Silver Grey Foliage

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Silver Grey Foliage

We are a small eucalyptus and flower grower in Headingley Leeds. We grow and sell our flowers locally at Bare_Coffee. We also provide gift bouquets.
(17)

Our first love is wreaths! We do weddings and events with a mixture of grown and flown flowers.

06/04/2024

Apparently it is warmer than it looks!

So Tulips for bouquets and bunches are ready a week ahead of schedule!

I have popped Tulip bouquets on the website for collection all weekend. £10 £25 £50

Come and collect some joy for your weekend!

Link in picture and in our bio!

05/09/2023

When you start a business it’s worth keeping an open mind.

It’s also worth testing different models to see what you like the best.

And it’s worth noticing what other people think that you are good at.

Because often, we miss our strengths by trying to mould our businesses into who/what we think it ‘should’ look like.

I’m just saying… because on reflection, Silver Grey Foliage in 2023 looks nothing like what I hoped for in 2019, dreamt about in 2020, worked on in 2021, and grew in 2022.

My thought of the day, and some flowers too.

Rebecca

24/08/2023

I love to keep a healthy dose of reality on these squares.

So here is part of out bathroom full of flowers from this morning.

It’s the cool, dark, well-ventilated space where we condition your flowers.

So far it has seen approximately 40000 stems this year!

Our growing capacity will significantly increase next season for our wholesale customers and DIY Weddings. We’ll need a bigger bathroom🤣 🤭🙉

Happy Thursday to you all.

Rebecca

09/08/2023

It’s Wednesday.

Just popping these here because cutting and wrapping them made me smile.

I hope they make you smile too.

Rebecca

31/07/2023

We dodged the rain.

My helpers were utterly delighted by this! 3 Dahlia flowers on one stem and each with different colours🤯

Nature is fabulous isn’t it?!

Rebecca

30/07/2023

It feels a little like autumn outside.

The weekend has been filled with:

Weeding
Bed prep
Walks with friends and dogs
Jousting
Ginger cookies
Checking the propagator
Wine
Paying the tax bill🙄
Cake
Sleep
Plant protection

And confirming a very very special crop order for next spring!!

28/07/2023

Hi everyone!

It's been a busy week back.

The week at Silver Grey has looked like:

Cutting for orders
Cutting for drying
Deadheading
Feeding our flowers
Collecting seeds
Weeding
Protecting crops
Sowing seeds

We're taking orders for next week. Wholesale and bouquet orders are welcome.

My two helpers are enjoying earning some pennies over the holidays, and I would be very grateful if you'd keep them busy!

Thank you ☺️

Rebecca

17/07/2023

A summer’s bouquet with a crisp kraft paper collar.

For a bouquet like this one, I almost build the bouquet in layers.

I like to make sure that some flowers are clustered as you would fine them in the garden.

And I always make sure that there is an abundance of colour and texture and scent.

Delivered to a man who smiled and just for a moment, before I dashed off, I watched his eyes dance over the flowers.

A bouquet of flowers is always the perfect gift.

12/07/2023

I escaped to the field this evening. I did need to cut flowers, but I also needed to empty my head.

These made me smile. 🙃

12/07/2023

It’s taken a while for me to feel genuine affection for Dahlia.

In our first year I chose based on recommendations and was happy enough, but not overwhelmed.

In our second year, nothing seemed to be the colour that I ordered.

Last year I seemed to have tonnes of yellow! I love yellow, but our customers don’t love yellow Dahlia!

This year’s collection are entirely new and curated to fit the shapes that I like and the colours that my customer love.

They have absolutely loved the rain that we have had over the past few days!

Infact last year they performed much better in September once the summer had cooled down and the rains came.

I guess I had to learn how to love them.. Are you a Dahlia fan?

11/07/2023

Behind me in this picture is the fence of our new field area.

This fence has had more attention this year than I care to admit.

First we put up stock fencing to keep the sheep out.

Then we trenched chicken wire to keep out the rabbits (we still have rabbits).

Today the children helped Antony to raise the fence to keep out the Deer that ate the tops off my entire Phlox crop over the weekend. And a few things.

