There are some really unique styles we are seeing take off this year, and so much opportunity for creative freedom and expression, which, of course, as the highly creative people that we are - does make us a tad giddy!
Different tones, colours, textures and architectural layouts all play their part in creating unique wedding flower trends every year; this year is no exception.
We want to share our insight into some of the requests we are seeing. Some you may love, some you may loathe - that’s the best thing about trends though, there is always something perfect for everyone.
Just send an email or call the shop to discuss your ideas with Helen, our Wedding Florist and Shop Manager. We may be just a little bit biased BUT she is just amazing and designs the most beautiful, highly textural, artistic and gorgeously romantic bouquets, arrangements and installations for your wedding celebration.
We cater for weddings of all sizes, shapes and styles. So whether it’s big blousy roses or more delicate, ethereal blooms, we’re here for it all.
Bold and bright-coloured flowers are almost always in demand, but this year we are seeing a shift towards really interesting colour choices and more unexpected pairings. Think toffee tones with lavender or magenta and mustard. Also desaturated jewel tones, especially blues, olive green and rust. Purple and lime-yellow-green hues are also having their moment, with a particular love of chartreuse - bold and uplifting, it can be seen everywhere right now, from fashion to home and everything in between.
Floral credit: https://www.instagram.com/theroseshed/
Floral credit: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyfoxdesigns/
Check out this Glossary of Wedding Flowers by Colour
https://www.brides.com/gallery/types-of-wedding-flowers-by-color-glossary
Smaller bridal bouquets with a bigger focus on statement installations for the ceremony and reception are 100% a thing right now.
A distinct shift from the days of heavy, oversized, cascading bouquets. Instead, brides are preferring smaller, more delicate bouquets.
Floral credit: us, Photos by Linus Moran
Sculptural floral arrangements for a modern twist on table centrepieces are fast becoming the hottest new trend. The U-shape in particular has really taken off!
Our clever team love nothing more than having the pleasure of creating sculptural pieces.
Floral Credit: Floral and Field Design Co.
from floral arches and hoops to flower walls and chandeliers, it’s all about making a BIG statement.
whilst understated bouquets may be the thing, couples are going BIG on their ceremony and reception flowers. Hanging flowers is particularly popular this year and we are 100% behind this. Hanging Floral Centrepieces add instant drama and make a massive impact visually.
REBEKAH J. MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY VIA GREEN WEDDING SHOES
Wildflowers offer a unique, rustic charm that many couples favour for their special day. Think 70’s inspiration…vivid colours in free-form shapes.
This summer we will include stems such as ammi, cosmos, daisies and poppies with oodles of loose grasses to add texture and movement!"
Please contact us on: 01962 860345 or email shop@catkinandpussywillow.com.
]]>Floral trends come and go over time but a white & green colour palette never seems to date - especially one that embraces the best of stunning, seasonal flowers.
As simple as it is, a white colour scheme can make a wedding feel luxurious and elegant and the varieties available are abundant. We are so grateful to receive requests for white wedding flowers year-round so it was a glaringly obvious choice whilst pondering our ‘Off-The-Peg’ wedding flowers and what to add.
Here it is...we’ve named the collection ’Timeless’
OK, pretty self explanatory but an elegant and fresh white and green colour theme, we know, is always a popular choice with couples and the style of floristry and infinite variety of stems can take your wedding flowers from perfectly classic right through to wild and whimsical.
An idea of the flowers we might include:
In Spring; ruffled ranunculus, hellebore, honeymoon tulips and muscari are gorgeous seasonal flowers, whilst in Summer, English roses and white peonies often take centre stage with scabiosa, nigella, and astrantia adding a wondrous, natural dimension. And not forgetting delicate white delphinium.
Although during those summer months almost every day makes way to interesting new flowers coming into bloom so the options are endless. Foliage is also abundant during summer with beautifully textured and aromatic herbs bursting into life perfectly complimenting a white colour scheme and adding incredible aroma; Mint, Sage, Geranium, Dill, Silver Lavender and Basil are all wonderful to include.
Autumn is all about the Dahlia, with blossomy Hydrangea adding texture and exuberance combined with the more delicate snowberries and Wax Flowers and earthy greenery.
White winter weddings - calls for pure white flowers… snowdrops, anemones, ranunculus, sweet scented paper white narcissi, combined with an added sparkle of candlelight…
Whichever season you are going with for your wedding, you can order your flowers online, tailored to suit your style and budget. From bouquets and buttonholes, to buckets of blooms, our online service is perfect for couples who want to keep things straightforward with minimal time and stress.
If you can't find what you're looking for, we also offer a bespoke consultation and design service. Please contact us on: 01962 860345 or email shop@catkinandpussywillow.com.
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Spread the love this Valentine's season, with our top gifts for that extra special friend.
Whether you call it Galentine's or Palentine's at the end of the day it's a gorgeous treat for your friend or a relative and we're all for another day to celebrate love in all its forms. So scroll on down and find something they'll love, or treat yourself! *Adds all the candles to basket*
Nothing beats feeling wonderfully content in your very own Happy Space, right? This candle is a bestseller in the shop and that is exactly why, filled with an exquisite blend of florals it's guaranteed to lift spirits.
Rose, geranium & amber scented candle. With jasmine, sandalwood and cedar.
