storing over winter. Some growers prefer to leave their plants in the ground or dig them up in December. I think it depends on where you live & the specific climate/soil you're working with. November & December is incredibly busy here as we prepare for next seasons planting & of course Christmas wreathmaking too. If the Dahlias aren't dug up by early November, it becomes increasingly difficult to find time, especially if the weather turns wet or unexpectedly cold. And this increases the risk the plants will die & they're expensive to replace in the quantities I grow. So I cover the beds with plastic sheeting to keep soil dry until I get a chance to lift the tubers - much easier if soil is dry. This method suits us - as with so many gardening tasks, the best time is when you get time... Fingers crossed, the tubers will get through the Winter safely & be ready to do it all over again next year. For Megan on her special day in September, a Bridal Bouquet in peaches, pinks & ivory with a touch of green.
Romantic & softly toned Dahlias, plus Garden Roses, Honeysuckle & more for a delicate scent too. All grown at the Flower Farm near Castle Douglas, South West Scotland, except for the sprinkle of white Gypsophila & a few stems of peachy Hypericum from the Fens. And the Colour keeps on coming...
These are some of the buckets full of flowers cut on Thursday, outside the workshop. A long drink of water overnight & then off on Friday to local celebrations & also some into today's 'Friday Flowers'. Locally Grown, Seasonal Flowers grown here at the Flower Farm in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland A bouquet for Joanne's Tea Ceremony earlier in July...
At this point, the bouquet wasn't 'finished'. Often I take a few quick photo's like this as I go along. Somehow, I can spot improvements more easily from a photo than I can just looking at the flowers in front of me. (Yes, I know it probably sounds daft but it works for me!) So, I tidied up some of the random bits poking out along the top, lifted a few stems to raise them higher & added some extra coral Sweet Peas along the front edge. And of course, as the last step I added ribbons of Joanne's choice. Every single stem grown here in Galloway by myself, cut from the flower field & carried to the workshop to be arranged. The bouquet includes Garden Roses, Honeysuckle, Sweet Peas, Phlox, Marjoram, Scabious, Rudbeckia & more for a real 'gathered from the garden' look. Sunshine on a rainy day...
I wouldn't normally cut this early as Dahlias don't open much more in the vase. But this stem of Dahlia 'Hollyhill Serenity' had been knocked to the ground by the gusty wind today. So it had to come inside to be enjoyed in the kitchen. The Dahlias seem to have been a long time coming this year but hundreds of buds are just waiting for some of that elusive sun & warmth The lightest & most delicate of Summer flowers for Tayla last Saturday for her wedding at Gretna Green, in Scotland. Tayla travelled from Buckinghamshire for her special day. Every stem of Tayla's bouquet & flower crown were grown by myself here at the Flower Farm near Castle Douglas except 3 stems of Eryngium thistle, grown in Lincolnshire. No matter how much Eryngium I grow, I never seem to have enough for all our weddings! We just wanted to say thank you. Rene (Mother of the Bride) Absolutely beautiful flowers! They are stunning. Made the day so perfect xx Tayla (the beautiful Bride)
Thank you so much Tayla & photographer Rene for permission to share this gorgeous photo with you. I loved making this for you! And delighted a Red Squirrel made an appearance too... White Dahlias in the tunnel have a few more buds coming this week.
I cut this Cactus one (called 'White Swallow') in mid-July. It's always nice to welcome back 'old friends' that haven't been seen for a while... For Veronica in mid-July...
The colour theme was a soft baby pink with blue, & I was asked for daisies & 'a little bit wild'. So I added 3 types of Daisies, Sweet Peas, Honeysuckle, Garden Roses & much more. The scent was delicious yet not overpowering. And 100% of the bouquet was grown here at our wildlife-rich Flower Farm near Castle Douglas, South West Scotland. I cut flowers fresh on Friday, & delivered for the wedding at GG's Yard, near Gatehouse of Fleet, on Saturday morning. 100% grown less than 30 miles away from the venue. Every single stem. Sourcing seasonal flowers from a local grower gives the lowest possible carbon footprint for your wedding bouquet. Some of the 'Friday Flowers' delivered earlier in July - it was a big 'Birthday Week'.
