JUNE MUSINGS
Seasonal stories and notable happenings from the team behind Ochre Botanical Studios.
Thank you for joining us here!
June, beautiful, manic, wonderful, bustling June! We have just passed the midsummer solstice, the days are long and expansive, and it’s just as well because we’ve been filling them to the brim with all manner of flowery pursuits from weddings, lunches, dinner parties and workshops to end-of-the-school-year bouquet making and more… Let’s just say, there haven’t been too many moments to pause and reflect, so I welcome this opportunity to share a glimpse of what we’ve been up to and let a few of our projects settle a little into my consciousness before I (we) get stuck into the next thing. We are so pleased to be kept so busy!
Between the 6 of us we will have flowered 13 weddings just this month (in and amongst the aforementioned other things) and in doing so we have had the pleasure of working with many of the summer’s finest stems from all the talented growers up here in Scotland – plus a few that are further afield. For those of you who don’t know, British Flowers Week takes place every year in June at the point in the year when seasonal floral stems are at their most abundant. It is a nationwide campaign to celebrate seasonal British-grown flowers and sustainability in floral design, begun by New Covent Garden Flower Market and now led by Flowers from the Farm. It shines a spotlight on the hard-working folk who grow flowers in ethical and mindful ways as well as the designers who utilise them in their work.
This year BFW took place over 17 – 21 June and our wonderful Cynthia Fan created a spectacular display at the Garden Museum as part of their celebrations. Some of you will already know that Cynth has written a book (published by Edinburgh’s own Batis Books) so do get your hands on a copy if you would like to get an insight into her wonderful and inspiring relationship with plants.
Ochre was delighted to have been invited to participate in two consecutive events this year in celebration of the artistry that is season-led floral design. Conceptualised by Cissy and Liv of Flowers on the Edge, the first event ‘The Florist’s Table’ took place on 18th June where I collaborated with the wonderful Fiona Pickles to create a tablescape design. Ours was one of 15 pairings of an established and an emerging and/or under-represented designer; all of whom champion British-grown flowers. It was quite a room to be in! My imposter syndrome went into overdrive when I was also asked to speak on a panel… It was a very special event that I will treasure for a long time.
It was incredible to work with Fiona to create a design that brought together materials from our respective gardens and invited viewers to consider the beauty in each stressed leaf, rooted and faded stem, as we do. Our design aimed to celebrate what nature can accomplish when left to its own devices and elevate pioneer plants that pop up in seemingly impossible places. The ones growing on the edges and cracks – humbly making space for nature beyond the flowers in a changing climate. I have included a few images here and eagerly await the official photos taken by Tilly Wace which I know FotE will share very soon on their Instagram.
Event Two will be the Strawberry Hill House Flower Festival which runs between 10-13 September this year. I would highly recommend trying to visit the exhibition if you can. All 30 designers who participated in the June event will create a display for Strawberry Hill. And if June’s event was anything to go by, September is going to be incredible! You can book tickets here.
I hope you all have been enjoying the summer so far and have some lovely plans for the holidays now that they’re upon us. It’s the perfect opportunity to visit a garden you haven’t been to before, or if you’re lucky to have one of your own, to get outside and have a picnic or get your hands in the soil. Maybe you’ll find me indulging myself in a nice, sunny garden nap one of these days soon – I think I might have earned it.
Speak again soon...
