 Photo Credit Ken Leslie Photography As 2025 began with a big freeze, I was grateful this is our quiet month, without urgency to go far on icy roads. This is our time to rest & recover after a hectic year full of flowers & life's challenges. Best of all, it's the time to cosy up by the wood burner, under a patchwork quilt. The detailed planning & preparation for the year ahead begins here.
It's our 10th full season growing flowers here at the Flower Farm (we began in 2015) & as always, there'll be changes. Every year we try something new, both plants, colours & of course, methods. There's always something to learn. We continue learning which flowers excel here - & some of those that don't! At first sight it might not look that different in the field in high Summer to any other previous year. But fashions change & so do the flowers in greatest demand. As we've taken on more weddings, these drive our colour & plant choices. Take Dahlias as an example - we grow more each year as they're having a fashion resurgence. (Oh & I've been growing them 30 years & just love them!) Six years ago, the dark burgundy shades were very popular (often mixed with a pale blush pink). The oranges/red/yellows grown were minimal, rarely requested. Last year, only 2 burgundy varieties remained in the field & these were soft, blended shades. In 2024, the tropical, sunset & autumnal colours were most requested. For 2025? Well, I'm still figuring it out! I think of January as List Season as I ponder possibilities. What do Customers tell me they love - colours, shapes, textures? What will I have in flower each month? What goes with what? (It might sound a bit mad but I'm basically designing bouquets in my head). Where are the gaps I need to fill? What do I grow now that I could propagate quickly & inexpensively? And the hardest bit - where can I fit it all in? The plant & seed catalogues arrive & with so many tempting varieties, it's easy to add more. But that means something else has to fall off the list to make room. It's HARD being a plantaholic, you know... At times, I feel as if my head will explode as I juggle the lists. I have to remind myself there's no perfect 'right' answer, just my best guesses. Wedding consultations for 2025 & 2026 are underway & with every conversation, the lists are refined. The fun bit starts with the armchair shopping! This is a busy month for wedding bookings so if you know a couple planning to tie the knot in 2025 or 2026, feel free to point them at my Wedding Pages on my website. The most popular Summer dates book quickly & I take on only a few wedding dates each week. The cold snap has slowed down January jobs such as Tulip planting. Usually I plant my bulbs in early January - this means they flower in April & May when I need them most, Also, the soil is less likely to blight the flowers with the nasty virus 'Tulip Fire' after a a good freeze. A busy week lies ahead as the soil warms again. It's already getting a teeny bit lighter each evening, isn't it? Social media is full of seed sowing posts already. But I'm cautious. Seeds sown now will struggle as light levels are low, They'll become thin & stretchy. March sown seed quickly catches up, often overtaking the early starts. Just Sweet Peas & Antirrhinum seeds for me this month. What Can I Cut in January? It's thin pickings for my vases, making me treasure anything I have. The coloured stems of Cornus & Willow glow in the garden & vase. Mix in Catkins from Hazel, Birch, Garrya or Alder plus Ivy, Skimmia, Viburnum Tinus, Camellia or Heather perhaps? By the end of the month, scented Shrubs such as Daphne, Lonicera Fragrantissima (Winter Honeysuckle) & Wintersweet will flower. Picture the ground carpeted with Snowdrops - it won't be long. Bowls of Hyacinth, Narcissi & Amaryllis are scenting my house nicely in the meantime. I'm sure the garden centre will have plenty of bulbs to pot up if you need a little 'pick me up'. Upcoming Events 2025 Dates for the first workshops are live on the website now. I'll add more dates as wedding dates firm up.
It's set to be much milder this week so hopefully we can all enjoy any dry, bright spells that appear. A potter about to see any plants stirring already is good for the soul, in my view. And doubtless we'll have more cold weather yet so do enjoy the excuse to stay in the warm. Just day dream about the beautiful flowers to come & do that armchair shopping! And the last word for this month? 'What good is the warmth of Summer, without the cold of Winter to give it sweetness' John Steinbeck (American Writer) Until next time, Rosie Galloway Flowers
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 Soft, vintage tones on a willow wreath of dried flowers. This was a commission for a special birthday gift, the colours chosen to suit the lounge decor.