Orders for next weeks local bouquet deliveries & collections are open now on the website or by phone 01644 420407 (do leave a message if I don't pick up quickly - I'm probably in a polytunnel!) The selection of flowers changes as we go through the seasons. Next week I hope to add Dahlias into the mix. Nice warm sunny days plus gentle overnight rain would help... Mixed 'Country bunches' of our locally grown, seasonal flowers are available to order on the Glenkens Food Hub too (plus lots of delicious goodies from local producers). Bunches can be collected in Dalry, Castle Douglas, Low Auldgirth, Kirkcudbright, Moniaive, Gatehouse of Fleet & Newton Stewart on alternate Fridays. Go on, treat yourself... And so another season of Dahlias began again in July - woohoo!
I began cutting a few white stems early in the month but this was the first real colour pop. Most of the plants are still fairly short because of the long dry spell. After recent rain, they'll soon catch up & be pumping out the blooms until October. And yes, I'm growing rather a lot again this year in a wide range of shapes & colours. From huge frilly confections to the tiniest buttons (just perfect for buttonholes & bud vases). I grow more Dahlias here at the Flower Farm than any other plant group. They really are the most varied & exciting group of plants imho. Our Dahlias will be appearing in many Galloway celebrations, bouquets & events in the coming months. High Summer at last... long days & much needed rain! So many plants had been holding back, waiting for a good soak. Now I'm cutting flowers by the bucket in so many colours & varieties, I'm spoilt for choice - a luxurious abundance!
The prolonged dry period (while wonderful for working outside) was adding so much length to our day. Too dry for seedlings to be planted out, it was easier to keep them alive by watering them in their baby trays. As a result, some are now a bit leggy, needing a nutritional boost. But at least they've survived. They'll catch up quickly & continue flowering later. For us, May & June passed in a floral blur. We were busy flowering up events & hosting workshops as well as growing flowers for the rest of the season. At times, it seemed as if Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays were 'Sow, Plant, Water'. Wednesdays through to Saturday 'Cut, Arrange, Deliver'. All on rinse & repeat. Hugely enjoyable if hectic. Our time is never quite that neatly organised but it gives a gist of a Flower Farmers life. Inevitably, the dry weather has resulted in winners & losers. The Perennials (like the Delphiniums above) have been winners. Flowering their socks off without additional water, filling vases when other varieties disappointed or were late.These Delphiniums were cut just before a Storm broke. I knew they would be knocked flat by the forecast wind & rain. So I cut them quickly & put them away to dry. And the Roses in June - never have they been so good as they basked in the dry sunshine. Most have finished their first flush.Now trimmed, fed & fingers crossed, many will give a repeat show. I don't grow that many Roses, but the heady scent was so wonderful. If I knew June would be like that every year, I could be persuaded to grow more. (Actually, I might already have ordered a few for planting in November.) On the other hand, the first batch Sweet Peas didn't like the high temperatures, shooting too tall & flowering fast in the polytunnel. Of course, the second batch outside, aren't keen on the cooler night time temperatures in the coming weeks either. It's like looking after Goldilocks! But we've had plenty for the weddings, & I'm sure the glut quantities will be here soon. Dahlias are leaping ahead now. I cut the first few stems this week. Soon they'll be appearing in the weekly 'Friday Flowers'. Lots of trusted favourites plus new varieties this year in a full range of colours. Dahlias still have a bit of a reputation for bold, clashy colours, maybe even considered a bit naff by some. Many of the new varieties are soft, subtle beauties, just perfect for weddings. I grow a wide range & they mix & match so well with other flowers. Our 'Country bunches' of mixed seasonal flowers are now available to order via the Glenkens Food Hub. Along with a wide selection of locally produced products, flowers can be collected from the Food Hub locations. These are; Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Gatehouse, Moniaive, Low Auldgirth & Dalry. In other news, the Spotted Flycatchers have fledged in the main polytunnel. We're being dive bombed by Swallows nesting in the tool shed. And Ken has a new obsession - a moth trap! We knew there were many different Moths here as I find them in the polytunnel asleep on flowers. Such wonderful names & so difficult to identify accurately. The fashion for dried flowers continues growing & I've been building our stocks again. The Guest EnSuite is already a 'no go' zone again as it's used to store them, I'll be sharing the dried materials in Wreath workshops this year. Scheduled for Sunday 20th August & Sunday 24th September. Let me know if you would be interested & I'll send details. I'll add to the website & social media as soon as I get a moment. Looking Ahead...
Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers And the last word this month? 'And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow' G.K. Chesterton, (British Author) Regular Customers deserve perks every so often, don't they?