I tell you, growing the flowers is the easy bit🤯

04/07/2023

All of these reasons are true, and there is one more......

Records form memories that we can look back on and see how far we have come.

They help you to give yourself a well deserved smile.

Order your Flower Farmer's Planner now in the Pre-Order Period to receive the best price.

Thank you
Rebecca

03/07/2023

If you look back to our posts about The Flower Farmer's Planner for 2023, I wrote alot about dealing with the overwhelm that Flower Farmer's experience and how The Flower Farmer’s Planner helps.

Overwhelm happens when there is too much to do and an abscence of priority. It’s horrible.

There will always be more things to do. The question that you need to be asking though is ‘what needs doing now?’

The Flower Farmer’s Planner helps you to work out what has been done and which step needs doing next.

Because in reality you can only influence what you need to do now.

Use the structures in your Flower Farmer’s Planner 2024 to keep you moving forward.

We’re into the 2nd week of the pre-order period. Follow the link in our bio or in the stories to order yours.

Rebecca

26/06/2023

Hi!

We are Rebecca and Antony and together we have grown Silver Grey Foliage from a crazy, silly, dream into a growing Flower Farm cutting 10's of thousands of stems each year.

We are based in Headingley, minutes away from the Cricket ground and surrounded by a vibrant and diverse community. We love it here.

We grow our flowers for Florists, DIY weddings, Bouquets and subscriptions.

We grow our foliage for Florists, Wreaths and Eucalyptus subscriptions and bouquets.

If you are a Florist in Leeds, or further away, drop me a message to see how we can work together.

Antony and I established Silver Grey Foliage in 2019. From courses, books, people and the internet Antony have learned about everything from setting up our Flower Farm to running our website.

Going from nothing and no knowledge to growing and profitable in 4 years has been a steep learning curve. There is genuinely so much to know and so much to do.

How we have done this does not fit into a post on Social Media! However the structures underpinning how we PLAN, PREPARE, GROW, CUT and SELL can be summarised to help you to work efficiently and effectively.

This is why we wrote The Flower Farmer's Planner.

Don't get me wrong. The Flower Farmer's Planner DOES NOT do the work for you! But we hope that if you use it well, you will be better equipped to .

The Pre-Order window for the 2024 edition is now open. Order yours now by tapping the picture, following the link in our bio or heading to our website: www.silvergreyfoliage.com

Thank you

Rebecca

Photograph by the talented -

18/06/2023

Evening everyone!

It takes a few years for a business to settle and take shape.

Along the way you learn so much from the things that go well and the things that don't go so well.

I learn the most from the things that go wrong and the unintentional wins!

To learn, progress and grow your Flower Farm your recollections need to be firm and clear.

And as you start and become established, your intuition needs to be supported by fact and firmly planted foundations.

This is why I wrote the first edition of the Flower Farmer's Planner for 2023.

I too have learned a lot through completing this first cycle. Thanks to this learning, and your generous and supportive feedback, The Flower Farmer's Planner 2024 is on its way.

The Pre-Order for the 2024 Edition will open on Sunday June 25th for 2 weeks. To be notified and to receive more information, follow the link in our bio.

Let's Get On And Grow!

Rebecca

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03/06/2023

The thing about Flower Farming is that you have to be able to handle 💩

We buy is, collect is, shovel it from stables, spread it, water it, talk about it.

I think Antony and I talk about sourcing 💩 more than we talk about sourcing plants🤣

It’s not glamorous and it’s not beautiful. But it helps to make the amazing soil that we work more fertile and moisture retentive.

Because we farm from the ground up, 💩is an incredibly important part of our business.

I like to share these things with you!

Rebecca

With the most enormous thank you to for taking this picture for me the day after she photographed a true career highlight. I feel genuinely honoured to work with all of our extended team.

01/06/2023

At the back end of last year, life started to throw a few curve balls at Family Silver Grey.

It became apparent very, very quickly that the plan for 2023 would need modification.

Many of you know, that I like to plan 🤣.

In fact, I wrote The Flower Farmer’s Planner 2023 and we’re working on improvements for the 2024 edition steadily.