A pretty pink, scented rose presented in a gorgeous, ceramic pot makes a perfect gift or a lovely addition to the home. Small Indoor Plants are easy to care for and are a wonderful gesture to show you care.
Our gift boxes and baskets are the sweetest way to say you care, no matter where they are in the country! Our Good Vibes combination is naturally one of our favourites, I mean who doesn't want to be showered in 'good vibes'? with a Senecio Plant, Good Vibes Diffuser, Salted Caramel Fudge & insanely tasty Coco Chocolate bars in a beautiful seagrass belly basket plus you can also add a gift voucher, or dinner candles in there too!
Dried flower arrangements are incredibly popular gifts and reign supreme as one of the hottest home decor trends this decade. Nothing says friendship like flowers that last forever!
Right now we have so many colourful dried flower arrangements adorning the shop shelves. Pop in and see or shop our online collection. Either way dried flower gifts are an effortless, long-lasting and endlessly chic alternative to fresh flowers.
The Springtime Bouquet
Featuring some of our favourite springtime blooms, our bestselling Palentine's bouquet - perfect for lovers of all things colourful and guaranteed to brighten their day!
]]>Chestnut’s are roasting, carollers carolling and ol’ saint Nick is getting his sleigh ready. With Christmas nearly upon us we've compiled a gift guide to our favourite Catkin gifts and stocking fillers.
]]>Chestnut’s are roasting, carollers carolling and ol’ saint Nick is getting his sleigh ready. With Christmas nearly upon us we've compiled a gift guide to our favourite Catkin gifts and stocking fillers.
CYLAMEN RUSTIC PUMPKIN PLANTER £48 |
LAVENDER MILK CHOCOLATE BAR £5 |
CHRISTMAS PUDDING TABLE CENTRE From £35 |
WINTER TERRACOTTA TRIO £50 |
SMALLER WREATHS From £20Available in store |
CHRISTMAS EVE WREATH From £55 |
CHRISTMAS DAY VASE ARRANGEMENT From £85 |
AERY YOGA MATTERS RETREAT CANDLE £27 |
WHITE CHRISTMAS CANDLE ARRANGEMENT From £85 |
CATKIN GIFT BELLY BASKET (M) £125 |
RED AMARYLLIS VASE £75 |
DRIED FLOWER COLLECTION From £16.50 |
CHRISTMAS DAY WREATH From £55 |
BAUBLES & DECORATIONS A lovely collectionAVAILABLE IN STORE |
CLAY CANDLE HOLDER From £15.95 |
PLANTED GIFTS From £12.50 |
CHRISTMAS EVE TABLE CENTRE From £35 |
AMARYLLIS STEMS From £6 per stem |
POTTED SCENTED RED ROSE £18 |
CHRISTMAS CARDS & WRAP A lovely collectionAVAILABLE IN STORE |
CHRISTMAS DAY BOUQUET From £40 |
CHRISTMAS PUDDING VASE ARRANGEMENT From £85 |
SCENTED CANDLES & DIFFUSERS From £6 |
CHRISTMAS PUDDING FESTIVE WREATH From £55 |
We hope you enjoy our Christmas collection as much as we enjoyed creating them. Here’s to a lovely bright and beautiful Christmas season! There's something for everyone with our range of wreaths...abundant colour, foliage and warming Christmassy smells.
]]>Traditionally Christmas door wreaths are hung on the 1st December - that's just 3 days away! With lots of orders already coming in, wreath rings are being mossed in a production line fashion, velvet ribbons tied, and bundles of spruce and other delights are making the bench look very festive indeed.
This year we have 6 different designs for your to choose from in addition to 2 dried flower wreaths. There's something for everyone to decorate your home with an abundance of colour, foliage and warming Christmassy smells.
For a traditional look opt for the Christmas Day Wreath with its rich red tones bursting with berries, feathers and spruce.
The White Christmas Wreath is a Catkin favourite with delicate winter berries and flowers - a real vintage feel.
Our Evergreen Wreath design is the perfect choice for the succulent lover.
The Christmas Pudding Wreath is an abundant wreath with orange slices ad feathers, berries of plum and yellow, seed heads and a delightful christmasy scent.
Lastly, but by no means least - the Just Foliage Wreath keeping it beautifully simple, this foliage wreath includes cinerea, populus berries, baby blue, spruce and pitto ralphie.
Get your creative juices flowing and make your own.
For those of us itching to get involved in the creativity, we have created our own Christmas Wreath Kit available in a choice of four designs. And we've also filmed a Christmas Wreath Making lesson for you to follow along at home. If you are looking for something to do to brighten up your week, getting into the festive spirit is certainly a great way to spend the afternoon. Make sure to tag us in your creations, we love seeing your beautiful work.
Everlasting Wreaths
Beautiful asymmetric eco-friendly wreath designs that you can enjoy all year round.
We hope you enjoy our Christmas collections as much as we enjoyed creating them: here’s to a lovely bright and beautiful Christmas season!
All Christmas wreaths and Christmas wreath kits are available now to order online in large, medium and small for Click + Collect or same day local and next day nationwide delivery.
We also have coordinating bouquets, tall flower arrangements and candle centrepieces - have a look the full Christmas collection.
]]>Arguably, THE most important tablescaping of the year!
