Castle Combe Flower Patch

Spring feels just around the corner and the thought of starting to sow seeds for this year’s cutting garden is so exciting … but hang fire! We need to wait for the daylight levels to return to at least 10 hours. An easy way to remember is to sow after Valentine’s Day. If you sow too early, you may still get some seeds to germinate, but the likelihood is they will be weak, and sickly little seedlings. By holding fire just another few weeks, your germination rates should be higher and the health and success of your seedlings will be much better.

People say “I’m just not very creative!” but with some gentle guidance, gorgeous local foliage and a happy atmosphere, they make a beautiful wreath to take home. Thank you @samantha_charlwood, @victoriabowes, @fiona1250, @mel_pritchard88, Nicola and Jen for coming here last night. And yes, we laughed a LOT!

Join me for some festive fun creating your own Christmas wreath. I will show you how to make a beautiful and sustainable wreath that is 100% compostable. I have cut willow from a friend’s garden and made 10” wreaths that I’ve wrapped in Cornish moss using natural twine. You will choose from a lovely variety of locally grown foliage to create your base, and then decorate with a selection of dried flowers and seed heads from my summer crops, hips, holly berries, dried fruits, feathers, pine cones and ribbon. I always love to see how people create. Each guest can choose from the same materials, but their wreaths will be completely unique! 6th and 13th December are now sold out, but you can message me to join the workshop on Sat 9th December, or email me at [email protected]

Gorgeous morning here in sunny Wiltshire! Some garden jobs to do this morning, then off to Dauntsey’s to watch my boy play rugby. Perfect day to be outside.

Review of 2023 - Summer This summer was quite challenging! July and August were unseasonably chilly and wet, meaning that whilst some plants thrived, others who need the warmth, really struggled. My dahlias were late coming in to flower which meant I was relying on the roses for beautiful statement blooms. Olivia Rose, Gertrude Jekyll and Queen of Sweden from @david_austin_roses have been incredible! This year has been my first foray into small scale wedding florals. Such a responsibility to provide beautiful flowers for a bride’s big day, and a bit nerve wracking! As I was growing the flowers, rather than just ordering them in, I became slightly obsessed by the weather forecasts, and there was plenty of pacing by the flowerbeds, imagining what would be perfect to pick on time. I’m happy to say that all my brides said they were delighted with their bouquets and arrangements! Grateful to my son @ollygoodall._ for helping out with the strimming and mowing this summer! Pocket money well earned x My stalwart helper this year, and sole employee, @ollie_matthews01, has come rain or shine, arrived once a week after school to do the heavy lifting and shifting, the digging and weeding. He’s an absolute gem of a teenager and will be an asset to any future employer. Thank you Ollie! #britishflowers #localflowers #buybritish #buylocal #castlecombe #wiltshire #wiltshireflorist #wiltshirelife

Beautiful mushroom! Anyone know what it is? 🤷‍♀️

Frost is forecast for tonight and tomorrow night so the fleece will stay in place until Monday morning. Keeping my fingers crossed that this buys an extra couple of weeks to the growing season! 🤞

The first frost of autumn is forecast tomorrow night, so despite feeling grotty with a cold, I’ve been out cutting all the dahlias in bloom. I will get the horticultural fleece over them tomorrow in the hope that I can keep them going a bit longer. Any kind of frost will kill off a dahlia plant in hours but I’m crossing fingers that the fleece will protect them 🤞

Don’t grow something you don’t like! You won’t use it in bouquets and it will stand there unloved and neglected. I don’t feel too bad about this one though, as it was sent to me in error - certainly NOT the beautiful white with a tinge of lilac Wittem variety that I had actually ordered! I will lift the tubers at the end of next month, so let me know if you want it? xx

First bouquet of the season! Still very early for much to be ready for picking, but this pretty bouquet has hellebores, daffodils and foliage from my garden, along with Cornish tulips to really help brighten it up. Come on Spring, I’m ready for you!

Springtime! Not Snowtime! 😳🙄🤪🥶

Spent the morning bottling up another batch of Castle Combe Honey to go to Yatton Keynell Village Store. It’s on sale there now, so if you’re local, pop in and grab yourself a jar of absolute yumminess!

The flower patch is a tad damp this morning! Sieving out the floating tulip bulbs and hoping the anemones will survive their bath! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Castle Combe Flower Patch

“Say it with flowers”, they say, but what are you thinking? Happy birthday! Happy anniversary! I love you! I’m sorry! Just because! There are so many reasons we gift each other beautiful flowers. Whatever you’re thinking, make sure you say it with natural, sustainably grown, British blooms. #castlecombe #castlecombeflowerpatch #britishflowers #buybritish #smallbusiness #supportlocalbusiness