04/06/2026
The flower field is on the verge of bursting into life 🌸
There are buds everywhere, just waiting for their moment. Over the next week or two, we should see the first real flush of summer flowers arrive, followed by a steady stream right through summer and into early autumn.
The dahlias are looking like they'll start next week with a few early blooms, the snapdragons are beginning to open, the larkspur is coming into flower, the cosmos aren't far behind, and there are already plenty of umbels and airy fillers ready for picking. We will have a few mixed bunches again in the farm shop on Saturday.
Very soon I'll be selling flowers by the bucket — a harvest of the best flowers and foliage in bloom that week, including focal flowers, fillers and greenery. It's the most affordable way to buy local flowers and gives you the freedom to arrange them however you like at home.
If you're planning an event or special occasion this summer and you want some flowers to DIY arrange, do get in touch. And with the end of term approaching, we'll also be putting together some little jam-jar arrangements that would make lovely thank-you gifts for teachers.
When I first started growing, I was firmly focused on food. I felt strongly about food security, local production and access to sustainably grown vegetables. Over time, though, I found myself drawn towards growing flowers as well.
Flowers may be a luxury, but they occupy an important place in our lives. They mark celebrations, express gratitude, offer comfort and help us say goodbye. Yet many of the flowers sold in the UK have travelled thousands of miles, often having been grown in regions where water is scarce. They are also commonly treated with a range of pesticides and chemicals, some of which are not permitted for use on food crops.
To me, that makes it even more important that a non-essential luxury is produced in a way that doesn't come at a cost to people or the environment.
So I've made space for flowers here on the market garden. I won't cut them all — the pollinators deserve their share too — and hopefully the people who visit the farm can enjoy their beauty and fragrance as well.
🌸🐝🌿
