Flower festival pays homage to fascination with nature

THE GEORGIAN era’s fascination with botany in the home is being celebrated in Yorkshire.

The Fairfax House Flower Festival has become a firmly established biennial event and is being staged at the York property, which is one of England’s finest Georgian townhouses.

This year’s creations have been designed by members of the New Earswick Flower Club, who have blended traditional with contemporary design by using fresh flowers, foliage and decorative materials.

Fairfax House’s director, Hannah Phillip, said: “The Georgians particularly loved bringing flowers, both fresh and dried; plants and greenery into their homes, so this festival is a particularly appropriate way of paying homage to their fascination with the natural world.

“Their mania for both domestic and exotic flowers is actually a fascinating topic in its own right – it inspired the ingenious use of the flower in all forms of 18th century decorative art, such as Mary Delany’s magnificent works, as well as seeing botanical illustration and botany really emerge during this period.”

The festival is running until Saturday.

PICTURES: GARY LONGBOTTOM. FLORAL GLORY: Marion Croft, top, from New Earswick Flower Club, prepares the main staircase at Fairfax House for the flower festival. Above, Ann Simpson decorates the kitchen.