Within these walls
WHAT COULD BE LOVELIER THAN A WALLED GARDEN IN SUMMER BRIMMING WITH ROSES, PEONIES AND DELPHINIUMS? NOTHING, SAYS CUT- FLOWER GROWER ANNE- MARIE CURTIN
The story so far
The business started back in July 2010, when I found a walled garden in west Suffolk, previously rented by a friend. It was the ideal space, about an acre, with 3m-high walls giving protection from the elements (and some of the local wildlife). It’s been a joy to work in. There’s something quite magical about a walled garden; the walls have considerable horticultural history [see The Simple Things, issue 83, for more on walled gardens] and provide a gorgeous backdrop for floral photography. Initially I just wanted a plot that would be large enough to grow flowers on, but I ended up with lovely outbuildings, too, which we cleared for consultations, courses and workshops.
Simple pleasures
There are so many things about the flower garden that give me pleasure: the floral abundance in high summer; the butterflies and bees; the tranquillity of the space; and sharing it with others. The greatest pleasure, however, is sowing a seed and seeing the flower and plant tell its story through the seasons, all the way to the final arrangement and event. It feels like nature’s own cyclical work of art. »
Seasonal harmony
Seasonality is really important for me. The excitement of seeing the first bulbs appear in early spring, then the abundance of midsummer flowers, contrasted with a relative flower abstinence during the winter months, feels so natural and right. A beautiful deferred gratification and celebration of the ebb and flow of the flower seasons, what could be nicer?
My greatest success
Bringing back to life an old walled garden that had struggled to find a use. Now the garden is flourishing and being used in a way very close to its original purpose. Many of the methods used would also be familiar to the estate gardeners from a century ago – providing a space for a variety of wildlife as well as producing a beautiful result. They never had to feed an Instagram account though!
What I’ve learnt
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that you must accept Mother Nature. All seasons and years are unique. Producing seasonal British flowers requires a degree of flexibility that will be familiar to all serious gardeners, but it’s intensified by the need to deliver to order. Clear communication with your customers about British floral seasonality is really important.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you must accept Mother Nature. All seasons and years are unique”
Why buy British flowers?
There’s been a wonderful resurgence in local flower-growing businesses in Britain, which means customers get the benefits of high-quality beautiful local produce, in true season for the location they are bought. British customers can now make an informed choice about the flowers they buy, by just asking their flower sellers where (and don’t forget how, either) the flowers they buy are grown.
My advice to new growers
The easiest way to start your own cutflower garden is to sow hardy annual seeds directly into well prepared, weed-free soil.* Hardy annuals provide a wide range of colour and variety for a beginner. The key to providing a season full of your own beautiful flowers for the vase is to sow ‘little and often’ and expect hardy annual blooms to arrive for cutting approximately 10–12 weeks after sowing. »