The thing is that we had a plan. This meant that no matter how wobbly we felt, it was possible to work out what we really wanted for our Flower Farming Business.

As we have stripped away the parts of our planning that can wait, wierdly it’s made me more confident and the business feels stronger.

I guess my learning for today, is that to ‘Get On and Grow’ you need to plant your feet firmly, be willing to wobble and have a plan.

Because the plan is where you start. It doesn’t have to be where you finish.

Just my thoughts.

Rebecca

23/05/2023

Last year I went to flower school to learn about sustainable funeral flower methods.

I loved my 3 days .

And I found it hard! The floristry was well explained and taught with a nurturing intention to 'let me, be me.'

But the flowers were not mine. I said it then, and I'll say it again now, I found this SO hard.

And it truly raised my already high impressions of the florists that we supply and work with.

I understand that it is hard not recognising everything in our flower buckets.

I understand the desire to control stem numbers.

I understand that the feel of our flowers is different.

I understand that our flowers bend and make movements of their own.

I understand the trust that you are putting in us every time that you place an order.

I understand that it takes a real confidence in us as flower farmers to test and try what we offer.

Today in the Silver Grey workshop I taught an amazing woman, phenomenal florist and friend to trust herself and learn something new.

Because our flowers may be different, special and unique, but your creative skill, intuition and experience as a florist will never change.

Today's challenge is to trust yourself and to seek opportunities to learn to trust something different. I promise, you'll never be bored of your flower deliveries ever again!

Rebecca

21/05/2023

After a weekend moving compost, handling the end product of our work was pure joy.

Maybe more joyous because Miss Silver Grey, who doesn’t like flowers, liked the flowers🤣🤷🏽‍♀️

And Mr Silver Grey, my delivery man, exclaimed at their beauty after washing off another day’s worth of compost/suncream/sweat.

It’s no longer spring, so we’ll be updating the website with pay as you go options shortly.

It feels like abundance has started at the field, but honestly, there is so much to come that I’m trying to contain my excitement!

I’ll do a May field tour soon before the end of the month 🤓

Rebecca 🌿

15/05/2023

I drive past this quote almost every day. The quote is on the side of one of the buildings in the centre of Leeds.

Yesterday as I walked home from yoga the streets of Headingley were lined with well mannered and vibrant support for runners.

12000 people ran a very very long way inspired by a man that they have never met!

I wonder how many times those runners wondered:

'Can I do this?'
'Will I finish?'
'Will anyone cheer me on?'
'Do I have the legs for this?'

26 miles! 26 miles they ran! I can't imagine the pain at miles 10.

Growing flowers in England is full of adversity.

And when you're creating this business, you MUST allow yourself to dream.

And when you are questioning whether it is a realistic dream, maybe even asking yourself the same questions posed by those runners; look to those that you don't 'know'.

Notice their approach and notice how this may help you.

Then, dare to dream some more.

Rebecca

With special thanks today to of helping me to dream.

13/05/2023

These are buds of hope and a sign of growth here at Silver Grey Foliage.

Florists, we’ll be cutting from 180 Rose shrubs this year.

I expect the first Roses to be ready for w/c 22 May. They’ll be a soft apricootty-peach and scented.

Suitable for local collection and delivery. We can sometimes offer a half way meet if you are not nearby.

Email [email protected] to order.

11/05/2023

I had a visitor at the field today.

My big brother came up to see what I was up to. He’ll probably report back to mum 🤣🤓

We played a game of ‘weed or not weed’ - it was a bit niche for him but he was a good sport😂

I talked him through what is up there and the plans for what happens next.

And because all visitors must offer a benefit, I played to his strengths and applied his skills to a questionnaire about The Flower Farmer’s Planner that will be in your inboxes shortly.

When you’re so close to what you are doing and it means so much, it is easy to forget how far you have come.

He saw organised, structured, productive space. As this is the aim, I’ll rest a little easier tonight.

Rebecca

07/05/2023

This lawnmower is 20 years old and hasn’t been moved for 2 years but today it’s done one hell of a day’s work!

Catch up with work in the field on our YouTube channel.

The link is in our bio and stories!

It’s a good one!