And last week, all our Regular Subscription Customers received their usual 'Friday Flowers' bouquets of our locally grown flowers plus a little bunch of scented Sweet Peas too (see below). Our Regular Subscription Customers are so valued by our little business - many have been ordering flowers every 2 weeks or monthly for years, (Our longest has received 8 years of flowers!) Over time, I've come to know their favourite flowers, how they like their flowers presented (or not - several ladies prefer a selection of flowers to arrrange themselves as they enjoy it!) And over time, many have become friends, sharing gardening knowledge too. Their encouragement has made all the work worthwhile. They receive the freshest locally grown flowers (& British ALL YEAR ROUND) & the money stays in the local economy. This is important as most of the large flower subscriptions available countrywide import flowers & the money goes to the their large investors. As well as the occasional surprise treat, Regular Subscribers receive free delivery within the local area or can collect their flowers from the Flower Farm. To join the Regular Subscriber group, order online (details from Quicklinks) or message me. 'Lots of interesting textures please' was the request from the Family for this Funeral Casket Spray. And the June weather gave me an abundance to choose from.
As well as plenty of foliage & the deliciously scented white Garden Pinks from our tunnel, I added seedheads from Allium, Lunaria & Rocket. Extra Eryngium from Lincolnshire plus Cornish-grown Ruscus & Veronica added to the mix (mine aren't ready yet). So all British-grown to keep the carbon footprint low.. And the arrangement is 100% compostable too for a sustainably-made tribute. Floral foam is commonly used to make funeral tributes, tonnes of it is disposed in landfill sites every week in the UK. Floral foam is banned by the Royal Horticultural Society at all it's flower shows. Floral foam is made from oil, a plastic breaking down into microplastic particles over time. It's a hazard to the marine environment & as this natural tribute shows, completely unnecessary too. Luscious Poppies floating amongst the Roses early this morning...
These arrived as stowaways in the compost mulch spread earlier in the year. I haven't had this colour for several years & never in this place! The bonus benefit of making home compost... The sound as I walked past was like an engine as bees were having a ball in them. Interestingly, few of our Honeybees, mostly Carders & other pollinators today. And in a few weeks time, there'll be lovely fat seed pods to dry for wreaths later on in the year. Light & meadowy for this special vase arrangement delivered locally in late June.
The white Martagon Lilies add a lighter touch than the better known Oriental ones & the Delphiniums are at their best just now. 100% grown by us, here in Galloway, at the Flower Farm near Castle Douglas. Our 'Friday Flowers' bouquets & bunches can be ordered easily online. This type of arrangement is more bespoke. The container & contents are chosen to meet your requirements. Telephone 01644 420407 or email to order your special occasion & party flowers - I'm always happy to work with you to arrange regular house flowers too. Weeds.
There are always going to be some when there's an acre of flowers & to be honest, it's only the really pernicious ones I bother about. After all, if a weed is simply a plant in the wrong place, anything has potential to be a nuisance. But there are 'weeds' you can't help but love & allow space in any garden. Forget me nots, for example - give them an inch & they'll smother a whole bed. Turn your back on a seeding Foxglove & you'll have them forever! I don't mind either as they're easy to remove when they become too much, & are loved by both bees & this flower grower. I give both space here. And of course, regularly cut them for arrangements! Viola's are another of my favourite 'weeds' - I let them self seed & over generations, they've developed quite a range of colours & shapes around the place. These are some of the polytunnel 'weeds' - tucked in beneath the Sweet Peas. In the soft light, they grow tall & so are surprisingly useful. Often I cut them for bud vases & little posies as they last well in water. I would rather see these growing than bare earth or let more tricky weeds establish in the space What's your favourite 'weed' to encourage in the garden? Simple 'Country bunches' of Cottage Garden flowers waiting for collection yesterday at the Flower Farm. (There are 3 bunches here to give an idea of size).
The speed flowers are moving through the season this year is breathtaking. I've been really spoilt for choice thie week as I made up the bunches & bouquets. A different mix to last week - & they'll be different again next week as new varieties join the party... And there's plenty more to come! From this week, bunches can be ordered via the Glenkens Food Hub too - making our flowers available for collection further afield. Pre-ordered flowers can be collected from Castle Douglas, Gatehouse of Fleet, Newton Stewart, St. John's Town of Dalry, Low Auldgirth & Moniaive. Plus there are so many delicious goodies from other local producers too - well worth checking out! Take a look to discover perfect treats for the weekend. The link again - https://openfoodnetwork.org.uk/glenkens-food-hub/shop |
AuthorRosie Gray of Galloway Flowers. Cut Flower Grower & Florist near Castle Douglas, in South West Scotland. Using 100% Flowers & Foliage grown in British Isles, all year round. Archives
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