With so much hard work going into preparing the meal, shouldn’t your Christmas table be a feast for the eyes too? From seasonal foliage & flickering candlelight to festive table runners and matching tableware. A stunning table design with a statement centrepiece will immediately capture the attention of your guests when they enter the room.
We have created a beautiful new collection of candle arrangements featuring all the delights of the season - complete with coordinating elegant candles from stylish Danish maker Ester & Erik and a contemporary ribbed vase that you can use again and again.
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The White Christmas Candle Arrangement
Featuring creams, white, pale blush and nude tones, the white Christmas display with its neutral colour pallette includes spruce, stems of baby blue and asparagus fern, eryngium, skimmia and pussywillow.
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The Christmas Eve Candle Arrangement
Featuring rich elegant hues of purple, oily blues and bottle green, the Christmas Eve display brings a beautiful sophisticated feel to your table and includes dried hydrangea, red amaranthus, purple pepper berries and copper rose hips.
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The Christmas Pudding Candle Arrangement
Featuring bright and joyful orange and plums, the Christmas Pudding display evokes all those nostalgic Christmas feels with stems and seeds including orange ilex, spruce, orange santini, dried scabiosa heads and orange slices.
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The Christmas Day Candle Arrangement
Featuring the classic colours of Christmas with scarlet, burgundy and rich greens, the Christmas Day arrangement includes ilex, red hypericum, stems of curly willow, spruce, red skimmia and gomphrena.
Check out our full 2022 Christmas Collection for more festive delights including wreaths, trees, flower vase arrangements, garlands and christmas plants
We also running a wreath making workshop on Wednesday 30th November which is always such a giggle and you come away with a stunning wreath to adorn your door. The price includes a glass of fizz on arrival and festive warm nibbles: Stuffing Balls & Pigs in blankets and a mince pie.
Always a popular event and a fun way to kick off the festive season so don't delay Book your place here
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Well hello there Autumn!
OK I fully admit to being fickle, swapping from one love of the season to the next at the drop of a hat. But there really is something about the start of Autumn that makes me a little giddy! Maybe its the fact we once again get to wear those comforting colourful knits, or the thought of log fires and a house full of rich colourful flowers but hey, the season changes are truly wonderful for a florist.
Those transitional hues of peach melba and soft terracotta with a hint of rust making an appearance. This months stems capture the essence of the change in seasons from summer to autumn charmingly and are featured in our soft terracotta bouquet and baskets.
Rose carpe diem
This rosé has a delicate salmon pink hue. Fresh, delicate and fruity, with aromas of rose petal, raspberry, peach and strawberry.
Ammi
Easy grown and very sophisticated, Ammi majus, also known as Bishop's Flower bears large flat heads of lacy white flowers.
Dahlia
Needing little introduction, Dahlia's are one of the stars of the late summer garden. Flowering from August through to the frosts they are exuberant and full of colour.
Dried ruscus
Charming and alluring, these delicate tall stems add the perfect element of harvest to our September arrangements.
Lisianthus
An elegant and highly versatile flower available in a rainbow of colours, it is also a long lasting cut flower, keeping fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Rose cream persuasion
A buttery yellow garden rose with an abundance of petals, they are a real presence in any arrangement.
Helichrysum
Also known as Everlasting or Straw Flowers, they really do seem to last forever, making an excellent dried flower. Deriving from the same family as the sunflower, the papery flowers give a beautiful natural colour.
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Heidi & Graham's joyful wedding took place in May at Ardington House, a picturesque country estate in Oxfordshire.
Nothing was overlooked, every little detail perfectly planned but with an informal, relaxed vibe, nothing contrived and everything seasonal and stunningly beautiful.
The flower scheme featured a whole host of our seasonal favourites, an abundance of colour plus plenty of scent and texture. Classic David Austin Juliet roses fused flawlessly with more unusual stems of Craspedia, striking tangerine Gloriosa and Orange parrot tulips with their tropical, feathery petals.
As you can see from the pictures, the result was such a happy celebration and a riot of colour and joy!
Venue: Ardington House
Photography: Camilla Arnhold
Thank you so much for the amazing flowers you arranged for our wedding. They were absolutely PERFECT. I can't believe what you managed to create from my nonsense ideas! The hanging arrangement was breathtaking and the tables looked simply stunning. We had many comments from our guests that this was the 'prettiest wedding they'd ever been to'. Thanks to you!
with lots of love from Heidi & Graham
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cai & jo is an independent brand dedicated to creating uniquely beautiful home décor and lifestyle products. Every cai & jo product is designed by self-taught artist and designer Cody Bond, who uses a mixture of traditional and digital media to create art that draws inspiration from the magic that can be found in the natural world.
We stock a wide selection of cai and jo products from textiles, wall and travel posters to greeting cards so you can share these wonderful prints with friends and family.
We love supporting independent UK artisans and each supplier is very carefully selected. Take a look at our gift baskets and bundles or shop the cai & jo collection
Wall art, throws, greeting cards and accessories. cai and jo products create a seriously satisfying cosy vibe in any space.
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This week sees the return of the Farnborough International airshow. It's been 4 years since the event last took place due to the pandemic disrupting the rhythm as with millions of events and exhibitions.
But, it went ahead and we were very honoured to be asked once again to provide the florals for the event. We absolutely thrive on creating florals for events and exhibitions, it adds another creative dimension to the work our florists do each day and the fact that we are seeing these requests arrive in our inbox once again is extremely encouraging and reflects a more confident certainty in the future….
