Alison Bentley Flowers

03/01/2024

Happy New Year to all.,so lovely to get out for a big walk around the farm.The rain stayed away,looking forward to some blue sky,thermals at the ready 😄

10/08/2023

VALE OF GLAMORGAN SHOW 2023
The best day with my flower friends. helping to promote Flowers from the Farm and local flowers
Our floral displays were well received especially the photo wreath and flower dog cart.
Joining me on the day were


guthrie
Thank you to
for the fabulous gladioli and dahlias .


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14/07/2023

It is all in the detail.
Alex"s dress was just beautiful so the flowers needed to gently complement a lovely mix of soft colours on the cusp of spring/summer
Photography
Dress
Flowers

27/06/2023

And the bride carried a handtied teardrop bouquet of summer flowers including roses,freesias,peony,oxypetalum,silene vulgaris, nigella and alchemilla mollis.

26/06/2023

Just loved the colours for yesterday"s wedding at .A palette of apricot,pinks,orange,raspberry and pale blues,just yummy and reflecting the glorious colours of summer.

27/05/2023

27/05/2023

A taste of summer this week,what glorious weather .
Foxgloves,alliums,peonies,orlaya,verbascum,and garden roses were amongst the beautiful flowers we used to adorn the lovely
Thank you to my fellow growers


and my lovely team .

09/05/2023

Early morning picking with Sam , pictured here holding some of the flowers we picked for a funeral this week.

26/04/2023

A weaved wreath of hazel and silver birch decorated with a cluster of spring flowers from the gardens ,a tribute for a gentleman who loved nature.
A little posy to compliment,the cream rununculus are a lovely soft lemon.
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11/04/2023

Never get tired of creating a vision ,soft shades of pinks and peaches for the staircase at this Easter.
Branches of locally grown blossom and spirea just adding the ooh and ahhhs to the scene Thank you to Rob for the most beautiful tulips .Pop over to stories for a video.Happy Easter everyone .

06/04/2023

We are back,been a busy little bee sowing ,growing and transplanting and now we are beginning to cut the first of the spring blooms.Loved gathering some of these lovely stems today.
The rununculus are finally beginning to bloom,be prepared for some rununculus mania in the next few weeks.Can"t wait to share all the beautiful flowers and foliage we are growing this year .
Have a lovely weekend,we will be flowering up some fabulous wedding flowers

17/02/2023

Just loved using these dainty iris reticulata in this funeral tribute today.,I like to use the whole flower and bulb,easily inserted into the moss and the family can replant them at a grave or in the garden as a reminder of a loved one .I also used some snowdrops from the garden too,just love the how the garden is beginning to unfurl.

06/02/2023

Over the last couple of years I have aimed to move away from using florist "foam'.This has involved researching and experimenting with all sorts of natural biodegradable frames ,containers and moisture retentive mediums .The aim of the game is to make something beautiful with no wire,no plastic and totally compostable .Leave no trace,no plastic for landfill.I love sharing my knowledge so had a lovely time with Sara and Emma last week.We made wreaths from freshly cut willow from the farm,gorgeous with the emerging velvet buds.These were covered in moss gathered from one of our mossy lawns and then crowned in foliage including flowering viburnum tinus picked from the gardens and lovely eucalyptus from Cris .A spring mix of narcissi,tulips and hyacinth tucked in to finish at the end.
Tempted to make the switch and learn how to make sustainable funeral flowers?, then come and have a day with me,I promise a relaxed time talking about all things floral and a chance to eat cake.
Just drop me a message/call/email .Details in bio.

01/02/2023

No florals here,just the Welsh sheepdog and a lovely glow from the fire.
February has arrived,the days are slowly beginning to lengthen,as my Mamgu would say"Cam Ceiliog',a Welsh expression of cockerel steps away from winter .
The seeds are ready for sowing but we need to just hold on a little longer..

30/01/2023

I freely admit I have never been good at keeping up with posting pictures of the weddings.I am determined to post more pictures this year,especially the professional pictures that I receive from my couples.
Always asking permission from the happy couple and also the photographer.
Here is gorgeous Leah with her "maids'from last October.Photography by .co.uk ,capturing the happiness and joy .

24/01/2023

Day 16


How do you sell your flowers and who to?
The largest percentage of my flowers and foliage are made up and sold to my retail customers.Wedding flowers,funeral flowers and gift bouquets are the most popular items .I also use them in workshops and demonstrations using"no foam' techniques.
Customers find me on , Instagram/Facebook,my website www.bentleyflowers.co.uk and best of all,personal recommendations.