06/05/2023

The last time that Antony and I took a formal portrait together was on our wedding day 13 years ago.

On that day, I didn’t envisage our lives together meaning working in business together.

Your support for our Urban Flower Farm in Leeds has been phenomenal. We are literally growing.

Thank you to every florist, every subscription customer, every bridal couple, gift order, curious neighbour and Farmer Paul for all the support you have given us

Flowers bring great joy. And whatever your view on the Royal Family, we are proud to represent British Flowers as part of today at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Possibly more important to Antony and I today is the opportunity to share publicly with our family and friends the potential of what we have begun here at Silver Grey Foliage, in Leeds.

03/05/2023

Geum Mai Tai…

The shortest stems that I have cut this season.

Some of the tulips this season have had 80cm stems.

I often wonder whether stems so long are necessary… 🤔

Florists, what do you think? How long do stems need to be?

02/05/2023

I walked around the field to ight to@clear my head.

I love showing you what’s up there, so in tonight short video, I’ve showed you a couple of things about our Dahlia cuttings, Peonies, ants and sustainable feeds/defences.

The link to the video is in our stories and our bio.

Rebecca

26/04/2023

A couple of weeks ago at Wednesday night yoga (AKA- the hard class) the instructor shared this:

“You cannot be in control of the results. Just the effort that you put in.”

These words have really helped me over the past few weeks to keep going each day.

The activity in the gardens at HQ is one marker of the effort that Antony and I apply to grow your flowers.

I made a video on Saturday as I enjoyed a restorative day amongst the birds and the weeds and aome flowers too🤣

The link is in our stories and our bio.

Rebecca 🌿

25/04/2023

Well, I did think twice about posting these off to today.

I mean, imagine a vase of these on your kitchen table!

So far this season we’ve chugged through almost 3000 tulips!

And there are still more to come over the next couple of weeks.

One variety is the only one that we have grown every year since 2019.

Akebono is yellow. Golden yellow. It has hints of red and the most gorgeous stems.

If I had a thing for legs I’d describe them in the same way🤣

We’ve never got through them this quickly.

So, a genuine heartfelt thank you goes out to our customers.

Thank you.

Rebecca and Antony 🌿

23/04/2023

Today 3 gorgeous ladies came to the first Flower Play Session for 2023.

We talked, I answered questions, we cooed over flowers and foliage.

We shared about life, we were quiet, we ate cake and drank tea (blue) from and looked out at the garden.

3 gorgeous ladies with an eye for beauty filled bowls for the first time with flowers and smiled with pride at their creations.

All of our workshops are small.

They are all around the kitchen table.

They are all with our expectation.

Flower Play workshops are now available to book on our website until October.

Link in bio!

Rebecca

20/04/2023

Flower Farming requires SOOOO much patience.

The photography is a bit out of focus, but the Polytunnel is ready to pop with a hundred or so Ranunculus next week.

But I was wondering, as a florist, would you rather receive your flower like this or fully open?

Let me know in the comments…

Rebecca

Address

Headingley
Leeds

Website

http://www.silvergreyfoliage.com/

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Videos

We’ve snuck away 🤓 In the video I talk about the Flower Farmer’s Planner. The proof is now with the printer! There is alot of information in the video so do watch and listen! Just a quick reminder that the the Pre-order price ends on Sunday at 4pm GMT😬 More tomorrow Rebecca #getonandgrow #flowerfarminglife #growingflowersfromseed #growingflowersforcutting #flowerfarmrecords #britishflowergrower #flowergrower #flowerfarmer #growbetterflowers #flowerfarmersplanner #flowerfarmerflorist #flowerfarmrecordkeeping

October flowers…. #britishflowersoctober #seasonalgiftbouquet #giftsforflowerlovers #leeds #yorkshire #bramhope