Working in partnership with Potel Et Chabot our super-creative florist team listened carefully to the ideas and requests of the clients and knew just how to interpret them through thoughtful, inspired floral styling.
From arty bell jars of thoughtfully grouped stems and succulents to bold and bright meeting room arrangements, wild and whimsical table centre displays of moss and scabiosa and posies with delicious botanicals in pretty little jars, we were certainly kept very busy for the few days running up to the start of the event.
With the temperature topping 30 degrees on Sunday, I must say it was a tad warm at the flower bench with so many body's and blooms to contend with. Keeping the stems fresh and vibrant was just another challenge we were faced with but the team rose to the challenge, worked incredibly hard and well and truly delivered!
Big or small, minimalist or wild, corporate or private, our floral imagination knows no bounds so whatever your next event, we would love to speak to you about the flowers you have in mind. Contact us
Florals automatically elevate an event, Like it or not, they are considered a status symbol and show that you are invested in the experience. They say to guests, ‘You are important to me.’ and promote productivity, whilst inducing joy and happiness.
Taking place on 18-22 July, Farnborough hosts leading innovators from the aerospace, aviation and defence industries and beyond. Visit the website
]]>Yep, the end of term is nearly upon us (where on earth does it go..!) so naturally it's time to once again say a big thank you to all those tremendous teachers. have a look at our top picks. Whether it’s a sweet scented candle for the ultimate in relaxation, fragrant floral beauty products from bramley or a rustic potted narcissi, our collection has unique gifts for teachers that will show just how grateful you are... oh and don't forget the card!
Original fragrances, with beautiful design, the Aery Living candles are vegan and made with responsibly sourced materials. The candles are hand-poured in the UK with GMO-free soy wax, grown sustainably in Europe, so your candle lights with a clean and restorative burn.
Shop Aery living candles and diffusers
The products are inspired by, and created in the countryside, something that’s so important to us. All the Bramley products are made in Wiltshire with 100% natural botanicals, are vegan friendly and all packaging is 100% recyclable. From botanical packaging to using natural scents they really capture the essence of our countryside - something we also strive to do in our work! If you have ever stayed at The Pig in the New Forest you may have come across them.
We stock an array of weird and wonderful plants, cacti and potted gifts.
COCO is a UK based company that sources its chocolate from origin in Colombia and makes all its products in Edinburgh, Scotland.
COCO also provides a canvas for artists and artisans alike: those who dare to innovate, inspire and challenge. This is where creativity and cocoa collide; each bar has a beautifully unique wrapper, with artwork designed by independent artists from around Europe...how cool is that!!
Everasting Blooms...dried flowers make the perfect gift available in a variety of sizes and colours
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This type of project is not a particularly a new thing for us, we are lucky to have frequent requests for restaurant planting but we don't often showcase these plantscaping projects. So here you go, a glimpse into the type of planting schemes we provide in restaurants and commercial spaces.
We are definitely seeing a growing trend towards unique and creative planting across Hampshire. As well as bringing a stunning aesthetic appeal, live plants provide many functional benefits: as well as improving air quality they can also be used to create private spaces, as dividers for a cosier atmosphere and even to improve people's mood! Whats more, the rise of industrial design and exposed ceilings offers the perfect backdrop for an abundance of hanging plants.
But whether it's a rustic restaurant vibe with quirky planting or a sophisticated design with understated informality, floral and plant installations really should be a key focus of any restaurant design. It's an opportunity to be cleverly creative and when you wow your customers with your creativity, you create an atmosphere that brings repeat business.
The brief from Figurati was to install a creative, modern planting scheme that would fit in seamlessly with the restaurant’s aesthetics.
We created a lavish botanical feel with a touch of tropical throughout the restaurant blending the boundaries between indoor and out.
Opting for an eclectic mix of low maintenance live plants, preserved moss and trailing ivy for the hanging planters, the finished design perfectly echoes the muted tones of the interior.
Plants included: Sansevieria, Zamioculcas, Nephrolepis, Monstera, Dracena, Trailing ivy & Epipremnum.
Hopefully you love the completed design as much as we do and we can't speak highly enough of the team at Figurati. We wish them all the luck for their opening week.
If you're looking for a new restaurant to try, get yourself down there. The ambience is amazing, the menu authentically Italian with a contemporary touch and the staff are super friendly. There is nowhere better to share good times and honest, fresh food...'cin cin!'
'I believe that the menu we have created at Figurati is clean, honest & with passion. We have lots of crowd pleasers but made with due care and passion. This will make us stand out from the competition. A couple of dishes that I am probably most excited about are, chargrilled octopus, saffron potato, ink vinaigrette also the pappardelle with pork cheek ragu, truffle & Parmesan. Head Chef Nick O'Halloran
Check it out https://www.instagram.com/figurati_southampton/
]]>This last week has been a real walk down memory lane...
Balmy summer days spent exploring grandmas garden, surrounded by weird and wonderful vibrant flowers, brimming with character and charm.
Today, working with all these locally grown blooms, I am instantly transported right back to those childhood moments. The incredible scents, the vast textures and the wild, natural feel of these stems makes them a real delight to work with. We are receiving some lovely messages of thanks from our clients too who are equally adoring the bouquets and arrangements of British flowers that are passing through the shop.