17/01/2023

A combination of two days for / .
What is you speciality?
What is your favourite?
My speciality is everything floral,from growing as many gorgeous fresh seasonal blooms and foliage as I can and then put my florist hat on and use the same to create some beautiful sustainable arrangements for my customers.
To choose one favourite flower is a big ask,,there are so many favourites for each season ,always excited to see the first flower then ready to see what flowers next.The snowdrops are beginning to flower here now so they are my current favourites

13/01/2023

,today's post.
How can you find me?
I am based on the edge of Wenvoe,a village just on the border of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.I do not have a shop so not generally open to the public.I am either in my studio or outside planting ,sowing,cutting etc so always leave a message.. The best way for anyone to contact me for flowers is by the following
Message me on Instagram
Message /phone direct
Email
Website.
My details are also on website.
All details are on my bio but here is my email
[email protected]

12/01/2023

Today"s / challenge
Who keeps you company while you are working
This is Lula,my Welsh sheepdog .She loves being with me ,she knows what I am going to do by the boots and clothes I dress in .There is great excitement when I pull on the waterproofs,that means we are on sheep duty or a day outside whatever the weather .

10/01/2023

Day 6
for Flowers From the Farm] .
Who do you like working with?
I really enjoy working with anyone who loves flowers ,my customers,florist colleagues and my flower growing friends.
This picture was taken at .show last summer.A small group of flower growers from around South Wales worked together and built a small stand and showcased Flowers From the Farm] and locally grown flowers.

08/01/2023

Day '4 for
with

What was your biggest compliment for 2022

This is a hard one , all the lovely emails,phonecalls and cards/letters I receive from my lovely customers mean a lot to me .
I did receive one message from a couple in America that meant a lot because they came to Wales just to get married in a castle,they had never seen the venue so trusted me to do my best .

'We are back from our honeymoon and I just wanted to send you a heartfelt thanks. The flowers were out of this world! You really did exceed my expectations".

I must say the biggest THANK YOU to everyone who has entrusted me with creating arrangements for
your special occasions in 2022.









# britishgrownflowers

07/01/2023

Day 3 of the challenge with
How did you get here?
It is not surprising that I would return to some sort of farming or work with the soil as farming is in my blood .
Nursing was my first career but the love of flowers changed my career path to floristry 23 years ago.Growing foliage and flowers was always something I wanted to do,I grew foliage first,
adding that little something to a bouquet that other florists didn"t have.4 years ago I started growing the flowers,challenging at times but I love it 💚

05/01/2023

A couple of days late but here I am,going to try to catch up with this year"s .This year it is supported by Flowers From the Farm] ,an amazing organisation supporting and promoting everything "British Flowers'.Proud to say I have been a member for 4 years.
So Day 1,Who am I?.
My name is Alison Bentley,and I have run Alison Bentley Flowers Florist for 19 years at my small holding in Wenvoe, a little village on the outskirts of Cardiff
My journey into growing for my floristry business has evolved over time,starting with planting shrubs and trees for foliage.
4 years ago I decided I wanted to grow flowers for the business,,a visit and day with the lovely Justine convinced me it could work.I started by clearing a neglected part of land and haven't looked back even though it can be hard work and long days .

Flowers From the Farm]

09/12/2022

MISTLETOE
We have some lovely mistletoe from Hereford/Welsh borders for sale.Collection or local delivery only.Message me or ring on 07967596711 for prices

27/11/2022

Wreath making classes 2022.
A big thank you to everyone who came to our classes this week in Wenvoe.,it is always lovely to see all the different wreaths made,all beautiful.
Next week we are heading out to a different venue for our last large class,then we begin our small groups of 2/4 classes.Love Christmas

17/11/2022

Little rays of sunshine to brighten up these short days.I am starting to become a little bit smitten with these chrysanthemums,cute aren"t they?.I will be taking cuttings to increase my collection and buy some more plants too.

14/11/2022

Some of the last blooms of autumn arranged for a woven coffin .The family wanted local flowers,nothing could be more local than from my cutting garden and gorgeous chrysanthemums from .guthrie ,blousey dahlias from and dainty cosmos. .All compostable,no floral foam,no plastic,a sustainable farewell tribute

21/10/2022

Christmas 2022
We will begin the season with 2 festive door wreath making workshops ,both to be held at Wenvoe Community Centre.
Dates
Wednesday 23rd November
5pm to 8pm
Saturday 26th November
2pm to 5pm
£45 per person,all materials supplied .
Places are limited so we have time to help you all make something beautiful for your home.
Drop us a message or contact Alison on 07967596711