Author: Sue

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The Beauty of British-Grown Dried Flower Bouquets

If you’re like me, you love the idea of nature’s beauty sticking around for a little longer. That’s where dried flower bouquets come in! They’re the perfect way to enjoy the natural charm of flowers long after the season has passed. What’s even better? All of the flowers I use are grown right here in the UK – handpicked, dried, and turned into gorgeous, one-of-a-kind bouquets for you to enjoy in your home or give as a thoughtful gift. Let me tell you why these bouquets are totally worth the love!

Locally Grown, Totally Sustainable

First off, these blooms are British-grown, which means they’re sustainable and support local farming. No air miles, no refrigeration—just natural, locally sourced flowers that are in tune with the seasons. Choosing these bouquets is an easy way to make a positive impact, all while bringing a little piece of nature into your space. Plus, supporting local farmers is always a win!

No Two Bouquets Are Alike

Dried flower bouquets are wonderfully unique. I handpick and arrange every single one, so no two are ever quite the same. It’s like having a little piece of nature’s artwork that’s totally one-of-a-kind. Whether you’re into soft, pastel vibes, bold and rustic, or somewhere in between, each bouquet tells its own story. And the best part? You get to enjoy something that’s completely different from anything you’d find in a supermarket or at your average flower shop.

They Last (Like, Really Last)

One of the best things about dried flowers is how long they last! Unlike fresh flowers that wilt after a few days, dried flowers stick around for months, or even years. They’ll keep their vibrant colours and textures, giving you a little reminder of nature’s beauty long after the event is over.

Perfect for Any Occasion

Whether you’re getting ready for a wedding, celebrating a birthday, or just sprucing up your home, dried flower bouquets are perfect for any occasion. They’re a beautiful and eco-friendly option for weddings (think dreamy flower crowns or bridal bouquets), but they also work wonders as a thoughtful gift or just to brighten up your living room. Their laid-back, rustic charm fits seamlessly with any decor, making them super versatile for just about any setting.

Nature’s Textures and Colours

I don’t know about you, but I think dried flowers have a certain texture and charm that fresh flowers just can’t match. The soft, delicate feel of lavender, the golden warmth of wheat, and the feathery texture of grasses create a natural, textured bouquet that looks like it’s straight out of a boho dream. These aren’t your average flowers – they’ve got layers, movement, and tons of character. Perfect for adding a cosy vibe to your space!

Low Maintenance, High Vibes

Another reason I love dried flowers? They’re super low maintenance. No need to water them, trim the stems, or worry about them wilting if you forget to tend to them. Just pop them somewhere they can enjoy a bit of light (but not too much direct sun), and they’ll keep looking gorgeous with minimal effort. It’s the perfect option for those of us who want nature in our homes but aren’t exactly plant experts.

The Ultimate Keepsake

Dried flowers also make amazing keepsakes. After a wedding, special occasion, or even just a fun get-together, you can hang onto your bouquet and keep it as a reminder of a wonderful day.

Ready to add some dried flower magic to your life? Browse my collection of beautiful British-grown dried flower bouquets and find the perfect one to make your day a little brighter.

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Bespoke Wedding Hair Accessories

Introduction

Weddings are all about celebrating love, beauty, and individuality. And one of the most memorable ways to add a personal touch to your big day is through your wedding accessories. If you’re looking for something unique, timeless, and sustainable, dried flower hair accessories could be just what you need. As a florist based in Norfolk, I create one-of-a-kind hair combs, crowns, headbands, and pins using flowers I grow myself. Here’s how I can help bring your vision to life.

The Beauty of Dried Flowers

Dried flowers are more than just a trend; they’re a classic choice that brings texture, color, and natural charm to any wedding. Unlike fresh flowers, dried blooms can last long after your wedding day, making them a lovely keepsake. With dried flowers, we can capture your style and the season of your wedding, creating an accessory that complements your theme beautifully.

Why Choose Dried Flower Hair Accessories for Your Wedding?

1. A Personal Touch: Each piece I create is made with love and care, often reflecting your wedding theme, color palette, and personal style. Whether you’re looking for something delicate or bold, rustic or elegant, I work with you to design an accessory that’s as unique as you are.

2. Sustainable Beauty: Dried flowers are an eco-friendly alternative to fresh blooms. They last for years and don’t require refrigeration or the same level of upkeep, making them a perfect choice for sustainability-conscious brides.