I just had to share a few snaps of the joy that is our delivery from Bramshill Flowers. Characterful British-grown flowers, foliage, herbs and grasses cut and delivered daily from their farm near Hook, in the beautiful countryside of North Hampshire. See our home grown collection using these British flowers.
What I love the most about receiving flowers from Bramshill, is the pure excitement of what we will be presented with in our daily mixed buckets. It depends entirely on whatever is looking gorgeous on the farm that week. From wispy stems of wildflowers to stand-out exquisite blooms and heavily scented herbs. The combinations are truly inspired.
Because Bramshill flowers are grown outside without chemicals and in harmony with nature they are completely seasonal but also they don't necessarily all grow straight or exactly the same = flowers with personality... I love this!
Rather than harmful pesticides, Bramshill use tried and tested methods to encourage toads to eat the slugs and ladybirds to help keep the aphids at bay.
They pick their flowers to order and being local to us in Hampshire, that's as fresh as them come!
Deborah - Bramshill Flowers, www.bramshillflowers.com
Read more about our support of British Flowers Week here and how we are continuing the theme across the month.
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This month’s selection features stems from our Home Grown collection of bouquets. In support of British flowers week (which we are running with for the entire month) the collection is inspired by the nostalgia of beautiful British varieties: we are using locally grown stems in our arrangements wherever possible this month. Overflowing with sweet williams, scabiosa, catmint and sweet scented peonies. We've picked out a few of our favourites to feature...
Scabiosa caucasica
A popular cottage garden plant with delicate, frilly petals surrounding a pincushion centre…hence their common name, Pincushion flower. Adored by Butterflies and Bee's, we love including these pretty stems in our arrangements.
Veronica 'White Wands'
Breathtaking tall white spikes with their showy blossom and sweet nectar are the perfect choice for us to create height and dimension to our summer bouquets. Making their appearance in early summer, these flowers can typically be around until autumn.
Nigella damascena 'Love-in-a-Mist'
With its wispy, tangle of ferny, fennel-like foliage that forms a mist around the flowers, this wildflower helps give Nigella damascena its romantic name – Love in a Mist. Arriving in late Spring, these are a firm favourite of ours as they perfectly complement so many spring / summer stems. You'll find it in our home grown collection designed in support of British Flowers Week.
Little Titch Catmint
A delicate aromatic, greeny-grey foliage topped by short spikes of lavender-blue flowers. These look absolutely glorious included in our home grown arrangements this month.
]]>On a personal level, we are indebted to the British flower industry for keeping us going through the insanely challenging times of covid. When shop’s were told to close in March 2020, our regular flower supplier literally closed overnight leaving us without flowers to fulfill orders including funeral tributes, last-minute bridal bouquets we still had to create, not to mention a sea of phone and web orders to fulfill. Like every industry experienced, these were uncertain times for us but, in a very ‘British manner’, we rallied together, adapted the way we worked and built some new business friendships with some wonderful British growers. Before we knew it, buckets of deliciously scented, seasonal blooms were arriving at the shop from our local friends allowing our business to continue to thrive amidst all the chaos and send our Customer’s loved ones thoughtful well wishes far and wide during lockdown.
To show our gratitude and appreciation to our nation's flower growers, this British Flowers Week we are taking things a step further and we are putting British flowers at the centre of everything we do for the whole month. Wherever possible we are going to try really hard to be using the very best of British stems in our creations. Mixed growers choice buckets from carefully selected Local growers are already arriving daily and they are just gorgeous… From sweet williams to narcissi, cornflowers and aromatic catmint, the variety and combinations are fabulous.
Managing stock levels around uncertainty of supply is going to be a real challenge for us due to the sheer volume of orders we receive but we are up for the challenge. Though there really is a delightful element of surprise with what might arrive and this anticipation keeps our florists inspired and on their toes excited by the floral designs they are going to create for you.
We will be sharing some of the stunning stems that we are lucky enough to enjoy across Britain, showcasing star species that the season has produced and well and truly shining the spotlight on some of our lovely homegrown flower farms. We will also be sharing our inspired ‘British’ creations with you.
First up is our bouquet of the month: We’ve named it ‘Home Grown’
Available in a range of sizes, These bouquets are wild and loose and overflowing with locally-grown Sweet Williams, Scabiosa, sweet scented Peonies and plentiful foliage. Shop the range and you can expect to receive one featuring seasonal British flowers similar in colour, style and texture.
Until the 70s, the only flowers you could buy came from flower farmers across Britain. Today, the majority of the flowers in your local flower shops will have been grown by European growers and in most cases routed through the awe inspiring Dutch auctions. We equally could never be without our trusty and varied Dutch flowers or flamboyant and vibrant Italian varieties, who keep the industry fulfilled. Our European suppliers are efficient, reliable and produce the most incredible flowers so will always be pivotal to our business BUT this doesn’t mean that British flowers are redundant, in fact quite the contrary, they complement international floral varieties perfectly. The opportunity to mix British flowers with European blooms opens up a whole new world of opportunities to create some truly eye-catching floral arrangements!
In the spotlight...The sweet william;
With it's pleasant peppery aroma and bright range of possible colours, the sweet william is a traditional cottage plant famous for its late spring and early summer colour.