All the materials are natural, 100% grown in the British Isles (much of it here) & all dried by myself in Galloway. No filters, no dyes, no bleaches used - just Mother Nature's own colours. There might not be much to cut from our flower field this month, but still plenty of colour to brighten our homes. Naturally dried flowers like this can last for years if cared for & ultimately, are completely compostable.  Gently easing my way into 2025 with wedding consultations this week- nothing beats the excitement & enthusiasm of couples planning flowers for their big day, guaranteed to lift my spirits despite the cold.
Walking around the flower field this morning it seems hard to believe I'll be cutting buckets full of stems like these in just a few short months. But I will & believe me I'm looking forward to feeling the warm sun on my face again! These Meadow Boxes full of our locally grown flowers are always a winner. Perfect for lining an aisle for the wedding ceremony (as here at Balmaghie Kirk), on windowsills, on dining & signing tables too. And they're often moved after the ceremony to do 'double duty' at the reception too!  Making the ordinary... Extraordinary.
Hoar frost on Marjoram seedheads, sparkling in bright sunshine this morning. I leave these stems uncut until February usually as shelter for the little beasties, Many birds enjoy the seeds too (& that's why seedlings pop up all over the flower farm!) The big tidy up for Spring will start soon enough, no rush this month.  One for the Birds... After 12th night, I hang my Christmas Door wreath on my workshop door for Wrens to roost in. As they're so tiny, Wrens are particularly vulnerable in cold weather & this extra protection helps them get through Winter. The tiny Birds snuggle up together, warm & dry behind the foliage, in between the straw base & oak door. I've known 8 Wrens to roost in a single wreath, as on opening the door, they flew into the workshop one stormy wet night! Who knows how many could fit in behind this one? With plummeting temperatures forecast for us in South West Scotland this week, I made this wreath quickly this afternoon from leftover bits - really bushy & overlapping like thatch, plus a few leftover Teasels & seedheads for the Goldfinches. Even a few Holly berries - I'm sure something will find them for a quick snack. There are already 3 wreaths on the other workshop door (from my front door, an unfinished demo & a small table wreath on the door handle - picture below.) In the past week, I've several times shushed Wrens out of the workshop when opening the door at dusk. They had already settled in for the night & resented being disturbed. I hung the wreath just before dusk - I wonder how many found it last night? The Wreaths will stay looking green well into March, then it dries to golden tones.   Autumn details to celebrate the season & Kerry's wedding at Auchen Castle, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland in late September... Dahlias, grasses, bracken, hops, seedheads, Pheasant feathers, conkers... my workbench looked like a 'nature table' as I collected all items together in the days beforehand. So many textures to add to the rich flower colours. The Bridal Bouquet included rich Dahlias, Hydrangea , grasses & berries plus feathers too. All flowers & foliage grown here at our Flower Farm in Galloway, except the Hops from Kent. Arranged sustainably without floral foam. Wedding venue @AuchenCastle Wedding flowers @GallowayFlowers    Everybody loves a freebie...
And I was delighted to be given this Eryngium seed head. It's from the garden of one of my regular subscription customers (a skilled & knowledgeable gardener). She gave it to me when I was delivering her flowers. It might look a bit scruffy - but It's full of lovely fresh seed! It's a good time of year to sow seed of perennial flowers - after all, that's exactly what Mother Nature is doing. I've sown the seed in a tray. (Simply scattered on compost mixed with vermiculite, popped into a quiet corner of the cold frame. No heat needed, just need patience.) I'm not sure which variety it is - possibly Eryngium 'Miss Wilmott's Ghost'. Those spikes are vicious! Fingers crossed they germinate well & I'll have a nice patch of plants on the way. Hopefully soon I'll be cutting plenty of stems of it.  Late September Bridal Bouquet for Cosmo, to carry on her elopement wedding day in Galloway last year...