3. Timeless Charm: Dried flowers add a vintage, bohemian, or natural element to your wedding day. They’re perfect for everything from outdoor barn weddings to elegant garden parties, and they never go out of style.

Custom Creations for Every Bride

Whether you’re planning a classic wedding or a more laid-back, rustic celebration, I offer a range of dried flower hair accessories to match your theme:

  • Hair Combs: Simple yet elegant, these add a touch of understated glamour to any hairstyle.
  • Flower Crowns: A dreamy choice for brides who want to channel boho vibes or those looking to make a statement.
  • Headbands: Perfect for brides who want a more refined, polished look but still want to incorporate the beauty of dried flowers.
  • Hair Pins: Ideal for adding subtle accents or for brides looking to incorporate florals into an updo.

How It Works: A Collaborative Approach

I believe in creating something truly special for your wedding day, so I work closely with you throughout the process. From selecting flowers that match your vision to fine-tuning the design to make sure it’s perfect, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Whether you have a clear idea or need inspiration, I’ll help you choose the right flowers, colors, and arrangement to bring your dream wedding look to life.

Dried flower hair accessories are a beautiful, sustainable, and personal way to enhance your wedding day look.

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2024 Recap

2024 was a year of growth for me, both personally and professionally. As my business expanded, it naturally took more time away from my creative process, but it was so rewarding. I experimented with different flower varieties—some I won’t be growing again, while others will definitely make a return!

One of the highlights of last year was crafting dried flower buttonholes. I created so many of them, and it was such a joy. Buttonholes have always been one of my favorite items to design. My second most requested piece was floral headbands. I absolutely love making these, especially when I get to see the beautiful professional photos of them being worn—it’s such a heartwarming feeling.

My summer months were filled with weddings, as I had the honor of helping so many wonderful couples choose natural dried flowers for their big day. Thank you to each and every one of you for entrusting me with such an important part of your celebration.

Autumn brought a wave of orders for gift bouquets, bespoke wall swags, and gorgeous wreaths. Wreaths were such a hit that I’m planning to make even more leading up to Mother’s Day—there’s just something so special about them.

Christmas was all about fresh wreaths, a tradition I’ve been perfecting for over 25 years! Creating them was a joy, but I’ve decided this year will be my last for making them. I want to focus more on dried flowers and use the festive season to prepare for the year ahead. While I’m saying goodbye to fresh wreaths, I’m deeply grateful for every customer who’s bought one from me over the years.

Now, as we move into a new year, I’m excited for all the flowery fun ahead!

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Growing Flowers

The growing season is here again and my window sills are filling up with trays of germinating seeds. This year I’m growing a few different things; like Helichrysum subulifolium which are bright sunshiny-yellow papery flowers  which will look so jolly in yellow inspired bouquets.

I try to grow a wide selection of flowers and grasses as I think its important to have a good amount of texture and movement in a bouquet, posy, wreath or wall hanging – getting the right mix is so important!

So when I start looking at my seed catalogues its very easy to get a little carried away!

I also grow and dry Dahlias…but that’s another post!!

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Autumn

The flowering season is fast coming to an end. The only flowers in my garden now are the Strawflowers and Dahlias.

The Strawflowers are still producing beautiful blooms but come a few more weeks and I’ll be pulling them up. As for the Dahlias, I’ll be lifting and storing in a week . Last year I did this but sadly lost a few tubers in the cold snap we had, so I’ll be bringing them into the garage this winter as I don’t want to lose the ones I have as I was so pleased with them and they dried so well.

In the greenhouse the Ranunculus are busy growing. They were a little slow so but I think it was too warm for them, so now it’s cooler they have been fast to sprout!!

I’ve been busy sowing all my hardy annuals in the greenhouse. So the Larkspur has germinated, the Ammi, Hares Tail grasses, Briza Maxima and my new ‘Bowling Ball’ Poppies which I’m super excited for next year!

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Dried Wedding Flowers

Why Dried Flowers Are the Perfect Choice for Your Wedding

Dried flowers are becoming an increasingly popular choice for weddings, and it’s easy to see why. Not only do they offer unique beauty, but they’re also incredibly practical—especially for couples planning destination weddings. Since dried flowers can be prepared ahead of time, you can easily transport them without the stress of sourcing local florists.