Read about more British Stems of the month here
This year, the official theme for British Flowers Week is ‘The Future’, exploring sustainability, the future of floristry and its impact on the environment, and the intersection of nature, humans and technology. Although for the most part we already adopt products and processes that support sustainability, our creative brains are buzzing and we will certainly be taking this inspiration on board so watch this space!
Our thoughts
Flowers really do have a beautifully nostalgic way of transporting us back to a significant time or place. From the heady scent of sweet peas that evoke precious memories of your grandma’s garden or wild foxgloves that bring back thoughts of long-ago summers spent exploring from dawn to dusk. Flowers are intrinsically linked to our memories, from the first violets of the year to the last dahlias of the summer, British flowers are a real delight and will forever have their day in the sun.
British flowers and foliage really show off the seasons to their best.
If you’re inspired to join the crowd, have a look at the British Flowers Week website or search #BritishFlowersWeek to find out more about British flowers and what’s happening this week. You can even download their toolkit with an abundance of tips and ideas to help inspire the UK.
It's one of our favourite times of year in Hampshire, bluebell season! Every woodland walk becomes that little bit more magical with ferny floors replaced with a sea of blue. Just stunning, and something Hampshire does particularly well, if we do say so ourselves!
So where do you find the best bluebell woods in the county? From Micheldever just outside of Winchester, to Mottisfont and the New Forest; the best locations are gems in the heart of Hampshire. Scroll below to discover them all.
Just to the north of Winchester if Micheldever Woods, perhaps the most well known bluebell spot this end of the county! This beautiful woodland is home to the most beautiful wildflowers but Spring is when it really shines; taken over by a dense carpet of bluebells. This is a must visit for us every year!
The woodlands on the Mottisfont estate come alive every Spring with beautiful bluebells! One of our favourite National Trust sites, this is a great place to take the kids for a Springtime wander outside, plenty and nature and flower spotting to be had. Definitely pre-book if you can though, it does get busy!
Another of our National Trust favourites, tempted to do a whole series on the gardens now! Hinton Ampner woodlands are at their best in the Spring, and perfect for those impromptu bluebell photoshoots. The whole estate is wonderful to wander around in the sunshine, with some of the most beautiful flower gardens!
Another National Trust bluebell gem! It's worth noting as well that all the National Trust houses we've mentioned have Easter activities running every year! So whether you're going for a wander with a friend, or taking the whole family, there something for everyone to do. From playing host to Tudor royals, to sheltering WWII evacuees; The Vyne has such an amazing history. Go for the Bluebells, stay for the house!
You can find the amazing Pondhead Inclosure in the heart of the New Forest (near Lyndhurst). Unlike any other area of woodland in the New Forest, it hasn't been grazed by ponies or cattle for hundreds of years! Which means the inclosure is packed full of an incredible variety of flora, butterflies and birds found in few other places locally. Every April/May the woodland is transformed by the stunning bluebells that pop up, this one is definitely a favourite with the locals.
With the incredible (and world famous) Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias, Exbury gardens is a wonderful day out for any flower lover! Not only do beautiful bluebells bloom here in the Spring, but they also have a spectacular daffodil meadow and 'river of gold'. These perfectly landscaped gardens, curated and designed by the Rothschilds are a Hampshire must visit!
Beautiful bluebells bloom in the copse at River Hamble Country Park. You'll also find an amazing array of snowdrops here in Spring, down by the church! Perfectly placed between Southampton and Portsmouth, River Hamble Country Park is the perfect place for an outdoor adventure this Spring, with plenty to see and do out in the fresh air.
Full of wildlife, Roydon Woods is a rich patchwork of grassy meadows and ancient copses of conifer and hazel. It really comes alive in the Spring though when the bright bluebells blanket the ground underneath the beech trees. Because of the beautiful array of wildflowers you can find in this woodland it's also a great place to spend a while butterfly spotting; one of our favourite Spring activities!
On Saturday the 30th of April and Sunday the 1st of May the Holywell estate's popular bluebell walk returns, the raise money for local Hampshire charity The Murray Parish Trust. It's a rare opportunity to walk through beautiful private grounds of the Holywell Estate, by kind permission of the Earl and Countess of Clarendon. With activities for little ones along the way, and admission raising money for such an amazing charity, this will definitely be one we'll be trying this year!
Pump Street Chocolate: Created from single farm sourced cocoa beans, these charming foiled eggs (12 in each bag), contain two distinctly different milk chocolates to be compared and contrasted.
Coco Chocolatiers: The Easter Chicken’s lesser known cousin, The Easter Duck, has pulled out all the stops. These six velvety milk chocolate eggs have been handwrapped in golden foil, then enveloped in Marco Oggian’s brilliant ‘Composition 078’.
Pump Street Chocolate would like to introduce to you their University of The Arts London Special Edition Hot Cross Bun 58% bar. This limited edition design is the winning entry of a project they’ve been working on with the University of the Arts London.
Capturing all the festive cheer that Easter brings, our bouquet of the month 'Easter Eggs' uses am abundance of springy stems and soft colours. Promising to make the recipient smile.
]]>A treasure drove on Jewry Street, jam packed with homewares, accessories, sweet treats, clothes, jewellry and more. Perfect for all the magpie mamas out there! We can't even pick our favourite products because, honestly, we're adding everything to our basket!