Rich, moody coloured Dahlias & Rudbeckia combined with dark,plummy grasses & foliage. Plus a dash of fresh scent from late Roses, Honeysuckle & Marjoram. All grown here at the Flower Farm for lowest possible flower miles. And finally, I added dark, mossy green ribbons to finish the Autumnal look.  The colours of the Hydrangeas seem to be particularly lovely this year.
These run from deep plum through bright pinks, to teal, soft blues & lighter greens. Two flower heads joined linked on one stem, on the same bush. I've no idea what variety it is. It grows unnoticed for most of the year in a shady, weedy corner, & to be honest it's a rather shabby little bush. And then it does this colour change! Like Cinderella going to the ball, several stems have appeared in wedding bouquets this month. Such a useful flower to link other colour flowers together in a bouquet, vase or wreath. It's roots are deep under paving so it would be difficult to move without damage. But I'm going to have a go at rooting some cuttings. A row of these growing in a better spot would be a thing of beauty & a Florists delight in Autumn... I need more Hydrangeas in my life.  Last weeks Frosts have finished the tender flowers such as the Dahlias & Cosmos outside. There are still flowers, but a much reduced selection. It brings our 9th growing season here to a close. To be honest, it's not the prettiest sight just now!
So it's time to pull those plants out, refresh the beds with lovely home-made compost & replant ready for next years flowers. For a Flower Farmer, this is one of the busiest seasons & a dry day like this precious. All the debris (such as the Cosmos in the barrow) will be shredded, added to the heaps & form the basis of the next batch of Compost. And of course, that means the nutrients are retained in the soil to make future flowers. Round it goes again...  Photo Credit Duncan Ireland Photography In the May sunshine, here's Faye with her Bridesmaids.
An exceptionally pretty wedding at Parton, on the shore of Loch Ken, Dumfries & Galloway. The bouquets were full of our locally grown Spring flowers - our speciality Tulips, Sweet Rocket, Aquilegia, Ranunculus & Cornish Alstroemeria. Thank you, Faye for allowing me to share the photo here. And of course thank you to Photographer Duncan Ireland for capturing the moment so beautifully. As large boxes of bulbs begin arriving here this month, it can seem a bit overwhelming. Where & when will I plant them all? Have I invested in the 'right' colours for next years weddings? I'm finding it motivating to remember the special occasions where they went this year! The Calendar for arranging our locally grown flowers at weddings in Wedding Flowers2025 & 2026 is open now. More information can be found by following the links from the wedding pages  Cut earlier in the day, & ready for the 'Friday Flowers' bouquets...
Acidanthera Murielae are among the easiest flowers to grow for cutting in September, unbothered by frosts & among my Autumn favourites. A sweet scent to stop you in your tracks as it wafts around the garden or as you walk into a room. They last well in a vase too as a succession of buds opens up the stem. The bulbs are inexpensive & I plant them in batches from late May to early July to give a succession of blooms. They're a 'one hit wonder' though & don't flower again the following year. Join me for the 'Cut Flowers From Your Garden' workshop at the Flower Farm to discover how to grow more blooms in your own Cutting Patch. Details can be found here  Scanning my recent posts, it looks as if I grew only 'Autumn coloured' flowers this year!
