Burnside Croft Flowers

09/07/2024

28/04/2024

Everyone loves bluebells! But how can you distinguish the UK native, Spanish and hybrid species?

Incredibly, almost half of the world's bluebells are found in the UK. They grow in large colonies that cover the ground of woodland edges from April-May.

Native bluebells (𝘏𝘺𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘢) are threatened by habitat destruction, harvesting from the wild, and potentially competition from Spanish bluebells (𝘏𝘺𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢), a garden-escape introduced by the Victorians, which are able to hybridise with UK native bluebells (𝘏𝘺𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘹 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢), so it can be difficult to identify true native populations.

The biggest tell is that native bluebells have droopy stems and a sweet scent, while Spanish bluebells are straight-stemmed and unscented.

💚 Bluebells are symbolically associated with gratitude and everlasting love 💚

[EDIT in response to FAQs:] Spanish and hybrid bluebells still provide a good nectar source, so they are beneficial to pollinators! 🙂🐝 It's fine if you already have them in your garden for people and wildlife to enjoy. However we want to encourage people to acknowledge the difference between the types of bluebells, and to be aware that if you want to plant new bulbs and your garden is close to natural areas where native bluebells are present, it is preferable to choose to plant native ones, due to the risk of escape or hybridisation with wild bluebells. And, if disposing of garden waste, always do this responsibly.🌱

UK native bluebells are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

10/05/2023

Moving some seedlings to harden off outside, and about to put them on an old metal shelf beside the greenhouse. I was alerted by mum/dad mistle thrush alarm calls! They've built their nest on the second shelf behind some seed trays. Given how the babies are packed into the nest I don't think they'll fit for much longer and will venture off. Off to find somewhere else to put my seedlings

05/05/2023

I am thrilled and honoured to finally share, that beautiful, scented, spring flowers and foliage from will be part of Flowers from the Farm’s gift to Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation.

Alongside seasonal flowers and foliage from fellow growers in all four nations of the UK, our blooms will decorate the Quire and the Grave of the Unknown Warrior of Westminster Abbey during Saturday’s Coronation Ceremony.

Flowers from the Farm has been working closely with floral designer and sustainable floristry advocate to bring the beauty, joy and variety of local, seasonal flowers to the heart of this historic occasion.

https://youtu.be/JSAG0x_AQvw

I'm proud to be a member of Flowers from the Farm, a membership association that champions nearly 1000 independent, artisan growers of local, seasonal cut flowers right across the UK.

The flowers have been grown in harmony with the natural seasons, outdoors and in polytunnels on flower fields, allotments, cutting gardens and walled gardens. Since every plot has its unique growing and weather conditions, the displays in Westminster Abbey of more than 4500 stems will reveal a unique floral tapestry of springtime in the UK.

09/03/2023

Cutting back autumn rapsberry canes earlier this week and thought I'd bring some inside to see how they conditioned. The fresh green foliage is a nice change to the frost bitten offerings outside and makes use of something that would otherwise be going into the compost pile. A nice addition to spring arrangements. Cut when still in tight bud to save the frost nipping them...(these are day 4 and in water).

19/02/2023

The hellebore are waking up 😍 The first one to appear is always "Tutu" (1st and last pics), and the brighter days mean lots of seedlings are appearing every day. I've already potted up around 60 before they're crowded out by the new growth but there's a long way to go before they're ready to flower. They're so worth the wait though.

24/01/2023

Some colour for a damp, grey January day. Flowers grown and dried last season and still bold and beautiful. With Valentine's day looming a dried bouquet or heart wreath is the perfect way to give a gift that lasts ♥️. DM or get in touch via the website (link in bio) to order.
For florists there are still lots of local and sustainably grown drieds available 💐

04/12/2022

Wreaths on doors! Some of the fabulous wreaths made at our Wreath workshop yesterday...thank you to Hall Community Association Committee for hosting us. Made with locally grown foliage, flowers and creativity.

28/11/2022

Join us for festive tunes and treats whilst creating your own Christmas door wreath. Saturday 3rd December at 1030 in Chapelhill Hall. Book through the website (link in bio) or email for further details...