The world of Silver Grey Foliage started with Eucalyptus. I hold my hands up in the knowledge that planting 18 Eucalyptus in your garden is neither a logical response, nor a rational approach to planning a friend’s wedding flowers. Especially when I was never going to be able to use them for that wedding🤣 My comments over the video are actually wrong because there 2 test plots at the field. In one, we learnt about grass. Yes. Grass! In the other we have learnt about spacing and varieties that are suitable for the field. So in the video are the relative babies of our Eucalyptus! They are our 4th and largest plantation. We grow 10 varieties in total and they have all been selected under thd keen instruction and immense support of Hillary (and Ben) @hardyeucalyptus.hilary Hillary taught us the steps that we need to take when planting. It’s guided the successfull planting of all of our shrubs and foliage. It’s not the cheapest or the quickest method. And we could definitely grow more if we skipped a few steps. However the planning, preparation. planting and protection means that we have productive trees. And the method works every time! This year we’ll have enough for all of our workshops and for wholesale/retail orders. Do get in touch if you’d like to know more! You could decorate your home, your shop, your church, your winter wedding…. I’d love to talk Rebecca #silvergreyfoliage #britisheucalyptus #seasonalfoliage #leedsfoliage #foliageforflorists #learningourway #leedsindependentbusiness #leedsbusiness #eucalyptusdecor #eucalyptusshower #shopdecoration #winterwedding #sustainablechurchflowers #sustainablechurches #leeds #getonandgrow

My friends I have failed you…. I haven’t posted a single picture of orders leaving through the red door this week. A huge thank you for all of your wholesale orders! We’ve cut so much that the spreadsheet is behind🤣🤭 We’ll be delivering subscription bunches and bouquets today before taking a couple of days by the sea. I do hope that you’re well. Rebecca 🌿 Ps The first batch of dried flowers are almost ready. There’ll be a list with prices in the next Florist’s newsletter. If you’d like to receive the list, please drop me a message. Thank you. #seasonalcutflowers #aglimpseofjoy #leedsflowers #leedsflowergrower #getonandgrow #britishflower #britishfoliage

I’ve only used Roses in 2 bridal bouquets this year. And I haven’t used a single Peony😎 The Peonies have ALL had a holiday this year. I love Roses, they’re a flower close to my heart, so we’ve been nursing just over 100 of new Rose bushes this year so that next year, we’ll have more Roses for our brides and florists. Just thought I’d let you know🤓 #seasonalflowers #growingroses #leedsflowergrower #yorkshireflowergrower #bridalbouquetleeds #weddingflowersleeds #britishfloral #britishfloraldesign

Every Sunday Antony and I discuss which week I mean when I say ‘This week’. So for clarity, these flowers and more were cut over the last 7 days. Thank you so much to all of you for ordering flowers from us. Every order helps Silver Grey (Antony and I) inch closer to our dream. I do dare to dream. So rarely do I dare to hope that a dream might come true. Thank you Rebecca and Antony Growers of honest flowers and foliage in Yorkshire. #thankyou #yorkshireflowers #yorkshireflowergrower #flowersforyorkshireflorists #getonandgrow

When we started in 2019, I used an old lazy susan to make my arrangements. It leant to the right no matter how many times I weighed down the left. I bought a new cake decorating spinner last season . It’s a revelation to work on something flat and stable! I unpacked it this week in preparation for next week’s wedding. I thought I’d see if it made short films any easier. I’m not convinced but it was a fun experiment. You’ll forgive me if I point my phone/camera in one direction at a time mostly. This bucket for Nicola is the penultimate order for this week. Orders have included: 🌿Cosmos Bipanthus doubles 🌿Snapdragon 🌿Amaranthus hot biscuit and coral shades 🌿Dahlia 🌿Marjoram 🌿Morocan Mint 🌿Perennial and annual Scabious 🌿Nigella seedpods 🌿Achillea-Cassis, Proa, Love Parade and Goldplate 🌿Ammi V 🌿Hydrangea Annabelle 🌿Limonium 🌿Agapanthus 🌿Physocarpus and if I’m allowed just one favourite, strawflowers! When the sun comes back to Yorkshire there will be buckets of Dahlia! I can’t wait. They’re all ready to pop. Happy Thursday! Rebecca ❤️🌿 #seasonalflowers #flowersforflorists #yorkshireflowerfarm #yorkshireflowers #favouriteflowers #Yorkshire #Leeds