Does it even need an introduction? The Hambledon is a Winchester institution and our go-to for sweet little gifts. From heavenly smellies to dreamy homeware and clothes! They've just started stocking Louise Misha upstairs and we can't decide what to ask for this Mother's Day; a Summer dress or one of their amazing new floor cushions, maybe both?
An unlimited gift voucher for Sass & Edge would be the ultimate gift! We're not sure if that exists but it should. Their SS collection is full of fresh new colours and don't even get us started on the shoes. Pop in and pick up something for Sunday, for guaranteed brownie points!
Another shop that is FULL of treasures. Everything from cool lighting to pretty cushions. We especially love their make up bags! You can find them just off the high street on St Thomas' Street.
Another St Thomas' Street diamond! The ladies at Ellie and Bea are trained at the London College of Style, so when it comes to clothes they know a thing or two about what looks good. If you're looking for some inspiration, or don't know where to start finding something they'll love, we can't recommend these ladies enough!
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words... Seriously though, don't forget the wine! The General store is also one of our favourites for a Sunday morning wander, it's always one of the first places to open. Pick up a coffee and a pastry and go for a sunny stroll; an idyllic start to Mother's Day!
I hope we've given you a little inspiration for local gifting. We're massive supporters of shopping small, for obvious reasons! If there are any amazing Winchester (or Hampshire!) businesses we've missed off our list, shoot us a DM on Instagram!
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The flowers that represent International Womens Day are Mimosas! They were chosen by feminists in Italy as a symbol of strength for Women's Day. They picked the flower in 1946, to mark the first International Women's Day after the end of World War II. Which seems even more poignant at the moment.
These sunny flowers are a beautiful symbol of femininity and womanhood, and make a stunning gift to the important women in your life this International Women's Day! But, if they're not a fan of yellow, a pretty little posy in one of our jam jars is an equally sweet gesture. Pick from our ready made arrangements or choose their favourite flowers in the shop, and our florists will make something extra special just for them!
The campaign theme for International Women's Day in 2022 is #BREAKTHEBIAS. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn't enough. Action is needed to level the playing field! Find out more about International Women's Day and how you can celebrate on their website.
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With Spring just around the corner, we're stocking up on the loveliest Spring bulbs and planters. So whether you're looking to brighten up a Wintery corner, or for a sunny Spring bouquet to make someone smile, scroll down for some tips & tricks to make them last!
In containers, apply a liquid high-potassium feed, such as tomato fertiliser, from early spring until six weeks after flowering
No feeding is required for bulbs grown in water in glass vases
First stop: as you wander down from our florist shop at the station and turn left at the traffic lights, you'll find Cafe Røst. One of Winchester's newest coffee houses and quickly becoming a firm favourite!
Take a detour through the alley next to the Hambledon and wander up to St Thomas Street to find Winchester's newest cafe, Ashby's. If your Valentine is a fan of pink, this is a must see!
Spread the love this Valentine's season, with our top 5 gifts for that extra special friend. Whether you call it Galentine's or Palentine's, we're all for another day to celebrate love in all its forms. So scroll on down and find something they'll love, or treat yourself! *Adds all the candles to basket*
1. Our dried flower arrangements have been SUCH popular gifts. Nothing says friendship like flowers that last forever! A girlfriend of mine gifted me a little bunch of Helichrysum from the shop 4 years ago and they're still sitting pretty.
2. Because if there's one thing we can never, and we mean never, have enough of, it's positive energy! This candle is almost a 2022 essential isn't it? With the gorgeous fresh scents of pink grapefruit, vetiver and mint; it's everything we've been looking for in a New Year candle!
3. Single stems are such a lovely little way to show you're thinking of someone. Pick them a single stem of something beautiful, including fresh blooms, foliage and dried flowers.
4. Our gift boxes and baskets are the sweetest way to say you care, no matter where they are in the country! The Happy Hellebore is one of our favourites, with a pretty Hellebore plant, Coco chocolate bar and Happy Space reed diffuser, you can also add a gift voucher in there too!
5. Choose from English Garden, Vibrant, Neutrals or Blush for these lovely jar arrangements. Filled with beautiful flowers and carefully selected foliage, they make a perfect gift, stunning table centrepiece or look great simply dotted around the house.
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We have designed three different gift basket ranges bursting with our favourite Catkin gifts, happy houseplants and floral treats. Each range has multiple sizes and all gift baskets have the option of adding a Catkin & Pussywillow voucher for flowers and plants.
Our Catkin & Pussywillow Belly Basket Gift Sets bring together our favourite products from Aery Living, Bramley, COCO Chocolatier and Farm Soap Co. We love supporting independent UK artisans and each supplier has been very carefully selected. Each gift is nestled inside a seagrass belly basket that can later be used to house the new plant, or for storage.
The Ultimate Plant Lover's Gift Belly Basket is perfect for all your green-fingered friends and family. It includes at least four house plants in each basket, we also have an assortment of Bramley hand creams, Aery candles and diffusers and ceramic pots in a Seagrass Belly Basket, with the option of adding a Catkin voucher.
For our three gift box options, we've lovingly curated stocking filler assortments of chocolate goodies, candles and beauty products. There is also the option to add a Catkin & Pussywillow voucher for flowers and plants.
Let us help make Christmas shopping easy with beautiful gift baskets and boxes to treat your loved ones.