23/11/2022

Red, Green and Gold! Do you decorate your home for the festive season? Traditional festive colours in a sustainable, traditional style...a bit different to the imported plastic we see everywhere but at least it can "hang around" all year.

23/11/2022

Christmas Wreaths are now available to order or join us to create your own festive foliage wreath on Saturday 3rd December at Chapelhill Hall. Details are on the website (link in bio on the Events page) or get in touch by email to arrange local delivery or collection.

21/11/2022

Christmas Wreath preparation. Gathering foliage and dried goodies for fresh wreaths and workshops. If you're feeling creative, wreaths kits are available for local delivery/ collection or for delivery by post. If you'd prefer a pre made wreath, please get in touch to order through the website or by dm.

03/10/2022

Trying to sort out the dried flowers in the workshop, and then cutting probably the last batch of dahlia for drying. They stay in the workshop for a few days (hopefully long enough for any earwigs to vacate!)...and then into the house now autumn is on the horizon.

02/10/2022

Dried flower wreaths reflecting the changing seasons. From summer to autumn in one day. Dried dahlia, aster, teasel, meadow flowers, grasses and seed heads all grown naturally.

11/09/2022

Another mislabelled dahlia...it's supposed to be a white, "Aspen"..but I suspect it's "Babylon Bronze" ...a huge peachy dinnerplate. These first blooms are destined for drying and I'm hoping it's just as impressive dried.

05/09/2022

Drying dahlia... this is "Striped Vulcan" ...a large (bright!) multi head dahlia... The second picture shows it beside another one which is partly dried. I definitely prefer the toned down version but it shows just how much the flowers shrink as they dry.

31/08/2022

Cutting some sunflowers today for drying and one in particular caught my eye. The bees/pollinaters have left a perfect wee heart ❤️ in the middle....made me 😊.

25/08/2022

When you buy seeds and plants and don't end up with what you paid for!
Grown from seed this year, the feverfew has at least three different varieties.I love the button ones which should hopefully dry more successfully than the open one.
A first year rose which was supposed to be a pale apricot! Thankfully the bright yellow quickly turns to a pale lemon with pink tinges so we'll see how it does next year when it's more than 30cm tall, but given the lack of rain earlier it seems to be quite floriferous....and finally can you spot the intruder in the pink dahlia bed 😳

04/08/2022

The rogue orange petal on this dahlia is just another reason to love them 😍. Grown from the same tuber but every one is unique.

12/07/2022

Summer everlasting wreaths. These will dry naturally and provide a splash of colour in the dark days of winter. Available

01/07/2022

An interesting article about imported flowers... The hazmat suits and masks worn by the workers are a scary sight and makes you wonder how the residue is then transferred to florists and consumers in shops and homes!?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61877762

Kenya's flower exporters are switching to sea freight as new tech helps keep flowers fresh at sea.

29/06/2022

Whites with a touch of blue...June wedding flowers,foliage and fragrant herbs heading to

24/06/2022

Wedding flowers and foliage heading to today 🌸 # weddingflowers

21/06/2022

Flowers and greenery picked for some pastel weddings and heading to .

19/06/2022

I'm not usually a fan of these colours but I think I've changed my mind 😍. They're drying well too for later in the season pops of colour!

06/06/2022

Picking all the colours of the rainbow today. I normally allow the lunaria seedheads to dry but they were perfect for jewel colour scheme buckets. There are some tiny crab apples in there somewhere!
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04/06/2022

Time to pot on the eucalyptus babies. Seeds sown mid February have come along nicely, although it will be a long time before they can be useful foliage...that's if they survive !!!
Strong winds, heat and then snow and flooding...they'll have to be tough to survive out in the field so I'll nurture them for a wee while yet.

25/05/2022

High winds today haven't done any favours for these biggies....they don't last long but they're worth it 😍

24/05/2022

May wedding flowers and foliage...seasonal, locally grown and smelling fabulous 😍. The delicate blush and white "bells" of Silene are perfect for bouquets....they're also known as bladder campion...doesn't conjur the same image though 😕!!