Seasonal Flowers in Autumn
There are still many beautifull blooms flowering on British flower fields.
In addition, to the late flowering beauties in the field we can begin to add the shapes and textures of gourds and berries and seed heads.
Tones change, more oranges and browns now, but there are still pinks should you want them. Larger growers with polytunnels can extend the season further with tender plants enjoying the last embers of warmth from the sun.
My ‘One Bowl’ arrangements reflect the changes such as the September and October arrangements.
The September arrangement employ the joyful blooms of Dahlias and the last of the Sunflowers, with Sage, Crocosmia seedheads, Asters, and Sedum. The October bowl combines tougher vibrant yellow dahlia pompoms with the smooth texture of gourds as the main focal. To this I added rosehips and a stand of Amaranthus. In a second variation I added ‘Travellers Joy’ or more appropriately ‘Old Mans Beard” – our native clematis which I just love, as do our pollinators!
In September we wanted to show you what is possible through the seasons and myself and colleagues and friends, Rebecca, Rachel and Emily got together with a few buckets and pretty ribbons and tableware to pop a few set bouquets and tablescapes together.
To complement our bouquets, buttonholes and flowery table we used table ware with warm gold tones and Rebeccas hand dyed (she uses natural dyes), napkins and table runners completed the look. I think they are so very pretty and demonstrates the beauty that surrounds what we grow in this country.
Fellow flower farmers and florist are Ardleigh Flowers, The Freckled Foxglove and The Foraged Bouquet.
Finally, Autumn wreaths. Now, a bit of a thing!
This one is designed to dry well so it will last and inculdes foliages that will dry and is decorated with dried blowers and seed heads.
The third, with apples, is for Sahmain. All the plants chosen have a meaning approriate to the seasons celebrations.
The Hawthorn berries from a mystical and healing shrub native to the UK. It is known as the gateway to the spirit world.The Apples from my tree are sacred to the Gods and also an offering of food to those who have gone before us.Sage, a favourite, this herb is about purification and cleansing, the removal of negative energy.Mungwort, (Artemisia) a lovely fine silvery grey foliage to associated with dreams and to aid divination. This also is a plant associated with the Goddess, Artemis, patron of women in all phases of their lives.The last late flowers for their beauty we move into winter.Hazel for protection and divination. It is also one of the most useful shrubs we grow and ironically, we now import hazel. This shrub was beloved by the Scots and the Celts but also down the road where it was grown as a tree in sacred groves. Silvanus Callirius, the god of the hazel wood, was worshipped here in ColchesterTraveller’s joy, the tufty seed heads of our native clematis for their autumn glory.Finally, Rosemary for remembrance, one we all still remember in the general population and incorporated into funerals flowers and sheaths today. Happy Samhain.