Friends & flowers...

Some of my favourite flowers are a bit like some of my favourite friends - they don't fade away along with the sunny carefree days of summer, but stick around to brighten the dark days of winter....I don't usually like blue flowers of any description but I will make an exception for these: Alliums appear in Spring, their graceful necks towering over all the other foliage and with their complex structure and dramatic silhouette, really steal the show....



Once they have finished flowering, they can be cut on their long stems and stored carefully ready to be sprayed and make another grand entrance either on the Christmas tree or as part of a larger arrangement......

Hydrangeas are like true friends - they stick around through thick and thin...flowering all summer long in the garden (and all the way through autumn into December if there are no early frosts), then into the house for a last glow of stored up summer sunshine....

and finally, to re-appear (hopefully!) looking like this: It's not difficult to make a wreath either to hang on the door or even to put on a table, filling the centre with candles.....just buy a wire frame from any good florist or garden centre, florists wire to secure the stems onto the frame, and the only thing holding you back is your imagination!

This image is from Sarah Raven's 'Complete Christmas', the ultimate accessory for planning food and flowers for the festive season.....well worth a spot on your bookshelf......

Hope you have some faithful floral friends in your house or garden this weekend......s