Wedding days are all about the wow factor, and this is particularly so at the reception,where flowers are repeated at the tables and really help to add colour, scent and style to the venue.  Whether a rustic barn or a stately home, flowers can reflect your style and theme.

We are now being asked more and more for lighting. Either under water in the vases,wrapped around garlands of foliage for staircases or structures, trees  or plants or even lights to highlight within single flowers such as large calla lilies.  With the addition of coloured water or sisal, crystal stones, pebbles or rocks, shells or even marshmellows or limes, your venue can add a touch of drama to your special day.

Friendly peacocks in the Swiss Gardens Shuttleworth

I went to the Swiss Gardens at Shuttleworth today for the first time. I have been asked to do the wedding flowers for a young couple getting married in the Swiss Cottage in August. What a find this place is for a country wedding! Kevin the gardener gave me the grand tour and was obviously enthusiastic about its history and setting, and no wonder. Peacocks called to each other and water babbled beneath the dappled shade of large trees and shrubs with small ironwork humped back bridges and statues showing a different vista at every corner you turned. There is even a fernery and grotto.  I couldn’t resist a couple of shots on my phone of the Swiss Cottage and the peacock, who was coaxed to turn around just at the right moment. Paradise! www.shuttleworth.org/

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Gift bouquet

Well it is Mothers Day again and what better to make her feel like a queen than to send her a bunch of flowers.  We are delivering fresh flower bouquets, fresh flower arrangements and planted baskets in Hertfordshire next week, at various prices .

To give extra value for money Daizy have linked up with Tamara Kuzminski, an up-and-coming photographer to offer a free lifestyle shoot .   So make mum feel like a queen with some beautiful top quality flowers and book a session with Tamara to have some beautiful images you will treasure forever.

Photograph – www.chilternimaging.com

Photograph by www.tamarakuzminski.co.uk

If you do not wear your heart on your sleeve do not despair, actions speak louder than words.  Next week you will have the opportunity to show someone how much you care – yes it is Valentine’s Day!  Unusually, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the same day all over the world – hence the reason that red flowers -traditionally the colour of passion and love – are at a premium.

We are busy designing top quality red rose bouquets for delivery in Hertfordshire, hand-tied in water and gift-wrapped in a box and these flowers are guaranteed to earn some bonus brownie points!  Last year’s orders were a great success with our clients, who commented on how long the flowers lasted and how popular they were.  If your budget does not run to red roses, how about gerbera and deep burgundy carnations, or try a change of colour to hot pinks or purples, colours that are not at such a premium.   Set against lime green flowers and gift wrapped they look sensational.  Whatever your budget, try to let someone know you care next week, a single bloom carefully chosen will still have impact, especially if you are not normally demonstrative – good luck!

Pink rosebud boot for a fashionable lady

More and more funerals are not about mourning, but about celebrating the life of the deceased.  I have just designed flowers for a funeral of an 88 year old lady, dearly loved by her family, who died after a long illness.  Despite her age and illness, she loved fashion and of course, like all fashionistas, boots and shoes!

Her two daughters and their families wanted her to have a floral tribute that suited her love of colour and asked me to make a flower boot.  This was carved into shape and covered in deep pink spray roses and spray carnations,  lilac statice and white ranunculas and decorated with diamante studs and gold cord for the lace.  No one can say that this lady did not go off in style!

Well the snow is melting at last!  It seems a long time since Christmas but things are only just starting to return to normal.  I was prepared to do my stocktaking, clear our my workroom and catch up on admin during the bad weather, but it seems that the prolonged holiday focused everyone’s mind.  I had four new brides enquire about weddings and a funeral (that’s a good title for a film..) last week,  so the clearing hd to be fittedin around consultations .

A young up and coming photographer Tamara Kuzminski asked me to do some simple hand-tied  flowers for a recent photoshoot – you can see some of the results attached.  Tamara and I share a passion for our jobs – both having taken the plunge to do what we wanted for a living.   These things often start in childhood – my passion for flowers inherited from my grandmother and mother both of whom loved flowers and who were avid flower arrangers.  Tamara was playing around with a basic camera from primary school and always wanted film for presents  it shows.  It is true what they say about doing something well 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration, so if you really want to be a florist, photographer or something else creative you will find out how and keep going until you get it right, no matter how long it takes.  If you want to see more of Tamara’s photos look on www.tamarakuzminski.co.uk

Well back to work to finalise designs for an Easter wedding – pink and romantic with lots and lots of bling – roll on Spring!