The rusty coppers, peaches & golds have dominated flowers posted - probably because I've felt so cold & Autumnal since early August... In reality, the flowers I actually grew, cut & arranged for weddings has been very different. It's time to catch up on photo's from this Summers weddings. So to begin, here's Deborah's bouquet for her wedding at Gretna Green from early September. This quick snap was taken before making final tweaks & adding the ribbons. (Flowers in bouquets always seem to move a bit overnight as they settle so I find this check helpful) No Autumn shades in sight here - just plenty of soft pinky-purples, lavender & lashings of white froth. I included Dahlias, Daisies, Phlox, Cosmos, Scabious & Nigella. 100% grown in Scotland, for a low carbon footprint. More information on our wedding packages can be found here  Giant Dahlias 'Frost Nip' Giant Dahlias are rather a divisive topic, aren't they? And they're especially huge this year as heavy August rain has produced whoppers like this! I don't grow many as to be honest, they aren't as easy to use in an arrangement. They produce fewer flowers each season, albeit huge ones. Vase life is shorter then many varieties too. But this variety is rather fun (imho) & always makes my list. I love the subtle tones that develop from tawny gold to deep raspberry as the flower matures. I use almost every stem as it blends so well with Autumn themes & they always get a second look at events. These went to an Auchen Castle wedding this week & most were included in the main ceremony area arrangement. These few remained in the bucket when I had finished. Too special to throw on the compost heap yet though. The resourceful staff found an extra large vase & arranged them so they could be enjoyed in the entrance hall. Maybe I should have put the classic baked bean tin by the side to give a scale of their huge size!  Vase of Giant Dahlias 'Frost Nip'  Autumn Glory...
A simple arrangement in a glass vase, bursting with colour.  Natural Farewell Flowers; an August Wreath Farewell flowers as individual as the person remembered...
I made this colourful wreath for an August Funeral. Asked to make it 'Gentlemanly', for a creator of a beautiful garden over many years. Knowing his garden was his passion, I chose foliage, late Summer flowers & seedheads all grown here in Galloway for the lowest possible carbon footprint. No plastic, no floral foam (made from oil), just natural materials. When you need to find a florist in the UK who will make individual, natural & plastic-free farewell flowers for the special people you love, visit www.FarewellFlowers.co.uk  Saturday leftovers...
After arranging wedding flowers in bright sunshine (such luxury!) these few stems were last in the bucket, looking a bit tired & floppy. Back home, I recut the stems & popped them into cool water. Magically, they soon revived. A quick burst of mindful flower plonking into a favourite old jug revived me too after an early start. (A quantity of strong coffee helped too...) Not good enough for the party, but good enough to grace my kitchen this weekend.  Dahlia 'Negroni Sunset' Possibly my new favourite Dahlia this year...'Negroni Sunset'
First few blooms opened last week & now being tested for vase life in the kitchen. What do you think? A keeper to grow more of?  Flower Farm Florist Rosie Gray You'll not often catch a photo of me on here - I prefer my flowers to take the limelight.
Super-talented Photographer Duncan Ireland captured this moment in May when I delivered the bridal bouquet on Faye's special day. (Thank you Duncan for permission to share your photo) Now let me tell you about the flowers... 100% grown by myself at the Flower Farm, about 4 miles as the crow flies from the venue on Loch Ken. Early May loveliness including flouncy Peony Tulips, Ranunculus, scented Hesperis & dainty Aquilegia dancing above the rest.  Large Vase for the Font A Summers day at Urr Parish Church, near Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway - a lovely setting for a country wedding. The dainty, meadowy flowers of late Summer including sweetly scented Sweet Peas, Honeysuckle & Acidanthera. Every single stem grown & cut by us at the Flower Farm a few miles away. Then arranged naturally in a reusable glass vase with water for a low carbon footprint. When the flowers fade, they can safely be added to the compost heap. The vase will be washed & stored ready for next time. What could be simpler & more sustainable than that?   Photo credit Rose and Julien Emma LOVES pink... The brief for her May wedding bouquet was 'pink, pink & more pink!' So I selected a mix of deep pink Peonies, pink Aquilegia, pinky hued acer leaves & some lacy Orlaya as the key flowers in her bouquet. Emma brought her own choice of velvet ribbon to add & it turned out to be just the perfect colour. Couples come from all over the World to marry at Gretna Green. Emma, Dan & their young family made a road trip out of the occasion. Travelling all the way to me in their camper van to collect flowers, & then on to Gretna for their special ceremony. Thank you Emma & Dan for sharing the lovely photo - it was a pleasure to work with a real flower enthusiast! Photo credit www.roseandjulien.com  Photo credit Rose and Julien  September Bridal Bouquet Some of my favourite flowers are in this romantic wedding bouquet from last September. Peachy Dahlias, Soft pink Roses, Daisies & a few stems of beautifully scented Honeysuckle. A few stems of Gypsophila from Lincolnshire (by September I had cut all mine), every other stem grown here in Galloway by myself.
