There is nothing like the first spring flowers emerging in the garden to get me excited for the new season ahead. I love the anticipation as the green spears optimistically begin to shoot through the frozen ground in February and March, but that certainly doesn’t have me rushing to grab my camera. Colour is what we all crave after the winter months and then Spring offers it up in an abundance. A colour palette that just belongs to the season. And suddenly my camera is never far away.
Spring in a bowl
The shapes, the textures combined with the heady scent of the narcissi and hyacinths make creating and photographing a spring bowl a complete joy. Even a small jar of flowers from the garden helps us feel more connected to nature and the changing season. The light is more accommodating too this time in the year as the days become longer. I feel inspired to create more content in April than in any other month.
Bringing the outside in
Every year I add more varieties of daffodils and narcissi to the garden and enjoy gathering simple handfuls to decorate the house for Easter. This year the Amelanchier blossom was just flowering to add a delicate haze of tiny stars to the simple arrangements. I love to create and photograph blocks of colour using just one ingredient. What could be more uplifting than buttery yellow, scented narcissi. You can read my tips for photographing a Spring Flat lay here
Easter Tree
I bought these hand painted eggs in a Vienna market last month. Decorated with birds, bees, and flowers they look so pretty hanging from a few sprigs of Amelanchier or willow.
Pink and yellow
I love soft creamy yellows and delicate pinks together. A few sprigs of wild currant were the starting point with this bowl using the first hyacinths and narcissi. Photographing pastels against a darker backdrop makes the lighter colours stand out in relief so that all the flowery details can be seen.
New Workshop dates
June 13th 2023 9.30am- 5pm Hutton Wandesley Stables, York YO26 7NA
I’m very excited to be joining Leafy Couture for a one day flower festival. Come gather and enjoy a magical floral day among the beautiful gardens of Hutton Wandesley Stables and surrounded by kindred flower folk. Anna Potter of Swallows and Damsons and Sophie Pebble of U.FL.O London will be sharing how to create something beautiful during this flower filled day. This day is suitable for florists, floristry students, flower growers and flower lovers who want to be inspired. Read more details about the day here
A Floral Portrait
June 21st 10.30-4 pm Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham
£180
I will be teaming up with designer Leigh Chappell to create a floral centrepiece. This will be a small class where we will consider what the season has to offer and each create a flower bowl using a kenzan pin frog. After a tour of the house we will photograph our arrangements around the house and garden. The cost of the day includes entry to the house, flowers, bowl and kenzan. Lunch is not included, but can be purchased from the cafe. Email or DM me for more information
I hope you can find the time to create something pretty this month.
Janne x