]]>COCO also provides a canvas for artists and artisans alike: those who dare to innovate, inspire and challenge. This is where creativity and cocoa collide; each bar has a beautifully unique wrapper, with artwork designed by independent artists from around Europe.
We love supporting independent UK artisans and each supplier is very carefully selected. Choose from our mouth-watering selection of Chocolate Bars, Wafer thins, Truffles, Drinking Chocolate Gift Sets – and lots more! Take a look at our gift baskets and bundles.
]]>The products are inspired by, and created in the countryside, something that’s so important to us. All the Bramley products are made with 100% natural botanicals, are vegan friendly and all packaging is 100% recyclable. From botanical packaging to using natural scents they really capture the essence of our countryside - something we also strive to do in our work!
We love supporting independent UK artisans and each supplier is very carefully selected. Choose from Bramley Body Wash & Bubble Bath Gift Set, Bramley Body Lotion, Bramley Hand Cream, Bramley Sleep Spray and lots more! Take a look at our gift baskets and bundles.
]]>Farm Soap Co. sources, grows and cold processes natural ingredients to create seasonal body and hair care products with care and a sense of place.
We love supporting independent UK artisans and each supplier is very carefully selected. Choose from the deliciously scented Lavender, Geranium, Clementine or Bergamot. Take a look at our gift baskets and bundles.
]]>Original fragrances, with beautiful design, the Aery Living candles are vegan and made with responsibly sourced materials. The candles are hand-poured in the UK with GMO-free soy wax, grown sustainably in Europe, so your candle lights with a clean and restorative burn.
We love supporting independent UK artisans and each supplier is very carefully selected. Choose from the delightfully named Positive Energy Candle, Matcha Green Tea Candle or Happy Space Diffuser and Herbal Tea Diffuser. We also stock candle holders and gift sets. Take a look at our gift baskets and bundles.
]]>Here we summarise our personal Christmas favourites; our go-to flowers and foliage for Christmas wreaths, table centrepieces and bouquets.
Catkin Christmas favourites
Amaryllis – this South African flowering bulb has large trumpet flowers on top of thick stalks and is ideal for indoor Christmas arrangements. The most popular colour at Christmas is red, but the Amaryllis flower also comes in white, pink, and two-colour variations.
Cyclamen – these petite but strikingly attractive plants will flower heartily for you throughout the winter months indoors and are a welcome addition to festive floral decorations.
Hellebores – producing large, bright white flowers with a crown of prominent yellow stamens, the most popular Christmas variation is more commonly known as Christmas Carol.
Top picks for Christmas wreaths and table centrepieces
Eucalyptus baby blue – stems of blue-grey rounded leaves have adorned many a household vase in recent months as Eucalyptus has become a key interior trend. We love the baby blue variety for its high scent and longevity.
Juniper – robust stems with soft evergreen needles make the Juniper a popular Christmas choice in arrangements. The Juniper tree also holds special symbolism and meaning in cultures around the world.
Mimosa – these beautifully vibrant yellow pompom flowers add a welcome pop of colour amongst a festive collection of traditional reds and greens. They flower briefly and we just love the dusky mauve and teal tones and pretty textures of the foliage. This year our supplier has stayed on-trend by dipping the foliage stems in red dye, making it a great feature in many of our Catkin Christmas arrangements.
Popular berries – adding an assortment of berries into Christmas wreaths and table centrepieces is an easy way to add extra colour, texture, and interest. The most popular is the Holly berry for its vibrant red.
Rose hips – typically red or orange in colour, Rose hips form after the pollination of rose flowers and have an assortment of uses alongside Christmas floral wreaths.
Skimmia – beautiful fragrant blooms in spring that transition into red or white berries on female plants over winter. Small plants populate window boxes and hanging baskets well.
Viburnum – offers structure and autumn colour with a mixture of foliage, flowers and even fruit. The Chinese native Viburnum produces white flowers from December through to April. We also love using the mesmerising oily viburnum steel berries in our Christmas Eve collections.
Hot stems for celebratory Christmas bouquets
Amaryllis – tall and linear, these large, voluptuous flowers create a striking but elegant display.
Hellebores – a hardy bloom that comes to life during the winter months, it is also sometimes referred to as the ‘Christmas rose’. Hellebores come in varies of cool to strong shades of whites, greens, mauves and maroons.
Coffee break garden rose – there is a rose for every occasion throughout the year and this elegant coffee break variety offers a floral arrangement of cup-shaped petals in soft terracotta, brown and orange tones.
Wax flowers – given their name for the slight waxy feel of the petals, the sweet fragrance of these beautiful, often pink flowers, make a wonderful textural addition to Christmas bouquets as well as gardens.
Thistles – commonly associated with Scotland and a symbol of protection and pride. There are several thistle varieties each differing in appearance and size. The distinctive blue colour and spiky leaves add a unique edge to any Christmas bouquet.
Anemones – poppy-like with black-eyed centres, thin petals in an assortment of colours, and thick green stems makes the anemone a popular winter flower and beautiful in Christmas bouquets.
For more ideas and tips about how to create a beautiful Christmas wreath, check out our Christmas Wreath Making video with the very talented Jessie! The Christmas Wreath Kit is available to purchase so you can follow along. And don’t forget to check out our 2020 Christmas Collection too!
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