We must have had alot of faith in Silver Grey when we did those first workshops in 2019…. Today we’re doing our first big workshops of the year. Corporate workshops for 40 in total! I was quite clear that we wouldn’t have clean aprons for every set of 10. We have 30, which is pretty close! With the most enormous thanks to Mr Silver Grey for washing, ironing and packing this essential piece of kit away every time they’re used. These aprons have seen a fair few box sets! And alot of Wreaths too! 🤣 #corporateevents #corporatechristmas #corporatechristmasparty #corporatechristmasdecorations #corporatewellbeing #corporatewellnessprograms #teambuildingideas #teambuildingactivity #sustainablebuildingdesign #yorkshire #leeds And yes, we are taking bookings for group parties this Christmas. 🤭

So it’s peak flower season and we’re cutting buckets or fresh flowers all the time. We’re also cutting flowers specifically for drying. Most flowers are cut for drying when they are in peak condition. With the foliage and fillers that I dry, I cut some early on. Allowing the drying process to start on the plant outside means that you get a gorgeous range of colours naturally. We don’t dye our flowers. Nature does a wonderful job all in its own. The children and I cut a boot full of Bupleurum, Nigella and scabious for drying today after holiday club and before the rain! #getonandgrow #cutflowersfordrying #naturallyairdried #naturallydriedflowers #goldentones #everlastingflowers #workingwithnature #seasonalbounty #slowflowers #slowfloralstyle #driedflowers #slowliving #slowsimpleseasonal #thefloralseasons

A June Bridal Bouquet The trust that our brides put in us and nature is humbling. Our brides trust that the combinations of colour and texture provided by our field and garden will be perfect on their special day. To Cat and Rob-may your marriage be filled with colour and fun forever! Rebecca ❤️🌿 #junebridalbouquet #grownnotflown #yorkshireweddingflorist #bouquetandbuckets #yorkshireweddingflowers #diywedding #yorkshireweddingflowers #flowersfromthefarm #leeds

DIY Flower arranger’s buckets. You don’t have to be a florist to use our flowers. Everyone can, and will make something beautiful. A wedding party and a business that I have always know for it’s Gold Picture frames are feasting on our flowers today. My wish for them is that they have so much fun! #flowerarrangersbuckets #flowerstoplaywith #throughthereddoor #diyflowerarrangement #leeds #flowersgrowninleeds #flowersmakepeoplehappy

My brief was ‘wild’ with Orange… Congratulations to Emma and Matthew. May you forever be remain chilled, dedicated to your causes and spontaneous! Rebecca and Antony ❤️🌿 #flowersgrowninleeds #yorkshireflowerfarm #flowergrower #britishfloral #britishflowersrock #intimateweddingflowers #orangeflowers #seasonalweddingflowers

I cut these for me yesterday. Our kitchen smells sweet and musky this morning. I also cut a bucket full if these long stemmed garden Roses for weddings this weekend. The strange thing is that even though I know these Rosee are white, in bud the petals are pink! Flowers are so clever! #gardenrose #englishroses #britishweddingflowers #cutflowerfarm #yorkshireweddingflowers #yorkshireflowerfarm #leedsflowerfarm #locallygrownweddingflowers #leedsflowers

Thank you! #thankyouforyoursupport #leedsflowerfarmer #yorkshireflowerfarm #leedsflowergrower #yorkshireflowergrower @meanwood_market

Shortcuts

Who are Silver Grey Foliage?

Who are we? Antony and I (Rebecca) are husband and wife and lovers of foliage and flowers.

Where are we? Based in Headingley, Leeds, we grow flowers and foliage in our garden (at present) and design and create floral arrangements here too.

What do we do? Firstly we grow and sell seasonal flowers and foliage. Our Eucalyptus plantation is planted and in it’s first year! Our flowers are currently available daily at Bare Coffee, Far Headingley. We provide weekly flower bouquets to local businesses from our own and sourced stock. We cater for events from weddings to wreath workshops and corporate team building events from our own and sourced produce.

Why? In life there are many things that we can do, there are lots of things that we like to do, but there are few things that we love to do. Growing and working with foliage and flowers is something that we LOVE to do and this resonates through what we produce.