Wildstone Floral

28/01/2025

“How did you arrive at the name Wildstone Floral?” a rather fabulous person asked me last week. I very rarely get asked that. Perhaps only twice since I began this business journey back in 2021.

Many years ago I worked as a picture researcher and archivist. Both those roles took a balance of creativity and resourcefulness, combined with a very practical approach. To collate images from a wide range of sources, guided by your own ingenuity, but consolidated by the size of frame, page placement, budget, timescales and ‘house style’ as dictated by the editor and art director.

Floristry is much the same. Bountiful creativity tempered by the practicality of logistics, sustainability, price points and many other considerations.

I grew up in a very wild and rural part of the country too. Country life has its own plethora of daily logistics and considerations.

So ‘Wild’ is the free flowing creativity, and my Suffolk roots. ‘Stone’ is the practical foundations that make the creative side possible, and ‘Floral’ because I design with flowers!

Hopefully not a boring or disappointing answer, but it’s the honest answer.

I still very much love the name and identify with it. However, I have also fully given myself permission to change it if I ever deem it worthwhile and necessary.

It’s all one long flowing and flowering journey, for which I am very thankful.

📸 by the wonderful whose rich and dark aesthetic perfectly matches mine, and reflects my reportage past.

19/01/2025

A spent being productive in the garden, surrounded by shooting bulbs (those that haven’t been dug up by the squirrels…). My favourite spring flowering bulb has to be Fritillary Meleagris. They look beautiful when combined with many other seasonal delights. However, I do also love the elegant simplicity of just a few stems in a delicate little bowl, so you can fully appreciate their outlines and subtle movements.

Mechanic: A tiny little Kenzan.

19/01/2025

When selecting florals, I take time to observe their individual characteristics. For example, beautiful Chrysanthemum Baltazar Flame has these lovely delicate blush petals, whose tips are a pale golden lime yellow. It’s an elegant contrast that I felt worthy of enhancement. I chose some double ruffled terracotta Eustoma to complement the blush tones, but also enhance the golden tips with their lime yellow buds. This two-in-one approach helps reduce the floral spend without compromising on impact. The festive foliages are still going strong, so I made use of those to create shape and texture. No sense in them going to waste while they are still so vibrant!

Chrysanthemum, Eustoma, Eucalyptus berries, Magnolia, Heidelbeer, Acacia, Juniper, Conifer.

Bowl by using a hairpin frog.

17/01/2025

13/01/2025

Some glorious leftovers from the mantel arrangement. Holding their own in a darkened corner (no light corners in a January house!). Perfectly held in a favourite vase by

Allium, Hellebore.

12/01/2025

Ending a very fabulous 44th birthday weekend with the first arrangement in my Christmas Beswick mantle vase!

Magnolia, Hellebore, Amaryllis, Butterfly Ranunculus, Allium. I used the original frog and there was no need for any other mechanic.

09/01/2025

Birthday Eve arrangement in my new vintage vase! It’s got this lovely glaze pattern which reminds me of swirling seawater, or when you clean a paintbrush by swooshing it in a jam jar of water. Beautifully stylish shape too, with a pleasingly narrow neck.

Acacia, some festive foliage still holding strong, double ruffled terracotta Eustoma and soft burgundy Chrysanthemum.

08/01/2025

Even in the depths of winter, there’s so much life in the garden. I braved the cold, and found many bulbs peeking up through the damp earth. Little green tips which will transform into these! Beautiful Narcissi and Fritillary. There’s decent buds on the Pieris Japonica too! All waiting patiently for their time to bloom, when I shall celebrate them, by creating a 100% homegrown arrangement in a lovely little bowl.

Narcissi, Pieris & Snakeshead Fritillary from the garden.
Bowl by with a small Kenzan to stabilise.

07/01/2025

Look what Santa brought me! Actually, it was my brilliant Mum and Dad who fortunately live very close to and he has a very good eye for such things.

A beautifully sculptural Beswick footed mantle vase with original wire frog. I’ve had a floral delivery this morning of various lovely things, and I shall attempt to do this piece justice tomorrow. I just need the Amaryllis to open, then it’s all systems go!

I might need to coax them into bloom by sitting them close to the radiator. Any other suggestions then me know!

07/01/2025

Still going strong! Festive foliage leftovers which I arranged on the 20th December for the Christmas table. Now ready for a mini refresh, but still all very textural and beautiful.

I’ve used a hairpin frog in a bowl by and topped up the water every three days since I created it. I purposefully make my Christmas arrangements ‘winter neutral’ so they feel appropriate throughout January, or until the first bulbs start flowering.

Having said that, I have treated myself to some very lovely fresh flowers ahead of my birthday this Friday…!

02/01/2025

Happy New Year! Somewhat belated, but I’ve been drinking champagne and taking the Xmas decorations down. A tradition in this house is the 1st January deep clean. I cannot tolerate pine needles after this point. No clinging onto baubles until Twelfth Night! I’m getting the hoover out and starting afresh.

Another essential post Christmas decor refresh is filling various corners with dried floral arrangements. This one is a particular favourite. A jug gifted by filled with Jobs Tears, which is a rather fabulous millet type plant. Expertly grown and dried naturally by Andy

Dried flowers aren’t just for winter, but they do come into their own this season. I’ll be sharing more designs and tips about how I approach creating with dried flowers as the winter progresses.

18/12/2024

The last of the wreaths! It’s been a lovely December, and I’m ready to rest my hands and enjoy the remainder of the season.

I have the capacity (both mental and physical!) for one more wreath. If you’re late to the party and would like me to elevate your front door, then get in touch via email or DM. Collection from Redhill, Surrey only.

16/12/2024

The annual festive pilgrimage to to lunch and acquire more fabulous vintage baubles for the seasonal collection.

From a week or so ago. If you’re lucky they’ll be a few treasures for your tree left!

04/12/2024

Another day of wreathing produced a very special commission. I think this might be my favourite one yet! All those beautiful textures, and those extra extra decadent Banksia Coccinea. Completed with some sumptuous silk velvet ribbon, ready to be gift boxed in the morning.

30/11/2024

A glistening everlasting winters bough to catch the light, and lift a darkened corner. Made with honesty, various grasses and other soft beige elements. Finished with chiffon ribbon. One is available to purchase now .collectiveshop_ in with only another three available to preorder.

Webshop will open soon, but I’ve been delayed and the backend of it takes a surprising amount of faffage! I’ll get there eventually…

You can always order via DM or email should you be so inclined!

26/11/2024

The second fresh foliage bough design I am offering this year. More foliage varieties than the cotton option of yesterday, and embellished with Eucalyptus fruits. Refined, elegant and textural.

Two of these are now gracing the frontage of a very lovely house. The season is absolutely underway!

25/11/2024

The first of two festive bough (swag) designs I have created for this Christmas. Featuring brilliant white cotton, with fresh and frosty textural foliages. Completed by a generous length of polyester velvet ribbon (also available in green).

Available to order online very soon, and currently available to purchase at .collectiveshop_ in Westerham.

Collection from Westerham or my Redhill studio. No deliveries this year. There just isn’t the time!

Online shop opening this week once I’ve managed to photograph everything in this low light!