As our flowers are grown naturally, availability of specific varieties changes as we move through the flower season. No two weddings are ever exactly the same as I cut the best flowers available to your wedding colour theme. And our Bride Megan told me; 'thank you - the flowers just made the day and all the photos so perfect! They were really beautiful and just the right colours for the late summers day we had. Thanks so much for all the thought you put into creating the perfect bouquets!' If you're looking for memorable flowers for your wedding in Dumfries & Galloway, let's talk soon.  Rose 'Ispahan' The scent of Garden Roses... What could be more Summery than that?
This is a favourite 'Ispahan' - recommended to me years ago by a Lady who bought my Flowers when I took them to Loch Arthur Farm Shop on Fridays. So grateful for the recommendation. It's a good 'un. Prolific flowers for a few weeks, the true Rose scent is one of the best. It earns it's spot in any garden I create from now on...  Photo credit Lorna MacLeod Country flowers for a Country wedding... In early July, Fergus & Myumi married at Balmaghie Kirk, near Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway. This is such a pretty Kirk, surrounded by stunning views across Loch Ken & surrounding countryside. A beautiful backdrop for wedding photo's. The Bridal bouquet was possibly the most scented I can remember making. Soft peachy pink Garden Roses & Sweet Peas, with delicate Daisies & Nigella. Just very light & airy as Myumi is petite. At the door, two large flower arrangements stood tall & inside the Kirk, boxes of Summer flowers welcomed guests to their seats. Again, deliciously scented Garden Roses & Sweet Peas plus plenty of Daisies & 'froth' from the Flower Farm in Summer. And of course, all grown sustainably here in Scotland for minimal 'flower miles'. Arranged without floral foam or plastics. It wasn't a long commute to work for me - just to the other side of Loch Ken! Balmaghie Kirk is available for hire for weddings,funerals, christenings/naming ceremonies of any denomination. For more information, visit the Balmaghie Kirk website     Photo credit Lorna MacLeod  Here's a gorgeous confetti shot of Rosie & Gregor at their wedding at Crichton Memorial Church, Dumfries in early July. The bright bouquet flowers (all grown here at the Flower Farm) really pop in the sunshine. It included our garden Roses, Honeysuckle & Sweet Peas for scent. Congratulations to both & thank you for sharing the photo. Photo credit Nicola Hunter.  Bridal Bouquet closeup Rosie ordered a 'Bloom Bucket' of our mixed Summer flowers, collected the day before the wedding. Family members arranged the flowers to decorate the wedding venue.  'Bloom Bucket' of Summer Flowers |
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. 
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Growing Gorgeous Seasonal Cut Flowers & Foliage in Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Flower Farmer Florist Castle Douglas, Flower Farm Scotland, Wedding Flowers Castle Douglas, Florist Castle Douglas, Funeral Flowers Castle Douglas, Sympathy flowers Castle Douglas, wedding florist Dumfries & Galloway, Wedding florist Kirkcudbright, wedding florist Gatehouse of Fleet, natural funeral flowers Dumfries & Galloway, wild wedding flowers Dumfries & Galloway, wedding flowers Ayr, wedding flowers Ayrshire
Flower Farmer Florist Castle Douglas, Flower Farm Scotland, Wedding Flowers Castle Douglas, Florist Castle Douglas, Funeral Flowers Castle Douglas, Sympathy flowers Castle Douglas, wedding florist Dumfries & Galloway, Wedding florist Kirkcudbright, wedding florist Gatehouse of Fleet, natural funeral flowers Dumfries & Galloway, wild wedding flowers Dumfries & Galloway, wedding flowers Ayr, wedding flowers Ayrshire