They’re also an ideal option for autumn and winter weddings when fresh blooms can be harder to come by. As someone who values sustainability, I only use flowers I’ve grown myself in Norfolk, right next to the stunning Norfolk Broads. If I need to source other blooms etc I turn to British flower farm growers. Each summer, I carefully cultivate flowers to dry and craft into stunning arrangements for your special day—so you can rest assured knowing they’re homegrown and thoughtfully produced.

Looking for a bouquet with texture and character? Dried flowers offer an exciting range of seed heads, grasses, and unique shapes that fresh flowers just can’t replicate. Plus, they serve as a lasting keepsake, preserving the beauty of your wedding day for years to come.

And for those with hay fever, dried flowers are a dream—they’re the perfect choice for allergy-free celebrations!

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Drying Flowers

As August approaches, the garden is in full bloom, and I’m picking flowers every day to dry. The Paper Daisies are starting to wind down, with their blossoms much smaller now compared to when they first bloomed in June. Soon, I’ll be pulling out the last of them.

The Strawflowers are the main star of my wreaths, and they’ve just begun to produce beautiful, large blooms on long stems. I prefer to wire most of my Strawflowers, as they work so well in wreaths that way. This year, I’ve grown a wider variety of colors, and my absolute favorite so far is the ‘Salmon Rose.’ It’s a warm, inviting hue that will look stunning in both bouquets and autumn wreaths.

My drying wall is currently overflowing with flowers, and there are many more to come. That means plenty more wreaths and bouquets are on the horizon!

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Keep It Natural

Why Choose Natural Dried Flowers?

As June rolls in, the garden is bursting with life, and the Paper Daisies are stealing the show. These beautiful blooms are really starting to thrive, and my drying wall is quickly filling up with clusters of pink and white daisies, creating a stunning display.

I pride myself on air-drying all the flowers I grow, never relying on chemical dyes. I’ve always found that nature provides all the color I need—after all, who really wants purple Wheat or pink Bunny Tail grass? Beyond that, chemical dyes are harmful to the environment, and many of those brightly colored flowers you see in stores are often imported from overseas, particularly China. In a time when sustainability is essential for our future, I encourage you to skip the artificial, dyed flowers that flood the supermarket shelves.

All of my dried flowers come with zero air miles, no dyes, and no chemical bleaches. For the occasional bleached grass or seed head, I simply leave them to the sun and let nature do its magic.

The vibrant pink hues of my Paper Daisies, which you’ll often find featured in my designs, are entirely natural. These flowers are truly remarkable—they retain their colour so beautifully when dried. It’s proof that, when it comes to flowers, nature really does know best.

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Growing Annuals

It’s April and I’ve planted out all my Autumn sowed hardy annuals, which included Larkspur. Last year Larkspur certainly got the better of me! I’d tried to grow it before in the past with no success and since starting my small dried flower business I felt Larkspur was a flower I needed for bouquets.

So I stored my seeds in the fridge for a few weeks, this is called Stratification, which I hadn’t done in the past and it turned out that it was quite important! I sowed my seeds in March and waited…and waited. Nothing apart from the odd one. So back to square one and started again, still very poor germination. I really didn’t know what I was doing wrong. Consequently I didn’t have many Larkspur blooms, although the few I did get were beautiful.

I figured out from various reads and advice that the best way was to sow them in the Autumn and over winter them in the greenhouse. Which is exactly what I did. I had fantastic germination and who would have thought that these little seedling could survive -8C temperatures? but they did. Apparently Larkspur quite like a cold spell, and they certainly got that.

They are all planted out in the beds now and will soon be flowering, and finally ill have beautiful Larkspur for my dried flower bouquets.

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Its March!!

Its hard to believe that it is March already, although the weather at the moment feels more like the depths of Winter!!

In the greenhouse all my Autumn sowed hardy annuals are getting to the stage were they need planting out, but I’m going to keep hardening them off for a few more weeks. I have Larkspur, Nigella, Nigella Oriental’s, Briza Maxima and Hares Tail Grass.

The Spring seed sowing is now fully underway with lots of varieties of flowers that will dry beautifully and although its turned cold they are doing really well in the greenhouse under their horticultural fleece. Its early days and I’ve only just started to prick out a few.

The Ranunculus’ that were started off in the Autumn are growing lots of new growth and soon they’ll be some incredible bloom’s, even the later sowed corms are doing so well and will be ready to plant out when this cold snap has passed.

Happy gardening eveyone

Sue.